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HISTOKV 



Original Town of Concord, 

BEING THE PRESENT TOWNS OF 

CONCORD, COLLINS, N. COLLINS AND 
SARDINIA, 

Erie Couni^v, new. York, 



BY ERASMUS BRIGGS. 



ROCHESTER, N. Y.: 

UNION AXI) ADVERTISER COMPANY'S PRINT. 
1883. 



50422 

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1S83. 

BY ERASMUS BRIGGS, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 







</>; 



INDEX, 



Chapter I. pa(;e. 

From 1534 to 1(355. 

Cartier's and Champlain's Expe- 
dions 3 

Chapter II. 

From 1655 to 1679— Indians, 
Dutch, French, &c 9 

Chapter III. 

DeNonville-La Houton— Queen 
Anne — the Iroquois, &c 13 

Chapter IV. 

Pontiac' League — tlie Senecas — 
the Devil's Hole, &c 17 

Chapter V. 

The Revolution — the Indians' 
Ho?tiUty — Wyoming— Clierry 
Valley. &c 20 

Chapter VI 

The Treaty of Fort Stanwix and 
subsequent Treaties 24 

Chapter VII. 

Land Titles — Various Grants — 
Conflicting Claims — Robert 
Morris 29 

Chapter VIII. 

A curious fact — the First Crop 
raised on the Holland Pur- 
(;hase . 32 

Chapter IX. 

Agents of Holland C'ompany. 
Theophilus Cazenova & Paul 

Bustle 48 

Joseph Ellicott 49 

Jacob S. Otto, David E Evans. 51 
A sketcli of others. 

Robert Morris 52 

Mary Jemison, the White Wo- 
man 57 



Chapter X. pa«e. 
War of 1812-15 60 

Chapter XI. 
Campaign of 1813 66 

Chapter XII. 
Burning of Buffalo, &c 74 

Chapter XIII. 

Campaign of 1814 81 

Discipline at Butf alo— the Death 

Penalty 82 

Capture of Fort Erie by the 

Americans 83 

An Indian Battle 84 

The Battle of Chippewa 87 

Battle of Conjockety Creek. ... 91 

Battle of Fort Erie 92 

Sortie at Fort Erie 95 

News of Peace 98 

Chapter XIV. 

Early Settlers 100 

Early Organization of County 

and Towns 102 

Date of Settlement and Organi- 
zation of Towns in Erie Co. . . 104 

Old Town of Concord 105 

Coming to the country 106 

Log Houses — Dutch Cliimneys 

and Log-raising "106 

Clearing Land 109 

Sugar Making 113 

Pioneer Wells 116 

Pioneer Fencing 118 

Frame Barns 120 

Primitive Household Furnitm-e, 

&c , &c 121 

Carding, Spinning and Weaving 124 
Raising, Dressing and Spinning 

Flax 127 

Bull Plow and Crotch Drag 128 

Milling 129 

Manufacturing of Clothing, 

Boots and Shoes I3i 

Making Black Salt . . . v 132 

Husking Bees, &c . .'. .-',. . . ... . . 134 

Schools •••,■>.. 136 



'•■_ 



INDEX. 



PAGE. 

Spelling Schools 139 

Reaping with a Sickle, &c 143 

Militia Training .-. 144 

Wrestling 146 

Snow Shoes 146 

Dancing 147 

The Great AVolf Hunt 148 

Droves and Drovers 150 

The Lost Boy lol 

Pigeons l^^ 

Thanksgiving 153 

Chapter XV. 

History of Concord 156 

Names of persons previous to 

Jan. 1. 1815 158 

Names of persons Buying Land 
of the Holland Company, 

Township 6, Range 6 159 

Township 7. Range 6 . 160 

Township 6, Range 7 163 

Township 7. Range 7 : . . . . 165 

Copy of an Original Article of 

Land 168 

Copy of the First Deed in Con- 
cord 172 

Early Roads 173 

Springville & Sardinia Railroad 175 
Rochester & Pittsburgh Railro'd 175 
Names of one or more of the 
First Settlers on each Lot in 

Concord 176 

Hotels — Mills — Manufactories . 17S 
Professional Men — Merchants — 

Tradei-s and Mechanics 185 

Banks 192 

Manufacturers — Merchants and 

Tradesmen 193 

" Fiddler's Green' 196 

Mail Routes— Post Offices 197 

Commission of the First Post 

Master in Springville 199 

A list of the Owners of Farming 
Lands in the Town of Con- 
cord in 1845 200 

Concord Soldiers' Record 205 

Presbyterian Church 209 

Metliodist Episcopal Church of 

Springville 213 

First Baptist Church of Spring- 
ville 214 

Free Baptist Church of Spring- 
ville 216 

Roman Catholic C h u r c h o f 

Springville 217 

Universalist Church 218 

Free Baptist Church, East C!on- 

cord 218 

Free Baptist Church, West Con- 
cord 219 



PAGE. 

Methodist Episcopal Church, 

West Concord 219 

Springville Academy 220 

Semi-Centennial Celebration of 
the Opening of Springville 

Academy 223 

Teachers' institutes 230 

List of Accidental Deaths in the 

Town of Concord 235 

Names of Streams in Concord. . 237 

The First Liberty-Pole 238 

The Springville Mill 239 

Local Names in Concord 240 

The Springville Rifle Company 241 

Town Officers of Concord 242 

Town Accounts, 1830 245 

Names of Early Settlers 246 

Soldiers of Concord in 1812. . . . 247 

Vosburg Murder 247 

Otis Murder 248 

The Old Springville Hotel 248 

Panther Stories 250 

Bear Story 251 

Lands Deeded in Concord 252 

Societies 265 

Newspapers 267 

Chapter XVI. 



Family Histories of the Town of 
Concord in Alphabetical Or- 
der 

A, 269 : B. 277 ; C, 303 ; D, 341 ; 
E. 348 ; F, 353 : G, 369 ; H. 
376 : I, 386 : J, 387 ; K, 391 : 
L. 399 : M, 404 ; N. 417 : O. 
422 ; P. 423 ; Q, 435 : R, 436 ; 
S, 450 : T. 487 ; Urich, 502 ; 
V, 502 ; W, 509 : Z, 532. 

Eliza Reynolds 

Springville 

Chester Spencer 

C. C McClure 

Goddard Family 

Christopher Stone's House 



269 



533 
541 
534 
535 
536 
542 



Chapter XVII. 



History of C^ollins 543 

First Settlers 544 

Articles 545 

Assessment Roll, 1823 553 

Act Creating the Town 559 

Defining Boundaries 560 

Zoar 563 

Deeds 569 

List of Town Officers 577 

Schools 583 

Religious Meetings and Church 

Organizations 584 

••East District." Town of Col- 
lins Center 585 



INDEX. 



PAGE. 

Collins Center 585 

Physicians 586 

C'oilins C'enter Merchants 586 

Tanneries 587 

Mills 587 

'• Society of Friends" 588 

Soldiers' Record 589 

Settlers of 60 and 70 years ago. . 593 

Town Account. 1830 593 

Societies 594 

John Millis and his grist 595 

Wild Animals 596 

Business Directory of Collins 

Center for 1882 596 

Cowanda Directoiy for 1882... 597 

Mrs. CJiarlotte Seymour's letter 598 

Statement of S. W. Soule 600 

Mrs. Stoddard's Statement 604 

Statement of Joseph Plumb, Esq 617 

Statement of S. Carv Adams . . . 624 

Statement of David Wilber 696 

Letter of Wm H. Parkinson. . . 675 

Augustus Smith's Statement. . . 683 

Statement of Benj. Albee. 2d. . 637 

Blackney Murder 641 

Chapter XVIII. 

Family Histories, Collins 635 

A, 635^ B. 639 ; C. 647 : F. 655 ; 
G, 656 ; H, 657 ; J, 661 ; K, 
663 ; L. 666 : M, 668 : N, 674 ; 
O. 674 : P, 675 ; R, 682 ; S, 683 : 

T, 691; V, 695; W, 696 

Chapter XIX. 

North Collins 707 

Names of those who Purchased 
Lands of the Holland Com- 
pany 708 

Deeds 714 

First Settlers on each Lot 725 

Assessment Roll of 1823 734 

List of Town Officers ; . 728 

Societies 731 

Soldiers' Record 733 

First Congregational Chui-ch . . . 737 
Job Southwoi-th's Statement. . . 738 

Statement of Isaac Hale 740 

Statement of Noel Conger 743 

'Statement of Isaac Woodward . 745 

ClIAPTKR XX. 
Family Histories, North Collins 749 

B, 749 ; C, 750 ; D, 753 : F, 752 ; 
G. 753 : H, 754 ; J, 755 : K. 
756 ; L, 757 , P, 759 ; R. 761 : 

S, 762 ; V, 766 ; W, 766 

Chapter XXI. 
General Historj^ of Sardinia. . . 769 
Early Settlers 770 



PAGE. 

Articled Land 771 

Deed of the Holland Comi)any. 776 
Early Reminiscences — Nott. . . . 784 

Fourth of July Party, 181 1 789 

Soldiers" Record 794 

First Baptist Church 797 

Beneficiary Orders 798 

Town Ofticers 798 

Assessment Roll, 1843 813 

Reminiscences by Dr. B. H. Col- 

RToye 823 

Statement of A. W. Shedd 839 

Statement of L. D. Smith 832 

Statement of Cyrus Rice 835 

Business Places. &c 845 

Notes from the Old Town Book 

of 1821, &c 848 

Chapter XXII. 

Family Histories in Alphabet- 
ical Order — Illustrations 851 

A, 851 ; B. 854 : C. 857 : F. 860 : 
G, 861 : H, 862 ; J, 868 : L, 
868 : M, 870 : N, 871 ; O, 873 ; 
P. 873 ; R, 875 : S, 878 ; T. 
885 ; V. 885 ; Sterling Titus, 
886; W, 886 

OUTSIDERS. 

Adams, J. C 892 

Brooks, John 893 

Brooks. Andrew J 894 

Briggs, A. H , M. D 894 

Briggs, George W 895 

Foster, Harrison T 895 

Field, William 897 

Field. ]\Iarvin 898 

Drake, Allen 898 

Hammond, Wm. W 899 

Hastings. Chancey J 900 

Hastings, Sej'mour P 901 

Koch, Harry H 901 

Miller. Frederick 903 

Nott. S. E. L. H 903 

Nichols, George W 904 

Wilev. William 904 

Wiley, John M 905 

Jliller, Christian 905 

Oatman, David 906 

Williams, George 907 

Stowell, ( "harles 908 

Ewell, Joseph E 908 

Tanner, Aukxs B 1)09 

Per.sons, Daniel H 910 

Emery, Joseph, (,'ol 910 

Scott.' Justus. 91 1 

Smither, R. R 913 

Spencer, H. S 912 

Tanner, Alonzo, Esq 913 

Wil)ert Family 913 



INDEX. 



PAGE. 

Cutler, Caleb 915 

Ransom. Asa 915 

Ransom, Asa. Jr. ... : 916 

Ransom, Harry B 917 

Titus, James B 917 

Kent, Joseph 919 

Kent, Jonathan 919 

Cooper, Joseph 920 

Young, Charles E 930 

Lockwood, Ebenezer 921 

Stickney, David, Jr 922 

White, Aimer 928 

Tucker, Harvey J 924 

Lockwood, A. U 925 

Preston, A. G 926 

Lawson, W. W 927 

Bartholomew, A 928 

Sampson, Joseph P 929 



PAGE. 

Bensley, John R 930 

Bensley, George E 931 

Haight, Albert 982 

Coit, George 935 

Humphrey, Arthur 935 

Humphrey, J. M 936 

Lockwood, D. N 937 

Green, O J. & Sons 938 

Reading, Richard 939 

Canbee, Joseph 940 

Kerr. Patterson 941 

Scoby. M C 941 

Bartlett, Marcus 542 

Calkins, AC 544 

Coit, Chas. T 944 

Coit, Frank S 945 

Eustaphive. HA 945 

Masonic 947 



ERRATA. 



Page 105, read " Lawton " for Lanton. 

Page 106, read " Big Tree " for Fitr Tree. 

Page 126, read " Scarn " for Scam. 

Page 131, 9th line, read " difticuU '" for different. 

Page 152, read " Morton's Corners" for Morton's Creek. 

Page 174, line 38, read " at lot 32 " for at lot 52. 

Page 180, read '" Theodore Frew " for Theodore Trevv. 

Page 188, read " Perigo " for Brigo. 

Page 189, read " Shoutz " for Shontz ; same page, read " Barnhart " for Ramhart ; same 
page, read " Post " for Past. 

Page 190, read " Parmeter " for Bameter. 

Page 192, read " F. K. Davis " for T. K. Davis. 

Page 195, read " Frew " for Trew. 

Page 208, read " 1862 " for 1892. 

Page 218, read " Morris Hall " for Horris Hall. 

Page 275, read " Auwater " for Anwater. 

Page 253, 3d line from bottom, read " 1819 " instead of 1809. 

Page 293, read " 1869" for 1899. 

Page 294, read " 1880 " for 1810 ; same page, read " 1882 " for 1822. 

Page 332, read " 1839 " for 1849. • 

Page 338, read " 1877" for 1878. 

Page 359, read the name " Benjamin Fay " for Benjamin Frye. 

Page 360, read the name " Nemiah Fay '" for Nemiah Frj-e. 

Page 369, line 16, read " Ruth Briggs" for Bertha Briggs. 

Page 391, read " Benjamin Gardner" for Benjamin Gordon. 

Page 305, read " Otis Morton " for Otis Horton. 

Page 400, read " Mary Hufstader " for John Hufstader. 

Page 433, read " 1832 " for 1882. 

Page 452, read"' William T., " for William G., and "' W. T. Lincoln " for William F. 

Page 468. read " Orrin Baker " for Owen Baker. 

Page 484, line 20, read " Council Bluffs " for Dakota. 

Page 476, read '" Marcy " for Mercy. 

Page 478, line 6th, read " 1761 " for 1861. 

Page 496, 2d line, leave out "Boston"; same page, read 4th line from bottom p;»ge 
■' near" for new. 

Page 498, 2d line from top, read "1792 " for 1702. 

Page 519, in the account of Levi and Isaac Woodward, read "• married " for the capital M. 

Page 566, i2th line, read "her family" for his family. 

Page 618, read " Parthenia" for Perthenia. 

Page 623, read " Parthenia " for Pathenia. 

Page 632, last line, read " Methodist Preacher " for teacher 

Page 659, 12th line, read " born 1831 " for 1871. 

Page 672, line 14, read " 1850 " for 1859. 

Page 743, read " Noel Conger " for Noah Conger; page following 770, read " 77I " for 
781 ; page following 872, read " 873 " for 783. 

Page 827. read " Reuben B. Heacock " for Reuben B. Hancock. 

Page 861, ^4th line, " TuUer " for I'uller. 

Page 889, " Brewer " for Brower. 

Page 894, " John Jr., 2d " for John Jr.. Son. 



INTRODUCTION, 



" Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield 

Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke, 
How jocund did they drive their team a-field, 

How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke. 
Let not ambition mock their useful toil, 

Their homely joys and destiny obscure." 

The motives that prompted the author to attempt the com- 
pilation of a work of this nature were, that bein^ himself to 
the " manor born," and having enjoyed an intimate personal 
acquaintance with many of the early settlers of these towns, 
and knowing that very little had ever been said of them in any 
history that had been heretofore published, he felt that all 
former attempts of the historian to portray the.se early tijnes 
and scenes were lacking in detail and did not accord to the 
brave pioneers of these towns the mead of pra'ise that their 
self-sacrificing labors and privations entitle them to, and he 
departs from the rule generally pursued by writers, of record- 
ing only the acts of those whom fortune or favor has raised to 
positions of prominence, and he feels that the lives and deeds 
of the pioneer, though their destiny may have been obscure, 
are worthy of being remembered and perpetuated upon the 
pages of history; for the pioneer, like the great forests that 
once surrounded his humble cabin, is passing awa)- ; onl)' here 
and there you find them, and soon, very soon, there will not 
one remain, and it is but a simple acti of justice to the living 
and an honor that we owe to the dead, who now rest from their 
toils on fields their hands helped to clear, that a record of their 
lives should be put into some tangible form and the multitude 
of facts in the possession of those who are yet with us be res- 
cued from oblivion, for soon these witnesses will pass away, and 
there will be none left to tell the story of the olden time. 



X INTRODUCTION. 

For this reason the author has undertaken the task of com- 
piling a vohime, and he finds that there has been an ahiiost 
endless amount of labor to collect and arrange facts and dates 
to incidents that transpired so many years ago, and much of it 
may appear commonplace and non-interesting to some, but the 
author belives that the task he has undertaken is a laudable 
one, and that the few pioneers now remaining and their de- 
scendants for generations to come, will be interested in the 
work, and will properly appreciate the undertaking. 

To the many who have aided him in this undertaking and 
were induced to, at his earnest request, he is under many obliga- 
tions, and though their names may appear elsewhere, in con- 
nection with articles contributed, still he takes pleasure in ren- 
dering a personal acknowledgment here : J. H. Plumb, Esq., of 
Westfield, Mrs. Stoddard of Iowa, S Gary Adams, Esq. of 
Buffalo, S. W. Soule, William H. Parkinson of Collins, Mrs. Sey- 
mour of Chautauqua, L. B. Cochran, Esq., Hon. C. C. Sever- 
ance, W. G. Ramson, Dr. G. G. Stanbro of Concord and L. D. 
Smith and Cyrus Rice of Sardinia, have placed him under a debt 
of gratitude. Of those who rendered valuable aid in soliciting 
subscriptions and encouraging him in his undertaking, he will 
ever remember the names of James Hopkins, Addison Whee- 
lock, Cyrus Rice, Welcome Andrews, Alden J. McArthur and 
many others. Christfield Johnson, Esq., author of the Centen- 
nial History of Erie county, courteously allowed him the free 
use of his book, and the first one hundred pages of this work 
are taken from his book, and Turner's History of the Holland 
Purchase. Nearly the whole of the remaining pages are original. 
The amount of matter in this volume in relation to the family 
histories of each of these respective towns will be accounted for 
by the number of subscriptions that the author has received in 
said towns to aid in the publication of this work. Of course a 
work of this nature, containing the amount of matter that this 
one does, must necessarily be expensive, and every page added 
must necessarily also increase the expense to be borne by the 
author who has to depend for the funds to defray the cost most 
entirely upon local patronage, and most certainly he cannot do 
as his inclinations would otherwise naturally lead him, if he 
were not confined to limited means, and in the present under- 



INTRODUCTION. xi 

taking he wcnild feci himself am[jl\- rewarded if lie were to re- 
ceive the bare expense of preparing and publishing this work. 
But he is well aware nozo that the expense will far exceed all 
such hopes, and the author regrets too that there is a single 
thing omitted that will detract from the general interest of this 
volume, and yet he knows that there are names of those who 
were early identified with the settlement of these towns, whose 
histories would have been of interest and were worth)- of being 
preserved, that are now lacking, which can only be accounted 
for by the indifference of those who should have taken some 
interest in a work of this nature. 

Following appears the number of subscribers of each town, 
together with those who are not residents : 

Concord 260 

Collins 125 

North Collins 35 

Sardinia 65 

Buffalo and others localities ■ 80 

E. B. 




"^%i^»"^^ 

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^ 



E. BRIGGS. 



Autobioijraphy of the Author. 

The author of this work was born on the ^ist thi)- of August, 
i8i8, on Townsend Hill, in the town of (Joncord, where he 
remained with his parents until after he was seventeen years of 
age. As soon as old enough, he was put to work to assist in 
clearing up a heavily-timbered farm ; and the scenes and inci- 
dents appertaining to pioneer life jjortrayed in the several 
articles in chapter xiv. of this work are from his own knowl- 
edge and experience. 

His education was principally obtained in the district school, 
on Townsend Hill, supplemented by a few terms at select 
school and Springville Academy. • 

The Winter after he was eighteen years of age, he taught a 
term of school, and the Spring following, he took Greeley's 
advice and went west. This was before the advent of railroads, 
and was quite an undertaking. The journey across the State 
of Michigan, and from Chicago to Racine, from Racine to 
Janesville, from Janesville to Galena, and from Galena to Ful- 
ton, a total distance of over six hundred miles, was made on 
foot. At that time, the prairies of Northern Illinois and 
Southern Wisconsin were unoccupied; the onl\- settlers to be 
found were located in or near the timber. Chicago at that 
time was a small town, whose buildings and improvements 
were confined to a narrow belt of dry land along the lake-shore 
and river-bank ; the ground back being low and covered with 
prairie-grass and water. Racine was a straggling little hamlet, 
and the city of Janesville was yet in embryo, its site being 
occupied by two or three small log farm-houses. He remem- 
bers stopping there a few days, and planting corn on the land 
where the city now stands. Beloit was named, but Freeport 
was unknown, and Galena was a very small village. The jour- 
ney for the last two days was made on a single meal. Fulton 
was surveyed and named, but contained but one log-house. 
He remained in Fulton two and a half years, putting up build- 
ings in the Summer, and getting out timber and cutting steam- 
boat wood in the Winter. He built the first frame-house in 
Fulton, and continued to work at the business until prostrated 
by sickness. 



When sufficiently recovered to travel, he returned to his 
native town, where for the next eleven years his time was 
divided between working at the carpenters' trade Summers, 
teaching school Winters, and attending to the duties of the 
office of Superintendent of Common Schools. 

In 1850, he went to the town of West Seneca, and invested 
in timbered land, which had formerly been a part of the Indian 
reservation. For the next fifteen years, this town and the ad- 
joining town of Elma was his home. During these }'-ears, he 
was quite extensively engaged in the wood, bark and lumber 
business. In 1852, while a resident of West Seneca, he was 
elected Justice of the Peace, and also town Superintendent of 
Common Schools. He was also chosen to represent them on the 
Board of Supervisors, in 1853-54-55. He afterward held the 
office of Justice of the Peace in the town of Elma. Since his re- 
turn to Concord, in 1865, he has worked at building several Sum- 
mers, and taught school occasionally Winters. For the last 
five years, his time has been principally spent in procuring 
facts and preparing this work. Since his return to Concord, he 
has been several times elected Supervisor, although the party 
with which he affiliates is in the minority ; and it is a source of 
gratification to know^ that wherever he has resided, he has, 
enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-townsmen. 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



ORIGINAL TOWN OF CONCORD. 



CHAPTER I. 
FROM 1534 TO 1655. 



George Cartier's Expedition — Champlain's Expedition — King James' Grant — 
Henry Hudson — French Traders — The Jesuits— Chaumonot and Bre- 
boeuf — Hunting Buffalo — Destruction of the Kahquahs and Eries — 
Seneca Tradition — French Account — Their Sysiem of Clans —Its Import- 
ance — Sachems and War-Chiefs — Method of Descent — Choice of 
Sachems — Family Relations. 

In the year 1534, forty-two years after the discovery of 
America, George Cartier, a French explorer sailed up the St. 
Lawrence to Montreal and took possession of all the country 
round about on behalf of the King of France, Francis the P'irst, 
and called it New France. 

He made some attempts to colonize, but in 1543 they were 
all abandoned, and for more than half a century no further 
progress was made. 

In 1603, the celebrated French mariner, Samuel Champlain, 
led an expedition to Quebec and made a permanent settlement 
there, and, in fact, founded the Colony of Canada. Montreal 
was founded soon after, and communication was comparatively 
easy along the course of the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario, 
and, with a portage around the Falls, to Lake Erie. And 



4 KING JAMES GRANT. 

mainly for this reason, the French fur traders and missionaries 
reached this region of country long before any other Europeans. 

In 1606, King James, of England, granted to an association 
of Englishmen called the Plymouth company, the territory of 
New England, but no permanent settlement was made until the 
9th day of November, 1620, when, from the historic Ma}'flower, 
the Pilgrim Fathers landed on Plymouth Rock. 

In 1628, Charles the F"irst, of England, granted a charter for 
the government of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. It 
included the territory between latitude 40° 2' and 44° 15' north, 
extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific, making a colony a 
hundred and fifty-four miles wide and four thousand miles long. 
The County of Erie and Western New York were included 
within its limits. 

In 1609, the English navigator, Henry Hudson, while in the 
employ of Holland, discovered the river that bears his name, 
and the Hollanders established fortified trading posts on Man- 
hattan island and at Alban)% and commenced trading with the 
Indians. They also made an indefinite claim of territory west- 
ward. 

All European nations at that time claimed title to lands in 
America by the right of discovery, and they granted them away 
to individuals and companies in small and large tracts, as they 
saw fit, when, as a matter of right and justice, their title was no 
better than was the title of that character we read of, to all the 
kingdoms of the world, which he offered to give Christ if he 
would fall down and worship him. 

In 1623, permanent Dutch emigration for agricultural pur- 
poses first began upon the Hudson river. 

In 1625, a few Catholic missionaries arrived on the banks of 
the St. Lawrence. 

About 1620, the first white men visited the country about the 
lower end of Lake Erie and the Niagara river ; the}' were French 
fur traders in search of furs. 

In 1626, Father De La Roche Daillon, a French missionary, 
visited the Neuter Nation and passed the winter preaching the 
gospel among them. The Neuter Nation occupied the countiy 
about the east end of Lake Erie and on both sides of the 
Niagara River. They had their villages in Canada and in Erie 



riiK jKsri r missk ixariks. 5 

count)'; there was one at or near the mouth of I'LiL(hteen-Mile 
creek, and perhaps others further west. Hut the south shore of 
Lake Erie was occupied principally by a tribe called the Eries. 
The French called the. tribe occupying the countrx- hereabouts 
the Neuter Nation, because they dwelt in peace with surround- 
ing tribes, but they were kno\\n among the other tribes as the 
Kahquahs. 

The Jesuit missionaries, fired with unbounded zeal and unsur- 
passed valor, traversed the wilderness, holding up the cross 
before the bewildered pagans. They soon had flourishing sta- 
tions as far west as Lake Huron. One of these stations was St. 
Marie, near the eastern extremity of the lake, and it was from 
St. Marie that Fathers Breboeuf and Chaumonot set forth in 
November, 1640, to visit the Neuter Nation. They returned in 
the Spring, having visited eighteen Kahquah villages, but hav- 
ing met with very little encouragement among them. They 
reported the Neuter Lidians to be stronger and finer looking 
than the Hurons, and that their food and clothing were but little 
different ; that the}' had corn, beans and some other vegetables, 
and plenty of fish ; that they were much employed in hunting 
deer, bears, buffalo, beavers, wolves, wild-cats and other animals; 
that there was also an abundance of wild turkeys. They esti- 
mated the whole number of villages of the Neuter Nation at 
forty, and that the most eastern was but one day's journe}' from 
the country of the Senecas. The Senecas, when first \isited by 
the whites, had their villages east of the Genesee river. 

Up to this time, the Kahquahs had succeeded in maintaining 
their neutrality between the fierce belligerents on either side. 
What the cause of quarrel, if any, arose between the peaceful 
possessors of Erie county and the powerful confederates to the 
eastward, is entirely unknown ; but sometime during the next 
fifteen years, the Iroquois fell upon both the Kahquahs and the 
Eries and exterminated them, as nations, from the face of the 
earth. 

The precise years in which these e\ents occurred are uncer- 
tain, and it is not known whether the Kahquahs or the Eries 
were first destroyed. French accounts go to show that the 
Neuter Nation were first destroyed ; while, according to Seneca 
tradition, the Kahquahs still dwelt here when the Iroquois 



6 THE IROQUOIS CONFEDERACY. 

annihilated the Eries; but it is certain that, somewhere between 
1643 and 1655, the fierce confederates of Central New York 
"put out the fires" of both the Kahquahs and the Eries. 

From the destruction of the Kahquahs down to the time the 
Iroquois sold to the Holland Land company (or, rather, to 
Robert Morris), they were, by right of conquest, the actual 
possessors of the territory composing the present County of 
Erie, and, a few years before the sale, the largest nation of the 
confederacy made their principal residence within the county. 
Within its borders, too, are still to be seen the largest united 
body of their descendants. For two hundred and thirty years, 
the Iroquois have been closely identified with the history of 
Erie county, and it is proper to give a short account of the 
interior structure of that remarkable confederacy. 

The name Iroquois was never applied by the confederates to 
themselves ; it was first used by the French. The men of the 
five nations called themselves He-do-no-saunee, which means 
literally " They form a cabin," describing in this expressive 
manner the close union existing between them. The Indian 
name just quoted is more liberally and more commonly ren- 
dered "The People of the Long House," which is more fully 
descriptive of the confederacy. 

The feature that distinguished the people of the Long House 
from all the world beside, and which, at the same time, bound 
together all these ferocious warriors as with a living chain was 
the system oi c/ans extending through all the different tribes. 

Many readers doubtless have often heard of the warlike suc- 
cess and outward greatness of the Iroquois confederacy, but one 
unacquainted with the inner league, which was its distinguish- 
ing characteristic, and without which in all probability have met 
at an early day with the fate of numerous similar alliances. 

The people of the Iroquois confederacy were divided into 
eight c/aHS, or families, the names of which were as follows: 
Wolf, Bear, Beaver, Turtle, Deer, Snipe, Heron and Hawk. 

Each clan formed a large artificial family modeled on the 
natural family. All the members of the clan, no matter how 
widely separated among the tribes were considered as brothers 
and sisters to each other, and forbidden to intermarry. This 
prohibition was strictly enforced b}' public opinion. 



SAC'IIKMS AND \VAR-{ 1 1 1 KKS. J 

The clan.bciiii^ thus tauL;lU from earliest infanc)' that tliey 
belonged to the same famil\-, a bond of the strongest kind was 
created throughout the confederac)-. Hie Oneida of the Wolf 
clan had no sooner appeared among the Cayugas than those of 
the same clan claimed iiim as their special guest, and admitted 
him to the most confidential intimac}'. The Seneca of the 
Turtle clan might wander to the country of the Mohawks at the 
further extremity of the Long House, and he had a claim upon 
his brother Turtles which they would not dream of repudiating. 

Thus the whole confederacy was linked together. If at any 
time there appeared a tendency toward conflict between the 
different tribes, it was instantly checked by the thought that 
if persisted in the hand of the Heron would be turned against 
Heron, and the hatchet of the Bear would be raised against 
his brother Bear, and the bow of the Beaver would be drawn 
against his brother Beaver. And so potent was the feeling 
that until the power of the confederacy was broken by over- 
whelming outside force, there was no serious dissension between 
the tribes of the Iroquois. Aside from the clan-system just 
described, which was an artificial invention expressly invented 
to prevent dissension among the confederates, the Iroquois 
league had some resemblance to the great American Union 
which succeeded it. The central authority was supreme on 
questions of peace and war, and on all others relating to the 
general welfare of the confederacy, while the tribes, like the 
states, reserved to themselves the management of their ordin- 
ary affairs. In peace, all power was confided to " Sachems," 
in war, to " Chiefs." The Sachems of each tribe acted as its 
rulers in matters which required the exercise of civil authority. 
The same rulers also met in congress to direct the affairs of the 
confederacy. There was, in each tribe, the same number of 
War-chiefs as Sachems, and these had absolute authority in 
time of war. But in a war-party the War-chiefs commanded 
and the Sachem took his place in the ranks. 

The congress always met at the council-fire of the Onon- 
dagas. The Senecas were unquestionably the most powerful 
of all the tribes, and as the\' were located at the western 
extremity of the confederac}-, they had to bear the brunt of 
war when it was assailed by its most formidable foes, who dwelt 



8 P'AMILV RELATIONS. 

in that quarter. It would naturally follow that the principal 
War-chief of the league should be of the Seneca Nation, and 
such is said to have been the case. 

As among many other savage tribes the right of heirship was 
in the female line. Titles, as far as they were hereditary at all, 
followed the same law of descent. The child also followed 
the clan and tribe of the mother. Notwithstanding the modi- 
fied system of hereditary power in vogue, the constitution of 
every tribe was essentially republican. Warriors, old men, and 
even women, attended the council and made their influence 
felt. Neither in the government of the confederacy nor in the 
tribes, was there any such thing as tyranny over the people. 



ENGLAND CONQUERS NEW AMSTERDAM. 9 

CHAPTER II. 
FROM 1655 TO 1679. 

The Iroquois Triumphant— Obliteration of Dutch Power — French Progress — 
La Salle Visits the Senecas — Greenhalph's Estimates — La Salle on the 
Niagara — Building of the Griffin — It Enters Lake Erie — La Salle's Subse- 
quent Career — The Prospect in 1679. 

From the time of the destruction of the Kahquahs and 
Eries, the Iroquois went forth conquering and to conquer. 
This was probably the day of their greatest glory. They 
stayed the progress of the French into their territories; they 
negotiated on equal terms \\ith the Dutch and English, and 
having supplied themselves with the terrible arms of the pale- 
faces, they smote with direst vengeance whomsoever of their 
own race were unfortunate enough to provoke their wrath. 

At one period, the sound of their war cry was heard along 
the Straits of St. Marys and at the foot of Lake Superior. At 
another, under the walls of Quebec, where they defeated the 
Hurons under the eyes of the French. They spread the terror 
of their arms over New England — Smith encountered their 
warriors in the settlement of Virginia, and La Salle on the 
discovery of Illinois. They bore their conquering arms along 
the Susquehanna, the Allegheny and the Ohio, and farther 
south. In short, they triumphed on every side, save only 
where the white men came, and even the white man was for a 
time held at bay by their fierce confederates. 

In 1664 the English conquered New Amsterdam, and in 
1670 their conquest was made permanent. 

Charles the Second, then King of England, granted the 
conquered province to his brother James, Duke of York, from 
whom it was called New York. This grant comprised all the 
lands along the Hudson, with an indefinite amount westward, 
thus overlapping the previous grant of James the First, to the 
Plymouth company, and the boundaries of Massachusetts by 
the charter of Charles the First, and laying the foundation for 
a conflict of jurisdiction, which was afterward to have import- 
ant effects on the destinies of Western New York. 



lO LA SALLE S ARRIVAL. 

By 1665, trading posts had been established by the French at 
Mackinaw, Green Bay, Chicago and St. Joseph. In 1669 La 
Salle, whose name was soon to be indissolubly united to the 
annals of Erie county, visited the Senecas with only two com- 
panions, finding their four principal villages from ten to twenty 
miles southerly from Rochester, scattered over portions of the 
present Counties of Monroe, Livingston and Ontario. 

In 1673, the Missionaries Marquette and Joliet, pushed on 
beyond the farthest French post and erected the emblems of 
Christianity on the shore of the Father of Waters. 

In 1677, Wentworth Greenhalph, an Englishman, visited all 
the F'ive Nations, finding the same four towns of the Senecas 
described by the companions of La Salle. Greenhalph made 
very minute observations counting the houses of the Indians 
and reported the Mohawk as having three hundred warriors, 
the Oneidas two hundred, the Onondagas three hundred and 
fifty, the Cayugas three hundred and the Senecas a thousand. 
It will be seen that the Senecas, the Guardians of the western 
door of the Long House, numbered, according to Greenhalph's 
computation, nearly as many as all of the other tribes of the 
confederacy combined, and other accounts show that he was not 
far from correct. 

In the month of January, 1679, a Frenchman of good 
family, Robert Cavalier de La Salle, arrived at the mouth of 
Niagara. He was one of the most gallant, devoted and ad- 
venturous of all the bold explorers, who under many different 
banners, opened the new world to the knowledge of the old. 
In 1678 he had received from King Louis a commission to 
discover the western part of New France. He made some 
preparations the same year and in the Fall sent the Seuer de 
La Motte and Father Hennepin (the priest and historian of 
the expedition) in advance to the mouth of the Niagara. As 
soon as La Salle arrived he went two leagues above the Falls, 
built a rude dock at the mouth of Cayuga Creek, in Niagara 
county and laid the keel of a vessel with which to navigate the 
Lakes. Hennepin distinctly mentions a small village of Sene- 
cas at the mouth of the Niagara, and it is plain from his whole 
narrative that the Iroquois were in possession of the country 
along the ri\er. 



THE FIRST VESSEL IS BUILT. II 

The work was carried on throu<;h the Winter, and in the 
Sprin^^ the vessel was launched. It was a small vessel of sixty 
tons burthen, completely furnished with anchors, and other 
equipments, and armed with seven small cannon, all of which 
had been transported by hand around the cataract. The vessel 
was named the "Grififin," and there were thirt)--four men on 
board, all Frenchmen with a single exception. 

For several months the Griffin remained in the Niagara, 
between the place where it was built and the rapids at the head 
of the river. When all was ready, the attempt was made and 
several times repeated, to ascend' the rapids above Black Rock. 
At length on the 7th day of August, 1679, a favorable wind 
sprung up from the Northeast; all the Griffin's sails were set, 
and again it approached the rapids. A dozen stout sailors 
were sent ashore , with a tow-line, and aided with all their 
strength the breeze that blew from the North. Those efforts 
were soon successful; by the aid of sails and tow-line, the 
Griffin surmounted the rapids, and the pioneer vessel of these 
waters swept out on to the bosom of Lake Erie. As it did so, 
the priests led in singing a joyous Te Deum, and all the cannon 
were fired in a grand salute. On board that vessel was the 
intrepid La Salle, a man fitted to grace the salons of Paris, 
yet now eagerly pressing forward to dare the hardships of 
unknown seas and savage lands. 

A born leader of men, a heroic subduer of nature, the gallant 
Frenchman for a brief time passes along the border of our 
county and then disappears in the far West, where he was 
eventually to find a grave. 

There w^as Tonti, the solitary alien, amid the Gallic band 
exiled by revolution from his native Italy, who had been chosen 
by La Salle as second in command, and who justified the choice 
by his unswerving courage and devoted loyalty. There, too, 
was Father Hennepin, the earliest historian of these regions, one 
of the most zealous of all the zealous band of Catholic priests 
who at that period undauntedly bore the cross amid the fiercest 
pagans of America. 

This was the beginning of the commerce of the upper lakes 
and like many another first venture it resulted only in disaster 
to its projectors, though the harbinger of unbounded success by 



12 LA SALLE RETURNS TO FRANCE. 

others. The (iriffin went to Green Bay where La Salle and 
Hennepin left it, and started on its return with'a cargo of furs, 
and was never heard of more. It is supposed that it sank in a 
storm and all on board perished. 

After the Grif^n had sailed. La Salle and Hennepin went in 
canoes to the head of Lake Michigan. Then, after building a 
trading post and waiting many weary months for the return of 
his vessel, he went, with thirty followers, to Lake Peoria, on the 
Illinois, where he built a fort and gave it the expressive name 
of " Creve Cceur," Broken Heart. But notwithstanding this 
expression of despair, his courage was far from exhausted, and 
after sending Hennepin to explore the Mississippi, he, with three 
comrades, performed the remarkable feat of returning to Fort 
Frontenac on foot, depending on their guns for support. 

From Fort Frontenac he returned to Creve Coeur, the garri- 
son of which had in the meantime been driven away by the 
Indians. Again the indomitable La Salle gathered his follow- 
^ ers, and in the fore part of 1682 descended the Mississippi to 
the sea, being the first European to explore any considerable 
portion of that mighty stream. He took possession of the 
country in the name of King Louis the Fourteenth, and called 
it Louisiana. 

Returning to France, he astonished and gratified the Court 
with the story of his discoveries, and in 1684 was furnished with 
a fleet and several hundred men to colonize the new domain. 
Then everything went wrong ; the fleet, through the blunders 
of its naval commander, went to Mattagorda bay, in Texas ; the 
store ship was wrecked ; the fleet returned ; La Salle failed to 
find the mouth of the Mississippi ; his colony dwindled away, 
through desertion and death, to forty men, and at length he 
started with sixteen of these on foot to return to Canada for 
assistance. Ere he reached the Sabine he was murdered by two 
of his followers and left unburied on the prairie. France knows 
him as the man who added Louisiana to her empire ; the Mis- 
sissippi valley reveres him as the first explorer of its great river, 
but by the citizens of this county he will best be remembered 
as the pioneer navigator of Lake Erie. 



TIIK Kki:( ri(>\ ol" lOKT MACAkA. 13 



CHAPTKR 111. 
FRENCH DOMINION. 

De Nonville's Assault — Origin of Fort Niagara — La Honlan's Expedition — The 
Peace of Ryswyck — Queen Anne's War — The Iroquois Neutral — The 
Tuscaroras — Joncaire — Fort Niagara Rebuilt — French Power Increas- 
ing — Successive Wars — The Line of Posts— The Final Struggle — The 
Expedition of D'Aubrey — The Result — The Surrender of Canada 

For the next forty-five years after the adventures of La 
Salle, the French voya<^eurs traded and the missionaries labored, 
and their soldiers sometimes made incursions, but thev had no 
permanent fortress this side of Fort Frontenac (Kingston, 
Canada). 

In 1687, the Marquis de Nonville, Governor of New France, 
came with an army and attacked the Senecas at their village 
near Avon and Victor, and after giving battle the Senecas fled. 
De Nonville destroyed their stores of corn and retired to Lake 
Ontario, and then sailed to the mouth of the Niagara, where he 
erected a small fort on the east side of the river. This was the 
origin of Fort Niagara, one of the most celebrated strongholds 
in America, and which, though a while abandoned, was after- 
wards for a long time considered the key of Western New York. 

Detroit was founded by the French in 1701 ; other posts were 
established far and wide. 

About 17 12, an important event occurred in the histor}- of the 
Iroquois. 

The Five Nations become Six Nations. The Tuscaroras, a 
powerful tribe of North Carolina, had become involved in a 
w^ar with the whites, originating, as usual, in a dispute about 
land. The colonists being aided by several other tribes, the 
Tuscaroras were soon defeated, many of them killed, and many 
others captured and sold as slaves. The greater part of the 
remainder fled northward to the Iroquois, who immediately 
adopted them as one of the tribes of the confederacy. 

Not long after this, one Chabert Joncaire, a Frenchman, who 
had been captured in \-outh by the Senecas, who had been 



14 WAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE. 

adopted into their tribe, and had married a Seneca wife, but 
who had been released, was employed by the French authorities 
to promote their interests among the Iroquois. Pleading his 
claims as an adopted child of the nation, he was allowed by the 
Seneca Chiefs to build a cabin on the site of Lewiston, which 
soon became a center of French influence. 

About 1725, the French began re-building Fort Niagara on 
the site where De Nonville had erected his fortress ; this was 
their stronghold for many years. To this, and forts that were 
already built, they added Presque Isle (now Erie), Venango 
(Franklin, Pa.), and Fort Du Quesne, on the site of Pittsburgh, 
designing to establish a line of forts from the Lakes to the Ohio, 
and thence down that river to the Mississippi. 

Frequent detachments of troops passed through along this 
line. Their course was up Niagara to Buffalo, thence either by 
bateaux up the lake or on foot along the shore to Erie, and 
thence to Venango and Du Quesne. Gaily-dressed French 
officers went to and fro ; dark-gowned Jesuits traveled back and 
forth receiving the respect of the red men even when their 
creed was rejected. 

In 1756, war was again declared between England and France, 
being their last great struggle for supremacy in the New World. 
More frequently sped the gay officers and soldiers of King 
Louis from Quebec, and Frontenac, and Niagara — now in 
bateaux, now on foot, along the western border of our county. 

At first the French were everywhere victorious. Braddock, 
almost at the gates of Fort Du Quesne, was slain, and his army 
cut in pieces. 

Montcalm captured Oswego. The French line up the lakes 
and across to the Ohio was stronger than ever; but, in 1758, 
William Pitt became Prime Minister, and then England flung 
herself in dead earnest into the contest ; that year Fort Du 
Quesne was captured by an English and provincial army. Fort 
Frontenac was seized by Colonel Bradstreet. The cordon was 
broken, but Fort Niagara still held out for F'rance. In 1759, 
still heavier blows were struck. Wolfe assailed Quebec, the 
strongest of all the French strongholds. 

Almost at the same time General Prideaux, with two thous- 
and British and Provincials, accompanied by Sir William Johnson 



SIR WII.I.FAM JOHNSON" AND D'aI'HRKV. I5 

with his faithful Iroquois, sailed up Lake Ontario and laid 
siege to Fort Niagara. Defended by only six hundred men, 
its capture was certain unless relief could be obtained. Its 
commander was not idle. Once again along the Niagara and 
up Lake Erie, and away through the forest, sped his lithe red- 
skinned messenger, to summon the sons and the allies of 
France. D'Aubrey at Venango heard the call and responded 
with his most zealous endeavours. Gathering all the troops 
he could from far and near, stripping bare with desperate 
energy the little French forts at the west, and mustering every 
red man he could persuade to follow his banner to set forth to 
relieve Niagara. 

Thus it was about the 20th of July, 1759, that the largest 
European force which had yet been seen in this region at any 
one time, came coasting down the lake from Presque Isle, past 
the mouth of the Cattaraugus and along the shores of Brant and 
Evens, and Hamburgh, to the foot of the lake. Fifty or sixty 
batteaux bore near a thousand Frenchmen on their mission of 
relief, while a long line of canoes were freighted with four 
hundred of the dusky warriors of the west. 

History has preserved but a slight record of this last struggle 
of the French for dominion in these regions, but it has rescued 
from oblivion the names of D'Aubrey, the commander, De 
Lignery, his second, of Monsieur Marini, the leader of the 
Indians, and of Captains De Villie, Pepentine, Martini and 
Basonc. 

The Seneca warriors, snuffing the battle from their homes 
on the Genesee and beyond, were roaming restlessly through 
Erie and Niagara counties and along the shores of the river, 
uncertain how to act, more friendly to the French than the 
English, and yet unwilling to engage in conflict with their 
brethren of the Six Nations. 

D'Aubrey led his flotilla past the site of Buffalo and past 
Grand island and only halted on reaching the shores of Navy 
island. After staying there a day or two, to communicate with 
the fort, he passed over to the main land and marched forward 
to battle. But Sir William Johnson, who had succeeded to 
the command on the death of Prideaux, was not the kind of 
man likely to meet with the fate of Braddock. Apprised of 



1 6 THE FREN'CH DEFEATED. 

the approach of the French, he retained men enough before 
the fort to prevent an outbreak of the garrison, and stationed 
the rest in an advantageous position on the east side of the 
Niagara, just below the whirlpool. After a battle an hour 
long the French were utterly routed, several hundred being 
slain on the field, and a large part of the remainder being cap- 
tured, including the wounded D'Aubrey. 

On the receipt of this disastrous news, the garrison at once 
surrendered. The control of the Niagara river, which had 
been in the hands of the French for over a hundred years, 
passed into those of the English. For a little while the 
French held possession of the fort at Schlosser, and even 
repulsed an English force sent against it. Becoming satisfied, 
however, that they could not withstand their powerful foe, 
they determined to destroy their two armed vessels laden with 
military stores. They accordingly took them into an arm of 
the river separating Buckhorn from Grand island, at the very 
northwesternmost limit of Erie county, burned them to the 
waters' edge and sunk the hulls. 

Soon the life-bought victory of Wolfe gave Quebec to the 
triumphant Britons. Still the French clung to their colonies 
with desperate but failing grasp, and it was not till September, 
1760, that the Marquis de Vaudreuil, the Governor-General of 
Canada, surrendered Montreal, and with it Detroit, Venango, 
and all the other within his jurisdiction. This surrender was 
ratified by the treaty of peace between England and France 
in February, 1 763, which ceded Canada to the former power 
and thus ended the long- contest. 



PONTIAC S CONSI'IRACV. 



CHAPTER IV. 

ENGLISH DOMINION. 

Pontiac's League — The Seneca's Hostile — The Devil's Hole — Battle Near Buf- 
falo — Treaty at Niagara — Bradstreet's Expedition — Israel Putnam — Lake 
Commerce — Wreck of the Beaver — Tryon County. 

The celebrated Indian Chief Pontiac, united several western 
tribes against the British soon after their advent. In May, 
1763, the league surprised nine out of twelve English forts and 
massacred their garrisons. Detroit, Pittsburgh and Niagara 
alone escaped surprise and each successfully resisted a siege. 
There is no positive evidence, but there is little doubt that the 
Senecas were involved in Pontiac's league and were active in 
their attack on Niagara. 

In the September following occurred the awful tragedy of 
the Devil's Hole, when a band of Senecas, of whom Honaye- 
wus, afterwards celebrated as Farmers Brothers, was one and 
Cornplanter probably another, ambushed a train of English 
army wagons, with an escort of soldiers, the whole numbering 
ninety-six men, three and a half miles below the Falls, and 
massacred every man except four. 

A few weeks later, on the 19th of October, 1763, there 
occurred the first hostile conflict in Erie county, of which 
there is any record, in which white men took part. It occurred 
probably at or near Black Rock. Si.x hundred British soldiers, 
under one Major Wilkins, were on their way in boats to rein- 
force their comrades in Detroit. A hundred and sixty of them, 
who were a half mile astern of the others, were suddenly fired on 
by a band of Senecas in a thicket on the shore. So close was 
their aim that thirteen men were killed or wounded at the first 
fire. Yihy soldiers landed and attacked the Indians. Three 
more soldiers were killed and twelve badh- wounded. It does 
not appear that the Indians suffered near as heavily as the 
English. 

In the Summer of 1764, General Bradstreet, with twelve hun- 
dred British and Americans came bv water to Fort Niagara. 



l8 INDIAN' COUNCIL AT FORT NIAGARA. 

accompanied by the indefatigable Sir William Johnson. A grand 
council of friendly Indians was held at the fort, among whom 
Sir William exercised his customary skill, and satisfactory treaties 
were made. But the Senecas held aloof, and were said to be 
meditating a renewal of the war. At length General Bradstreet 
ordered their immediate attendance, under penalty of the 
destruction of their settlements. They came, ratified the treaty 
and thenceforward adhered to it pretty faithfully, notwithstand- 
ing the peremptory manner in which it was obtained. In the 
meantime a fort had been erected on the site of Fort Erie, the 
first ever built there. 

In August, Bradstreet's army increased to nearly three thou- 
sand men, came up the river and proceeded up the south side of 
the lake, for the purpose of bringing the western Indians to 
terms, a task which was successfully accomplished without blood- 
shed. (The journey was made in open boats rigged with sails.) 
Now there was peace for awhile. The British coming up the 
Niagara usually landed at Fort Erie, where a post was all the 
while maintained, and going thence in open boats to Detroit, 
Mackinaw and other western forts. 

The commerce of the upper lakes consisted of supplies for the 
military posts, goods to trade with the Indians and furs received 
in return. The trade was carried on mostly in open boats, pro- 
pelled by oars, with the occasional aid of a temporary sail. 
There were, however, at least two or three English trading ves- 
sels on Lake Erie before the Revolution. One, called the 
Beaver, is known to have been lost in a storm, and is believed 
by the best authorities to have been wrecked near the mouth of 
Eigteen-Mile creek, and to have furnished the relics found in 
that vicinity b)' early settlers. 

All the western part of the Colony of New York was nomin- 
ally a part of Albany county up to 1772. In that year a new 
county was formed embracing all that part of the colony west 
of the Delaware river, and of a line running northeastward from 
the head of that stream through the present Count}' of Scho- 
harie, thence northward along the east line of Montgomer)', 
Fulton and Hamilton counties, and continuing in a straight line 
to Canada. It was named Tryon in honor of William Tr\'on, 
then the Royal Governor of Ne\\' York. Guy Johnson, Sir 



DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. I9 

William's nephew and son-in-law, was the earliest " first Judge" 
of the Common Pleas, with the afterward celebrated John But- 
ler as one of his associates. Sir William Johnson, an able mili- 
tary commander and Indian agent long in the employ of the 
British government, died suddenly, at Johnstown, near the 
Mohawk in 1774. Much of his influence over the Six Nations 
descended to his son, Sir John Johnson, and his nephew. Col. 
Guy Johnson. The latter became his successor in the ofifice of 
Superintendent of Indian Affairs. 



20 TREATY BETWEEN THE INDIANS AND HRITISH. 



CHAPTER V. 
THE REVOLUTION. 

Four Iroquois Tribes Hostile — The Oswego Treaty — Scalps — Brant — Guien- 
gwahtoh — Wyoming — Cherry Valley — Sullivan's Expedition — Senecas 
Settle in Erie County — Gilbert Family — Pence. 

In 1775, the Revolution began. Tlie new Superintendent 
made good his influence over all of the Six Nations except the 
Oneidas and Tuscaroras. John Butler established himself at 
Fort Niagara and organized a- regiment of Tories, known as 
Butler's Rangers, and he and the Johnsons used all their influ- 
ence to induce the Indians to attack the Americans. The Sen- 
ecas held aloof for a while, but the prospect of both blood and 
pay was too much for them to withstand, and in 1777 they, in 
common with Cayugas, Onondagas and Mohawks, made a treaty 
with the British at Oswego, agreeing to serve the King through- 
out the war. 

Fort Niagara became, as it had been during the French war 
the key of all this region, and to it the Iroquois constantly 
looked for support and guidance. Their raids kept the whole 
frontier for hundreds of m.iles in a state of terror, and were 
attended by the usual horrors of savage warfare. 

Among the celebrated Iroquois Chiefs in the Revolution was 
Theyendenega (or Joseph Brant), a Mohawk, and Guiengwah- 
toh and Honayewus (or Farmer's Brother), Cornplanter, and 
Governor Blacksnake, of the Senecas. 

The slaughter and devastation in the \\'\-oming valley, in 
Pennsylvania, and the massacre at Cherry Valley, in the State 
of New Yot"k, and other events of a similar kind on a smaller 
scale, induced Congress and Cieneral Washington to send an 
army against the Six Nations in the Summer of 1779. General 
Sullivan, the commander, marched up the Susquehana to Tioga 
Point, where he was joined by a brigade under Gen. James 
Clinton (father of DeWitt Clinton), and then with a force of 
about 4,000 men, moved up the Chemung to near the site of 
Klmira- There Colonel Butler, with a small body of Indians 



THK SKNF.CAS IX l-.RIK (■()rNI\'. 21 

and Tories, x'ariousK' estimated at from six lumdred to fifteen 
hundred men, had thrown up intrenchments, and a battle was 
foui^ht. Butler was defeated, retired with considerable loss, and 
made no further resistance. Sullivan advanced and destroyed 
all the Seneca villages on the Genesee and about Cieneva, burn- 
iuL;- wii^wams and cabins, cuttint;^ down orchards, cuttint:^ up 
<;"rowin;^ corn and utterl)' clewistatins^ the country. 

The Senecas fled in great disma\' to fort Niagara. The 
Onondaga village had iti the meantime been destroyed by 
another force, but it is plain that the Senecas were the ones 
who were chiefly feared, and against whom the vengeance of 
the Americans was chiefly directed. After thoroughly lading 
waste their country, the Americans returned to the east. 

The Senecas had not only cornfields, but gardens, orchards 
and sometimes comfortable houses. They were the most pow- 
erful and warlike of all the Six Nations, but their spirits were 
much broken by this disaster. It was with difficult}' that the 
British authorities procured sufficient rations to sustain the 
Indians through the severe Winter of 1779-80, at Niagara. 

As Spring approached the English made earnest efforts to 
reduce the expense, by persuading the Indians to make new- 
settlements and plant crops. 

In the Spring of 1780, a considerable body of Senecas came 
up from Fort Niagara and established themselves on Buffalo 
Creek, about four miles above its mouth. This as far as known 
A\as the first permanent settlement of the Senecas in Erie 
county. They had probably had huts here to use while hunt- 
ing and fishing, but no regular villages. In fact, this settle- 
ment of the Senecas in the Spring of 1780, was probably the 
first permanent occupation of the count}' since the destruction 
of the Neuter Nation, a hundred and thirty-five years before. 
The same Spring another band located themselves at the 
mouth of the Cattaraugus. 

The Indians who settled on Buffalo creek brought with them 
several members of a Quaker family b}' the name of (iilbert 
who had been captured a few months prexious on the borders 
of Pennsylvania. After the war, this family published a narra- 
tive of their capti\'it}', which gives valuable information regard- 
ing this period of our history. 



22 SURRENDER OF CORNWALLIS. 

Immediately on the arrival of the Indians the squaws began 
to clear the land and prepare it for corn, while the men built 
some log huts and then went out hunting. In the beginning of 
the Winter of 1780-81, two British officers. Captain Powell and 
Lieutenant Johnston, came to the settlement on Buffalo creek 
and remained until toward Spring. They were probably sent 
by the British authorities at Fort Niagara to aid in putting the 
new settlement on a solid foundation. They made strenuous 
efforts to obtain the release of Rebecca and Benjamin, two of 
the younger members of the Gilbert family, but the Indians 
were unwilling to give them up. This Lieutenant Johnston 
afterward located at Buffalo, and was known to the early settlers 
as Capt. William Johnston. It must have been about this time 
that Johnston took unto himself a Seneca wife, for his son, 
John Johnston, was a young man when Buffalo was laid out, in 
1803. Captain Powell had married Jane Moore, a girl who, 
with her mother and others of the family, had been captured at 
Cherry Valley. 

Captain (afterwards Colonel) Powell is frequently and honor- 
ably mentioned in several accounts as doing everything in his 
power to ameliorate the condition of the captives among the 
Indians. Through his influence and exertions, several of the 
Gilbert family were released from captivity and sent to Mon- 
treal. In the Spring of 1781, Captain Powell was sent to dis- 
tribute provisions, hoes and other implements among the 
Indians. At the distribution, the Chiefs of every band came 
for shares, each having as many sticks as there were persons 
in his band, in order to insure a fair division. In October, 
1 78 1, Cornwallis surrendered, and thenceforth there were no 
more active hostilities. 

Rebecca Gilbert and Benjamin Gilbert, jr., were released the 
next year. This appears to have been managed by Colonel 
Butler, who, to give him his due, always seemed willing to 
befriend the captives, though constantly sending out his sav- 
ages to make new ones. Not until the arrangements were all 
made did the Indians inform Rebecca of her approaching 
freedom. With joyful heart she prepared for the journey, 
making bread and doing other needful work for her captors. 



PEACK l••()RM.\I.I.^■ DKCl.ARKI). 23 

Then by canoe and on foot she aiid her brother were taken to 
Fort Niai^ara, and, after a conference, the last two of tlie ill-fated 
Gilbert family were released from captivity in June, I7<S2. 

In the fall of 1783, peace was formally declared between 
Great Britain and the revolted colonies henceforth to be 
acknowledt^ed by all men as the United States of America. 



24 PHELPS AND GORHAM PURCHASE. 



CHAPTER VI. 

The Treaty of Fort Stanwix, 1784 — Phelps and Gorham's Purchase in 17S8 — 
Council at Buffalo Creek in 178S — Phelps' Large Mill Site on the Genesee 
River — Robert Morris — The Holland Land Company— Treaty of 1826 — 
Treaty of 1842 — Buffalos and Buffalo Creek. 

In October, 1784, a treaty was made at Fort Stanwix (Rome) 
between three Commissioners of the United States and the 
Sachems of the Six Nations. 

The eastern boundary of the Indian lands does not seem to 
have been in dispute, but the United States wanted to extin- 
guish whatever claim the Six Nation: might have to the west- 
ern territory, and also to keep open the right of way around the 
Falls of Niagara, which Sir William Johnston had obtained for 
the British. 

In 1788, Massachusetts sold all her land in New York, about 
six million acres, to Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham act- 
ing on behalf of themselves and others, for one million dollars, 
in three equal annnal payments, the purchasers being at liberty 
to pay in certain stocks of that State, then worth about twenty 
cents on the dollar; the purchase was subject to the rights of 
the Indians. 

Phelps procured the calling of a council at Buffalo Creek, 
which met July 5, 1788. Phelps had secured the influence of 
Butler, Brant, and other influential persons, and the proceed- 
ings were very harmonious. The east line of this purchase ran 
from Pennsylvania due north to Lake Ontario and crossing 
•Seneca lake ; the west line ran from Avon south, along the 
Genesee river to the mouth of Canaseraga creek, thence due 
south to the Pennsylvania line. This was " Phelps and Gorham 
purchase." It included about two million six hundred thousand 
acres, for which they paid five thousand dollars in hand, and five 
hundred dollars annually for e\^er; this was about equal to half 
a cent an acre. During the negotiations, Phelps suggested that 
he wanted to build some mills at the falls of the Genesee (now 
Rochester), which would be very convenient for Indians as well 
as whites; and he wished the Indians to give him a mill site 



HOLLAND PU RCIL\SE. 25 

and the necessary aiiKHint ()f land to l;<) with it. The red men 
thought mills woidd be a good thing, and their white brotlier 
should have a mill-site — how much land did he want for this 
purpose? Phelps replied that he thought a strip about twelve 
miles wide, extending from Avon to the mouth of the river, 
tw^enty-eight miles, would be about right. The Indians thought 
that a pretty large mill-site, but they gave him the land. The 
mill-site contained about two hundred thousand acres. 

The adoption of the Federal constitution had caused a great 
rise in Massachusetts stocks, so that Phelps and Gorham were 
unable to make the payments they had agreed on and Massa- 
chusetts released them from their contract as to all the land 
except that to which they had extinguished the Indian title, to 
wit, " Phelps and Gorham Purchase;" of that the State gave 
them a deed in full. 

Massachusetts then sold the released lands in five tracts to 
Robert Morris, the merchant prince of Philadelphia, and the 
celebrated financier of the revolution. ' The easternmost of 
these tracts Mr. Morris sold out in small parcels. The remain- 
ing four constituted the " Holland Purchase." Mr. Morris sold 
it by conveyances made in 1792 and 1793, to several Ameri- 
cans, who held it in trust for a number of Hollanders, who, 
being aliens, could not hold it in their own name at that time. 
These Hollanders were known as the Holland company after- 
wards. In September, 1797, a council was held at Geneseo, at 
which Robert Morris bought of the Indians the whole of the 
remaining Seneca lands in New York, except eleven reserva- 
tions of various sizes. 

At a council held in August, 1826, the Senecas ceded to the 
Ogden compan)- thirt)--three thousand six hundred and thirty- 
seven acres of the Buffalo Creek reservation, thirty-three 
thousand four hundred and nine acres of the Tonawanda reser- 
\-ation, five thousand one hundred and twent}' of the Catta- 
augus reser\^ation, besides one thousand fi\e hundred acres in 
the Genesee valley. 

From the Buffalo Creek reser\-ation, a strip a mile and a half 
wide was sold off on the north side commencing at a point 
one and one half miles east of where the Cayuga creek crossed 
the reservation line in the town of Chautauqua, thence to the 



26 THE ( ;attakau(;us reservation. 

east end of the reservation, also a strip three miles wide across 
the east end. And finally a strip a mile wide extending the 
whole length of the south side of the reservation called the 
" Mile Strip." 

Of the Cattaragus reservation, there was ceded in Erie 
county a strip six miles long and a mile wide from the north 
side called the " Mile Strip," and a mile square called the 
" Mile Block," south of the east end of that strip. Both are 
in the present town of Brant. 

In the year 1838, the Ogden company made strong efforts 
to obtain possession of all the Indian lands in Western New 
York. A treaty was made and sanctioned by the President and 
ratified by the Senate to accomplish that object. The Indians 
were to receive nearly two million acres of land in Kansas, 
and a considerable amount of money in exchange for their 
reservation. But the facts brought to light in regards to the 
means used to obtain the signatures of some of the chiefs 
caused so much popular feeling, and the determination of 
the Indians was so strong not to go west, that the company 
did not try to remove them. 

In May, 1842, a new agreement was made by which the 
Ogden company allowed the Senecas to retain the Cattaraugus 
and Allegany reservations and the Indians gave up the Buffalo 
creek and Tonawanda tracts on condition of receiving their 
proportionate value. This was satisfactory to the Buffalo 
Creek Indians, but not to those on the Tonawanda reservation. 
Arbitrators duly chosen decided that the proportionate value 
of the Indian title to those two reservations was seventy-five 
thousand dollars, and that of the improvements on them fifty- 
nine thousand dollars. They also awarded the portion of the 
fifty-nine thousand dollars due to each Indian on the Buffalo 
creek reservation, but could not do it on the Tonawanda one, 
because the inhabitants of the latter refused to let them come 
on the reservation to make an appraisal. After some two years 
one of the claimants undertook to expel one of the Tonawanda 
Indians by force, whereupon he sued him and recovered judg- 
ments, the court deciding that the proper steps had not been 
taken to justify the claimant's action. 

Finally to end the controversy the United States Govern- 



BUFFALO CREEK. 2/ 

ment bought the claim of the O^den Company to the Tona- 
wanda Reservation and gave it to the Indians residing there. 
They now hold it by the same title by which white men own 
their lands, except that the fee is in the whole tribe and not in 
any individual members. 

Meanwhile the Buffalo Indians quietly received the money 
alloted to them and after a year or two allowed them for prep- 
aration, they in 1843-4 abandoned their reservation. Most 
of them joined their brethren on the Cattaraugus reserva- 
tion, some went to that on the Allegany, and a few removed 
to lands allotted them in Kansas. 

The treaty of Fort Stanwix was the first public document 
containing the name of Buffalo creek, as applied to the stream 
which empties into the foot of Lake Erie. The narrative of 
the Gilbert family, published just after the war, was the first 
appearance of the name in writing or printing. 

The question has been often debated, whether the original 
Indian name was "Buffalo" creek. This almost of necessity 
involves the further question, whether the buffalo ever ranged 
on its banks; for it is to be presumed that Indians would not 
in the first place have adopted that name, unless such had 
been the case. 

Numerous early travelers and later hunters, mention the 
existence of buffalo in the vicinity, or not far away. A strong 
instance is the account of the Missionaries Chaumonot and 
Breboeuf, which declares that the Neuter Nation, who occu- 
pied the County of Erie, and a portion of Canada across the 
Niagara river were in the habit of hunting the buffalo, together 
with other animals. 

Mr. Ketchum in his history of " Buffalo and the Senccas," 
says that all the oldest Senecas in 1820, declared that buffalo 
bones had been found within their recollection, at the salt licks 
near Sulphur Springs. The same authorities produce evidence 
that white men had killed buffaloes within the last one hundred 
and twenty years, not only in Ohio, but Western Pennsylvania. 
Albert Gallatin who was a surve}'or in Western Virginia in 
1784, declared in a paper published by the American Ethno- 
logical Society, that they were at that time abundant in the 
Kenhawa \'alle\-, and that he had for eight months lived 



28 THE NEUTER XATKJN. 

principally on their flesh. This is positive proof and the Kenhawa 
valley is onl)' three hundred miles from here and oni\- one hun- 
dred miles further west, and is as well wooded a country as this. 

The narrative of the Gilbert family is very strong evidence 
that from the first the Senecas applied the name of Buffalo to 
the stream in question. Although the book was not published 
until after the war, yet the knowledge then given to the public 
was acquired in 1 780, '81 and '82. At least six of the family 
were among the Senecas on Buffalo, creek. Some of them 
were captives for over two years, and must have acquired con- 
siderable knowledge of the language. It is utterly out of the 
question that they could all have been mistaken as to the name 
of the stream on which they lived, which must have been con- 
stantly referred to by all the Senecas in talking about their peo- 
ple domiciled there, as well as by the scores of British ofificers 
and soldiers with whom the Gilberts came in contact. 

If then the Neuter Nation hunted buffalos across in Canada 
in 1640, if they were killed by the whites in Ohio and Penn- 
sylvania within the last century, if Albert Gallatin found them 
abundant on the Kenhawa in 1784, if the old Senecas of 1820 
declared they had found their bones at the salt licks, and if the 
Indians called the stream on which they settled in 1780, Buffalo 
creek, there can be no reasonable doubt that they knew what 
they were about, and did so because that name came down 
from former times when the monarch of the western prairie 
strayed over the plains of the county of Erie. 



KARI.V LAND (i RANIS. 29 



C H A P r E R VII. 

LAND TITLES. 

King James' Grant — Grant of Charles [. — Conflicting Claims — Phelps and 
(jorham's Purchase — Sale to Robert Morris. 

James the b'irst, Kin<;" of Great Britain, in the year 1620, 
granted to the Ph'inouth company a tract of countr\' called 
New Ent;iand. This tract extended through several degrees of 
latitude north and south, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific 
ocean, east and west. 

Charles the First, in 1663, granted to the Duke of York and 
Albany the province of New York, including the present State 
of New Jersey. The tract thus granted extended from a line 
twenty miles east of the Hudson river westward indefiniteh'. 

By these grants, each of the colonies (afterward states) laid 
claim to the jurisdiction as well as to the pre-emption right of 
the same land, including a portion of the State of New York, 
and a tract farther west sufficiently large to fornj several states. 

The State of New York, how^ever, in 1781, and Massachu- 
setts in 1785, ceded to the United States all their rights, both 
of jurisdiction and of proprietorship, to all the territor)' l}'ing 
west of the meridian line running south from the westerly end of 
Lake Ontario. This left about twenty thousand square miles 
of territory in dispute, but this controversy was finall\- settled 
by a convention of commissioners appointed by Massachusetts 
and New York, held at Hartford, Conn., on the i6th day of 
December, 1786. 

According to the stipulation entered into by the convention 
Massachusetts ceded to the State of New York all her claim to 
the government, sovereignt}' and jurisdiction of all the terri- 
tory lying west of the present east line of the State of New- 
York, and New York ceded to Massachusetts the pre-emption 
right or fee of the land, subject to the title of the Indians, of 
all that part of the State of New York lying west of a line 
beginning at a point in the north line of Pennsylvania, eighty- 
two miles west of the northeast corner of said state, and 



30 LAND PURCHASES. 

running from there due north through Seneca lake to Lake 
Ontario ; excepting and reserving to the State of New York a 
strip of land east of and adjoining the eastern bank of Niagara 
river, one mile wide, and extending its whole length (called the 
state mile strip). The land, the pre-emption right of which 
was thus ceded, amounted to about six millions of acres. 

In April, 1788, Massachusetts contracted to sell to Nathaniel 
Gorham and Olivier Phelps, of said state (who were acting for 
themselves and their associates), their pre-emption right to all 
the lands in Western New York, amounting to about six 
million acres, for the sum of one million dollars, to be paid in 
three annual installments, for which a kind of scrip Massa- 
chusetts had issued, called consolidated securities, was to be 
received, which was then in the market much below par. 

In July, 1788, Messrs. Gorham and Phelps, purchased of the 
Indians, by a treaty at a convention held at Buffalo creek, the 
Indian title to about two millions six hundred thousand acres of 
the eastern part of their purchase from Massachusetts. This 
purchase of the Indians being bounded west by a line running 
due south from the mouth of Canaseraga creek to the Pennsyl- 
vania line, and northerly from the mouth of said creek along 
the waters of the Genesee river to a point two miles north of 
Cannawagas village, thence running west twelve miles, thence 
running northwardly so as to be twelve miles distant from the 
west side of said river to the shore of Lake Ontario. 

On the 2 1st day of November, 1788, the State of Massachu- 
setts conveyed and forever quitclaimed to Gorham and Phelps, 
their heirs and assigns forever, all the right and title of said 
state to all that tract of country of which Messrs. Phelps and 
Gorham had extinguished the Indian title. This tract, and 
this only, has since been designated as the " Phelps and Gor- 
ham purchase." 

Messrs. Phelps and Gorham, who had paid about one-third 
of the purchase money of the whole tract purchased by Massa- 
chusetts, in consequence of the rise of the value of Massach- 
setts consolidated stock (in which the payments for the land 
were to be received) from twenty per cent, to par. were unable 
further to comply with their engagements on their part and 
Massachusetts commenced suits on their bonds. After a long 



TlIK MORRIS RKSKRVK. 3 1 

negotiati()n between the parties, the v\ hole transaction relative 
to the purchase of those land was settled and finally closed on 
the loth day of March, 1791, Phelps and Gorham relinquished 
to Massachusetts that portion of the land since known as the 
"Holland Purchase" and the "Morris Reserve," and Massa- 
chusetts relinquished to the said Phelps and Gorham their 
bonds for the payment of the purchase money therefor. 

The whole of said lands, released by Phelps and Gorham to the 
State of Massachusetts, as above stated, were sold by said state, 
to Robert Morris on the i ith day of May, 1791, in five different 
deeds. The first deed included all the land on said tract l>'inij 
east of a meridian line beginning at a point in the north line of 
Pennsylvania, twelve miles west of the southwest corner of 
Phelps and Gorham's tract and running due north to Lake 
Ontario, supposed to contain about five hundred thousand 
acres. The above tract took the name of " The Morris 
Reserve." from the fact that he retained that tract in the sale 
which he afterwards made to the Holland company. 



32 THE HOLLAND COMPANY. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Historical Deduction of the Holland Company's Title — A Curious Fact — 
Indian Council at Geneseo — Indian Reservation^Joseph Ellicott the 
Principal Surveyor — Other Surveyors — The Transit Instrument — Run- 
ning the East Transit Line — Running the Mile-Sirip Line a ong the 
Niagara River — Buffalo Creek — Williamsburg — "Transit Store House" 
— The First Wagon Track on the Holland Purchase— Buffalo in 179S — 
First Crops Raised on the Holland Purchase —The Three Taverns 
Located — The First Woman on the Holland Purchase. 

The last four tracts described in the conveyances of the 
land purchased of Massachusetts, by Robert Morris, were con- 
veyed by him, by four separate deeds, as follows: First deed 
from Robert Morris and wife, to Herman Le Roy and John 
Linklaen, for one and a half million acres, dated December 24, 
1 792. Second deed from Robert Morris and wife, to Herman Le 
Roy, John Linklaen and Gerrit Boon for one million acres, 
dated February 27, 1793. Third deed from Robert Morris and 
wife, to Herman Le Roy, John Linklaen and Gerrit Boon, for 
eight hundred thousand acres, dated July 20, 1793. Fourth 
deed from Robert Morris and wife, to Herman Le Ro}% William 
Bayard and Matthew Clarkson, for three hundred thousand 
acres, dated July 20, 1793. 

These tracts were purchased with the funds of certain gen- 
tlemen in Holland, and held in trust b\' the several grantees 
for their benefit, as they, being aliens, could not purchase and 
hold real estate in their own names, according to the then 
existing laws of the State. After several changes in the trus- 
tees, and transfers of portions of the land, sanctioned b}' the 
Legislature, the whole tract was conveyed by the trustees, by 
three separate deeds to the Holland compan\', or rather to the 
individuals in their own names, composing three separate 
branches of the company. 

Although these deeds of con\'e\'ance were given to three 
distinct companies of proprietors, their interests were so closely 
blended, several ot the same persons, having large interests in 
each of the three different estates; they appointed one general 



'11 1 1'-. DITCH I'kol'RIKl'okS. 33 

agent for the whole, who manaj^ed the coneerns of the tract 
generally, as though it belonged to the same proprietors, 
making no distinction which operated in the least on the settlers 
and purchasers, but sinii)l\- keeping the accounts of each separate, 
when practicable, and apportioning /n^ /v^/c?, all expenses when 
blended in the same transaction, for the benefit of the whole. 
The general agent likewise appointed the same local or resident 
agent for the three companies owning this tract in Western 
New York. The onl)- difference between its consisting of one 
or more tracts discernable by the purchaser of lands, was, in 
executing contracts or conveyances, the agents used the names 
of the respective proprietors of each tract. Under this state 
of things, we shall denominate the whole of the proprietors 
holding under these three deeds, "The Holland Company," 
and the lands conveyed by those deeds the "Holland Purchase.'' 
It is a curious fact that when the Dutch proprietors were par- 
celing out the tract among the three different branches of the 
company, it was mutually agreed among the whole, that 
Messrs. Wilhem Willink, Jan Willink, Wilhem VVillink the 
younger, and Jan Willink the younger, should have three 
hundred thousand acres, located in such part of the whole tract 
as they should select. In making their selection they located 
their three hundred thousand acres in nearl)- a square form, in 
the south-east corner of the tract, for the reason that it was 
nearest Philadelphia, the residence of their general agent. 
This selection contained the territory now comprising the towns 
of Bolivar, Wirt, Friendship, the east part of Belfast, (ienesee, 
Clarksville and Cuba, in Allegany county; Portville and the 
east parts of Ischua and Hinsdale, in Cattaraugus county. 
This location will give the reader who is acquainted with the 
geography of the country, some idea of the knowledge, or 
rather want of knowledge, of the Dutch proprietors, of the 
situation and relative advantages of the different portions of 
their vast domains. 

This sale by Robert Morris to the Holland company was 
made before the Indian title to the land was extinguished, 
accompanied by an agreement on his part to extinguish that 
title, with the assistance of the company, as soon as practicable ; 
therefore at a council of the Seneca Indi.uis, hekl at Geneseo, 

2 



34 



I NDI AN RESERV ATION.'^. 



on the Genesee river, in the month of September, 1797, at which 
Jeremiah Wadsworth attended as commissioner for the United 
States, and William Shepherd as agent for Massachusetts, 
Robert Morris in fulfilment of his several contracts with the 
Holland company, and to other persons to whom he had sold 
land on this tract, acting by his agents, Thomas Morris and 
Charles Williamson, extinguished the Indian title to all the 
land, the pre-emption right of which he had purchased of Mas- 
sachusetts, except the following Indian reservations, viz ; The 
Cannawagus reservation, containing two square miles, lying on 
the west bank of Genesee river, west of Avon. Little Beard's 
and Big Tree reservations, containing together four square 
miles, lying on the west bank of the Genesee river, opposite 
Geneseo. Squakie Hill reservation, containing two square 
miles, lying on the north bank of the Genesee river, north of 
Mount Morris. Gardeau reservation, containing about twenty- 
eight square miles, lying on both sides of Genesee river, two 
or three miles south of Mount Morris. The Canadea reserva- 
tion, containing sixteen square miles, lying each side of, and 
extend eight miles along the Genesee river, in the county of 
Allegany. The Oil Spring reservation, containing one square 
mile, lying on the line between Allegany and Cattaraugus 
counties. The Allegany reservation, containing forty-two 
square miles, lying on each side of the Allegany river and 
extending from the Pennsylvania line northeaswardly about 
twenty-five miles. The Cattaraugus reservation, containing 
forty-two square miles, lying on each aide and near the mouth 
of the Cattaraugus creek, on Lake Erie. The Buffalo reserva- 
tion, containing one hundred and thirty square miles, lying on 
both sides of Buffalo creek, and extending east from Lake 
Erie about seven miles wide. The Tonawanda reservation, 
containing seventy square miles, lying on both sides of 
Tonawanda creek, beginning about twenty-five miles from 
its mouth, and extending eastwardly about seven miles wide ; 
and the Tuscarora reservation, containing one square mile, 
being about three miles east of Lcwiston on the Mountain 
Ridge. 

Theophilus Cazenove, the general agent of the Holland 
company, resident at Philadelphia, in July, 1797, had engaged 



11 IK srK\ i:\' Co.MMKXCKI). 



Mr. loscpli ICllicott, as principal surveyor of the conii^any's 
lands in Western New York, whenever their title should be 
[jcrfected and possession obtained, and likewise, to attend the 
before-mentioned council, and assist Messrs. W. Bayard and J. 
Linklaen, who were to attend and act as assents for the corn- 
pan}' [sill) rasa) for the purpose of promoting- the interests of 
their principals in an\- treaty which mi<;ht be made with the 
Indians. Mr. Ellicott attended the council accordingly, and 
rendered valuable services to the purchasers. This period was 
the commencement of upwards of twenty years" re<;ular active 
service rendered by Mr. Ellicott to the Holland company, in 
conducting their affairs and executing laborious enterprises for 
their benefit. 

As soon as the favorable result of the proceedings of this 
council was known, Mr. Ellicott proceeded immediately to 
prepare for the traverse and survey of the north and northwest 
bounds of the tract. As soon as the necessary preparatory 
steps could be taken, Mr. Ellicott, as surveyor for the Holland 
company, and Augustus Porter, in the same capacity, for 
Robert Morris, for the purpose of estimating the quantity of 
land in the tract, started a survey at the northeast corner of 
Phelps and Gorham's tract, west of Genesee river, and trav- 
ersed the .south shore of Lake Ontario to the mouth of Niagara 
riv^er, thence up the eastern shore of Niagara river to Lake 
Erie, thence along the southeast shore of Lake Erie to 
the west bounds of the State of New York being a meridian 
line running due south from the west end of Lake Ontario, 
which had been previously established by Andrew Ellicott, 
Surveyor-General of the United States, assisted b\- Joseph 
Ellicott. All which was perfected by the middle of Novem- 
ber following. 

Before Mr. Ellicott left Western New York for Philadelphia, 
he contracted with Thomas Morris to deliver on the Genesee 
river or shore of Lake Ontario near the mouth of that river, 
one hundred barrels of pork, fifteen barrels of beef, and two 
hundred and seventy barrels of flour, for the supply of the 
surveyors and their assistants the ensuing season. Mr. Ellicott, 
at the request of the Agent-General, made a list of articles to 
be provided for the next .season's campaign, consisting of a 



36 SUBDIVISION OF WWNSHIPS. 

diversity of articles, from pack-horses to horse-shoes, nails and 
gimlets — from tents to towels — from barle}' and rice to choco- 
late, coffee and tea, and from camp-kettles to teacups ; esti- 
mated to amount to $7,213.33. This statement, however, did 
not include medicine, " or wine, spirits, loaf-sugar, &c., for 
headquarters." Mr. EUicott likewise calculated the wages of 
surveyors and other hands, for six months of the next season, 
at $19,830. 

Although the great divisions of the Holland Purchase was 
intended to consist of townships six miles square, the division 
of the tract among the three sets of proprietors, the Indian 
reservations which were not included in the townships, as well 
as the offsets and sinuosities existing in most of the boundaries, 
prevented a large portion of the townships conforming to this 
standard. The townships are situated in ranges running from 
south to north. The townships in each range of townships 
beginning to number one at the south, rising regularly in 
number to the north, and the ranges of townships beginning 
to number one at the east, and proceeding regularly west, to 
fifteen. 

The first plan of the Agent-General of the compan}-, relative 
to the subdivision of the townships, was to divide each town- 
ship, which was six miles square, into sixteen portions one and 
a half miles square, to be called sections, and each section 
again subdivided into twelve lots, each lot to be three-fourths 
of a mile long (generally north and south), and one-fourth of a 
mile wide, containing about one hundred and twent}' acres 
each ; presuming that a wealthy farmer would buy a section, 
whereon to locate himself and his progeny. Twenty-four 
townships were surveyed or commenced to be surveyed in con- 
formity to that plan, although the uniformity of the size and 
shape of lots was often departed from, where large streams, 
such as the Tonawanda, running through the townships, were, 
for convenience, made boundaries of lots. From experience, 
however, it was ascertained that, in the purchase of land, each 
individual, whether father, son, or son-in-law, would locate him- 
self according to his own choice or fancy. That this formal 
and regular division of land into farms, seldom was found to be 
in conformity to the topography of the country, nor to the 



■|"IIE SUR\ KNORS. 37 

different iXHjuireinents as to ciuaiitit}', likewise that tlie addition 
of sections to townships and lots, rendered the description of 
farms more complex, and increased the liability to err in defin- 
ing any particular location ; for which reasons, the practice of 
dividing townships in sections was abandoned, and thereafter, 
the townships were simply divided into lots of about sixty 
chains or three-fourths of a mile square, which could be divided 
into farms to suit the topography of the land and quantity 
required by the purchasers. In those townships which the sur- 
veys had commenced to divide into sections, and not com- 
pleted, the remaining sections were divided into four lots only 
of three-fourths of a mile square each. These lots conse- 
quently contained about three hundred and sixty acres each, 
but could not be laid off exactly uniform in shape and area, for 
the same reason heretofore given in a note, why the townships 
could not be laid off exactly uniform. 

Early in the Spring of 1788, Mr. Ellicott dispatched Adam 
Hoops, jr., a nephew of Major Adam Hoops, from Philadelphia, 
to Western New York, with general powers to prepare for 
opening the approaching campaign of surveying the Holland 
Purchase, and to co-operate with Augustus Porter, who had 
previously been engaged to procure horses, employ hands, and 
transport stores from the places of their delivery by the con- 
tractor, Mr. Morris, to the places where they would be required 
for consumption. 

The principal surve)^ors engaged during the active season of 
1798, in township, meridian line and reservation surveys, and in 
lake and river traverses, were as follows: Joseph and Benjamin 
Ellicott, JohnTompson, Richard M. Stoddard, George Burgess, 
James Dewey, David Ellicott, Aaron Oakford, jr., Augustus 
Porter, Seth Pease, James Smedly, William Shepherd, Geo. 
Eggleston. In addition to these, were two P'renchmen, MM. 
Haudecaur and Autrechy, who were employed in some surveys 
of Niagara river and the Falls. The last were rather engineers 
than surveyors. Mr. James Brisbane, then in his minority, 
came from Philadelphia, with Mr. Tompson, as clerk and store- 
keeper. 

Mr. Ellicott and his assistants having arrived on the territory, 
his first business was to ascertain and correctly establish the 



38 Till-: "TRANSIT IXSTRrMKXr." 

c;ist line of the Purchase. He caused the PennsyKania Hne to be 
accurateh' measured from the southwest corner of Phelps and 
Gorham's purchase, on the eighty-second mile-stone, twelve 
miles west, and there erected a stone monument for the south- 
east corner of the Holland Purchase. The whole company 
was then divided into parties, to prosecute the undertaking to 
advantage. The principal surveyor, Joseph Ellicott, assisted 
by Benjamin Ellicott, one other surveyor and the requisite 
number of hands, undertook to run the eastern boundary line. 
The other surveyors, each with his c[uota of hands, were 
assigned to run different township lines. 

A line running due north from the monument established as 
the south-east corner by Mr. Ellicott, to the boundary line 
between the United States and the dominions of the King of 
Great Britain, in Lake (3ntario, according to the deeds of con- 
veyance from Robert Morris to the company, constitutes the 
east line of their purchase. To run a true meridian by the sur- 
veyor's compass Mr. Ellicott knew to be impracticable, he there- 
fore determined to run this line by an instrument, having for 
its basis the properties of the " Transit instrument " (an instru- 
ment made use of to observe the transits of the heavenly 
bodies), improved for this purpose by a newly-invented manner 
of accurately arriving at the same ; to effect this object, an 
instrument possessing all these qualities, was manufactured in 
Philadelphia by his brother, Benjamin Ellicott, as no instru- 
ment possessing all the qualities desired, was then to be found 
in the United States. 

This instrument had no magnetic needle attached to it, but 
its peculiar qualities and prominent advantages are, that by 
means of its telescopic tube and accurate manner of reversing, 
by it, a straight line can be correctly, and comparatively speak- 
ing, expeditiously run. But such an instrument, by reason of 
its magnifying powers, is as ill calculated to run a line through 
the woods and underbrush, as would be a microscope to observe 
the transits of the satellites of Herschel. Therefore it became 
necessary to cut a vista through the woods on the highlands 
and on level ground, sufficient!}' wide to admit a clear and 
uninterru})ted view. 

Mr, Ellicott having provided himself with such an instrument. 



SUKVKV(JRS ARRIN'K .\r \V1 LMAMSliURO. 39 

caused the vista to be cut, some three or four rods wide, 
ahead of the transit instrument, in a north direction as indi- 
cated by the compass, which sometimes led the axmen more 
than the width of the vista from the meridian sought ; there- 
fore the true meridian hne, called the transit line, from the 
name of the instrument with which it was run, being of no 
width, runs sometimes on one side of the middle of the vista 
cut in advance, and sometimes on the other. 

Thus prepared with' a suitable instrument, Mr. Ellicott 
assisted by his brother, Benjamin Elllicott, together with sur- 
veyors and their assistants, established a true meridian line north 
from the corner monument, by astronomical observations, and 
pursued it with the transit instrument, taking new astronomical 
observations at different stations, to guard against accidental 
variations. 

The progress in running this line was slow, as it could not be 
otherwise expected, considering the great amount of labor nec- 
essary to be performed in clearing the vista, and taking other 
preparatory measures, and, above all, the vast importance of 
having it correctly established, which rendered anything like 
precipitance or haste, an experiment too hazardous to be per- 
mitted. June 1 2th, the party on this line had advanced so far 
north, that they established their store-house at Williamsburg 
(about three miles south of the village of Geneseo), and soon after 
Mr. Ellicott made it his headquarters at Hugh M'Nair's, in that 
vicinity. On the 22d day of November, following, eighty-one 
and a half miles of the line was established, which brought them 
within about thirteen miles of the shore of Lake Ontario. The 
precise date of its completion is unknowns. 

This line defined the west bounds of Mr. Church's one hun- 
dred thousand acres, but passed through the Cotringer, Ogden 
and Cragie tracts, about two miles from their west boundaries, 
as described in the deeds of conveyance from Robert Morris to 
the several grantees ; but as their titles were of a later date than 
the conveyance to the Holland Company, no deviation from the 
first established meridian was made by Mr. Ellicott. 

On arriving at the south line of the one hundred thousand 
acre tract, conveyed by Robert Morris to Leroy Bayard and 
M'Evers, now called the Connecticut tract (the conveyance of 



40 DIFFICULT WORK Acro.MI'LISHK] ). 

which, from Robert Morris, claimed seniority over that to the 
Holland Company). Mr. Ellicott found that his meridian inter- 
sected the south line of that tract, one hundred and sixty-six 
chains thirty links east of its southwest corner, on which he 
moved his position that distance to the west, from which point 
he ran the transit due north to Lake Ontario. 

Although the eastern bank of the Niagara river had been 
traversed, the east bounds of the New York mile strip had not 
been ascertained, and the state would participate in it no 
further than to give the proprietors of the land adjoining, to 
wit : the Holland Company liberty to run the line at their own 
expense, and if so run as to be approved by the Surveyor Gen- 
eral of the state, it should be established as permanently located, 
and passed a law to that effect. This was undoubtedly the 
most difficult piece of surveying ever performed in the state. 

At the north end where the river disembogued itself into the 
lake, at almost right angles with its shores, there could no 
doubts arise, but at the south end of the straits or river, a dif- 
ferent state of things existed, Lake Erie narrowed gradually and 
became a river ; where the lake ends and the river begins may 
be considered a difficult question, but it was finally agreed 
between the parties interested, the river should be deemed to 
extend to where the water was one mile wide and there cease ; 
the line of the strip east of this point extending to the shore 
of Lake Erie, on an arc of a circle of one mile radius, the center 
being on the eastern bank at the termination of the lake and 
head of the river, giving to the strip all the land lying within 
a mile of the river, whether east or south. 

For this arc of the circle, which could not be practically run, 
a repetition of short sides, making a section of a regular poly- 
gon, was substituted. Seth Pease, a scientific surveyor and 
astronomer, was engaged in the fall of 1788, to run this line, 
who executed the survey in a masterly manner, and to the satis- 
faction of all the parties concerned. 

During the year 1799 and 1800, few events transpired relative 
to the settlement of the Holland Purchase, which require a cir- 
cumstantial detail, or would admit of one which would be inter- 
esting to the reader. The surveyors and their assistants, under 
the direction of their principal, Joseph Ellicott, continued the 



CAl'l'. WILLIAM J( )II\S'r( )\. 41 

same stead}- routine of encamping in the woods, pitchinL( their 
tents, transportini,^ provisions, surveyin^r lines and striking their 
tents and removing to new positions ; and although at times 
many individuals, undoubtedly, suffered pain and endured hard- 
ships, such incidents must have been caused by accidental 
occurrences, unforeseen events or carelessness and imprudence 
in themselves or their companions, as the well-supplied coffers 
of the company, accompanied by their liberality, furnished 
sufficient means, and the provident care of Mr. Ellicott kept 
their storehouses well supplied with the best kind of provisions 
for that service, as well as other necessaries and many of the 
comforts of life. 

This might be seen from Mr. Ellicott's catalogue of items 
for the outfit of the first campaign, and its cost, heretofore 
referred to, which was adopted and its contents provided. 

(3f those events, however, the following deserve notice: 

The Indian treaty of 1797, in which the Indian title to the 
Holland Purchase was extinguished, except to certain reserva- 
tions, as has been before stated, prescribed the quantities con- 
tained in, and general shape and location of each reservation, 
leaving the precise locations of the boundary lines to be deter- 
mined thereafter. 

The Indians reserved 200,000 acres, one indefinite portion of 
which was to be located on Buffalo creek, at the east end of 
Lake Erie, and the remainder on Tonawanda creek. 

As the New York reservation excluded the Holland com- 
pany's land from the waters of Niagara river, and from the 
shore of Lake Erie one mile southerly from the river, it became 
very important to the company to secure a landing place and 
harbor at the mouth of Buffalo creek, and sufficient ground 
whereon to establish a commercial and manufacturing village 
or city. 

Capt. William Johnston, an Indian trader and interpreter, 
settled himself at the mouth of Buffalo creek at an early period 
under the auspices of the British government, and remained 
there until the Holland company had effected their purchase. 
His dwelling house stood south of Exchange and east of Wash- 
ington streets. Captain Johnston had procured of the Indians, 
by gift or purchase, two square miles of land at the mouth of 



42 I'KEI'ARATIUNS FUR THE CAMPAIGN. 

Buffalo creek, including a large portion of the territory on 
which now stands the City of Buffalo. He had also entered 
into an agreement with the Indians which amounted to a life 
lease of a certain mill site and the timbered land in its vicinity, 
on condition of supplying the Indians with all the boards and 
plank they wanted for building at and near the creek. This 
site was about six miles east of the mouth of the creek. Al- 
though Johnston's title to this land was not considered to have 
the least validity, yet the Indians had the power and the inclina- 
tion to include it within their reservation, unless a compromise 
was made with Johnston, and, taking into consideration his influ- 
ence with them, the agents of the company concluded to enter 
into the following agreement with him, which was afterwards 
fully complied with and performed by both of the parties : 

Johnston agreed to surrender his right to the said two square 
miles and use his influence with the Indians to have that tract 
and his mill site left out of their reservation, in consideration 
of which the Holland company agreed to convey by deed to 
said Johnston, 640 acres, including the said mill site and adja- 
cent timbered land, together with forty-five and one-half acres, 
being part of said two square miles, including the buildings and 
improvements, then owned by Johnston, four acres of which 
were to be on the "point." 

These lands, as afterward definitely located, were a tract of 
forty-one and a half acres, bounded : north, by Seneca street, 
west by Washington street, and south by the Little Buffalo 
creek ; the other tract was bounded, east by Main street, south- 
westerly by the Buffalo creek, and northwesterly by Little 
BulTalo creek, containing about four acres. 

This matter will again be referred to, in connection with 
some further notice of early events in Buffalo. 

Mr. Ellicott, before leaving Philadelphia — in the time that 
intervened between his appointment and his departure — was 
activel}^ engaged in making all the necessary preparations for 
the campaign. David Rittenhouse, the eminent American 
philosopher, was then of the firm of Rittenhouse & Potts, 
mathematical and astronomical instrument makers, in Philadel- 
phia; orders were given for compasses, chains and staffs — all 
things in their line necessary to surveyors' outfits. Letters 



i)i;i'.\Kri'i<i-. iRoM i'iiii.Ai)i:i.nii.\. 43 

were written to AuL;ustus Porter, at Canandait;ua, to have 
ready such provisions, pack horses, axe-nien and chain-men, as 
lie had been ordered to provide; to Thomas Morris, at the 
same place, recjuestin^ his promj^t performance of some agen- 
cies that had been entrusted to him; to different persons at 
New York, iVlbany, h'ort Schu)der and Oueenston, containing 
orders to facilitate the transportation of stores and aid the sur- 
veying [)arties in getting upon the ground, and in supplying 
themselves with all things necessary for going into the woods. 
All things requisite were remembered and provided for. Clark 
and Street, at Chippewa, were ordered to have read\- two yoke 
of oxen and a stout lumber wagon (that was undoubtedly the 
pioneer ox team upon the Holland Purchase, other than such 
as had been used upon the portage); even axe-handles and 
tent-poles were not forgotten. 

To each principal surveyor or sub-agent starting from Phila- 
delphia or elsewhere, written orders were issued what route to 
pursue, where to first rendezvous, where to draw his supplies 
and where to commence operations. P'ormulas were made out 
for each surveyor prescribing definitely the manner of his 
duties, of marking lines, keeping field notes and generally 
embracing all the minuta,' of his operations. It was as if the 
general of an army was acting as his own commissary and put- 
ting a force into the field, distributing it and making all things 
ready for a campaign, and the records of our war department 
would hardly furnish better examples of systematic and well 
ordered enterprises. 

Embraced in these preliminary proceedings, was a corre- 
spondence with Mr. Williamson, in reference to a road from 
the west branch of Susciuehaiinah to the " Genesee country ;" 
and with the Surveyor-General of this state in reference to the 
laying out of towns at Lewiston and Fort Schlosser. 

Mr. Ellicott arrived at Canandaigua on the 12th of June, 
1798. 

The reader will best be enabled to catch glimpses of early 
events — those that attended the surveys and preceded land 
sales and the commencement of settlement — by occasional 
references to and extracts from his correspondence, the only 
existing records. 



44 BUFFALO CREEK AND \VILLL\MSBUR(;H. 

A letter from Mr. Thompson to Mr. Ellicott, dated Buffalo 
Creek, states the stores had all arrived safely at Schlosser. 
except what had been left with Mr. Brisbane, at the " Chene- 
see" river; that Mr. Hoops, who had arrived in advance of 
him, had gone on to "Chetawque," where he had been joined 
by Mr. Stoddard ; that he himself was engaged in getting 
" axes ground and handled, and in sundry other things, prepara- 
tory to going to the woods." 

Letters followed this very soon, by which it would seem 
that the camp was erected at "Chautauqua Creek," and all 
things prepared for active operation as early as the 19th of 
June. 

Messrs. Smedley and Egleston were located at Buffalo 
Creek with surveying parties. In a letter to Mr. Ellicott, writ- 
ten from there, under date June 27th, Mr. Egleston says the 
goods have arrived, and that the " family in the house on the 
hill" are about to move out to make room for the surveyors. 
Mr. Ellicott, it would seem, had arrived at Schlosser. Antici- 
pating his arrival at Buffalo, Mr. Egleston very providently 
suggests that he had better bring with him room boards to 
make a mapping table, as there were none to be had in their 
new location, " Mr. Winne having carried off those that were in 
the partition." 

The first principal stations of the surveyors — their head- 
quarters or depots — were at Buffalo Creek and Williamsburgh ; 
before the close of 1798, however, the principal establishments 
were located at the Transit Line (Stafford, the locali^ty desig- 
nated as "Transit Storehouse"). 

Mr. James Brisbane, moving his quarters from Williams- 
burgh, continued as the principal Clerk or Agent. 

While upon the purchase, in 1798. Mr. Flllicott's time was 
principally spent at Buffalo Creek, Williamsburgh, and upon 
the Transit Line. 

In the Spring of 1798, when the surveys of the Holland Pur- 
chase first commenced, all the travel between the Phelps and 
Gorham tract and Buffalo was an old Indian trail. The Win- 
ter previous, however, the Legislature of this State passed an 
act appointing Charles Williamson a Commissioner to la}- out 



Bn-'IAI.o IN ITS I'.Akl.N' D.WS. 45 

and open a State road from C'anncwagus on Genesee river to 
Buffalo Creek on Lake Krie and to Lewiston, on the Niagara 
river. 

To defra\' the ex]:)ense of cutting;- out these roads, the Hol- 
land Compan}' subscribed fi\'e thousand dollars. Mr. William- 
son laid out and established the roads in 1798, generally 
adhering" to the course of old Indian trails; but they were not 
opened throughout according to contract, under his superin- 
tendence. The first wagon track opened upon the Holland 
purcha.se, was by Mr. Ellicott, as a preliminary step in com- 
mencing operations, early in the season of 1798. He employed 
a gang" of hands to improve the Indian trail, so that wagons 
could pass upon it, from the east transit to Buffalo creek. 

In 1 801 he opened the road from transit line as far west as 
Vandeventer's". The whole road was opened to LeRoy before 
the close of 1802. But little reference can be had to the order 
of time in noting the events of this period; up to the period 
of the commencement of land sales and settlements, our 
sketches must necessarily be desultory. 

Mr. Brisbane first saw Buffalo in October, 1798. There was 
then the log house of Middaugh and Lane — a double log house 
— about two squares from Main street, a little north of the 
present line of Exchange street. Captain Johnston's half log 
and half framed house, stood a little east of the main building^ 
of the present Mansion House, near Washington street. There 
was a two-story hewed log house, owned by Captain Johnston, 
about where Exchange street now is, from six to eight rods 
west of Main street, where a tavern was kept by John Palmer. 
Palmer afterwards moved over to Canada and kept a tavern 
there. 

Asa Ransom lived in a log house west of Western Hotel. 
Winne had a log house on . bank of Little Buffalo, south of 
Mansion House. A Mr. Maybee, who afterwards went to 
Cattaraugus, kept a little Indian store in a log building on west 
side of Main street, about twenty rods north of Exchange 
.street. There was also a log house occupied by a man named 
Robbins. 

The flats were open ground ; a portion of them had been 
cultivated. Such was Buffalo, and all of Buffalo in 1798. 



46 FIRST CROPS ON THE IK »1. 1. AND I'ljRCIIASE. 

The first crojis raised upon the Holland purchase, were at 
the transit store house. In the spring of 1799, Mr. James 
Dewey was waiting there with a gang of hands, to start upon a 
surveying expedition as soon as the weather would permit. At 
the request of Mr. Brisbane, he cleared ten acres upon either 
side of the present road, twenty rods west of the Transit, which 
was mainly sowed with oats ; though some potatoes and garden 
vegetables were planted. The early tavern keeper there — Mr. 
Walthers — reported by letter to Mr. Ellicott, that the yield 
was a good one, and fully demonstrated the goodness of the 
soil of the region he was surveying for a settlement. 

In the summer of 1799, there not being a house on the road 
from the eastern Transit line to Buffalo, Mr. Busti, the agent 
general of the company, authorized Mr. Ellicott by a letter 
dated June ist, 1799, to contract with six reputable individuals 
to locate themselves on the road from the eastern Transit to 
Buffalo creek ; about ten miles asunder, and open houses of en- 
tertainment for travelers, at their several locations, in considera- 
tion of which they were to have a quantity of land, from fifty 
to one hundred and fifty acres each ; " at a liberal time for pay- 
ment, without interest, at the lowest price the company will 
sell their lands, when settlements shall be begun." 

Three persons accepted of this offer, to wit : Frederick Wal- 
thers who was then residing on the land, took one hundred and 
fifty acres in township number twelve, range one, west of and 
adjoining the eastern Transit, including the Company's store 
house, and being where the village of Stafford now stands. Asa 
Ransom located himself Sept. ist, 1799, on one hundred and 
fifty acres in township number twelve, range six. at what is 
now known as Ransom's Gro\e or Clarence Hollow. Garrett 
Davis located himself Sept. 16, 1799, in township number thir- 
teen, range two, on one hundred and fifty acres, on the south 
line of said township; (the Buffalo road then run through the 
reservation, some distance north of its present location.) These 
lots were severally laid out and surveyed for the purchasers, 
before the several townships in which they are located were 
surveyed. These three persons erected and furnished comfort- 
able houses for the purposes intended, as soon as practicable ; 
which although not as splendid, yet were more eagerly sought. 



rill-. 1'1()m:i;i< womiix. 47 

and cheerfully cnj(i}'ccl b)- the forest traxeler and land explorer 
than any of the " Astor Mouses," " Americans," or " Mansions" 
of the present day. 

With the exceptions of those residint:^ at Buffalo, Mrs. Gar- 
rett Davis and Mrs. Walthers, were the pioneer women upon 
the Holland Purchase. In 1800, Asa Ransom and Garrett 
Davis raised summer crops, which were second to those raised 
at the Transit store house the vear before. 



4<S a(;exts of the Holland (■o^^^\^'v 



CHAPTER IX. 

Biographical Sketches or Agents of the Holland Company, and others. 

Theophilus Cazenove. 

He was the first agent of the Holland Company ; but little 
is known of his personal histor}^- When the company made 
their first purchases of land in this state and Pennsylvania, soon 
after 1790, he had arrived in this country, and acted as their 
agent. In all the negotiations and preliminary proceedings 
connected with the large purchase of Mr. Morris, of this region, 
the interest of the company were principally confided to him 
His name is intimately blended with the whole history of the 
title. When the purchase was perfected, he was made the 
general agent, and under his auspices the surveys commenced. 

In all the embarrassments that attended the perfection of the 
title, he would seem to have been actuated b}' honorable and 
praise-worthy motives, and to have assisted with a good deal 
of ability, the legal managers of the compan\-'s interests. He 
returned to Europe in 1799, ending then his connection with 
the company. He resided for a considerable period after this 
in London, after which he lived in Paris, where he died. 

Paul Bustl 

He was a native of Milan, in Italy; was born on the 17th of 
October, 1749. After receiving his education in his native 
country, he entered the counting-house of his uncle, in Amster- 
dam, where he afterwards established himself in business, mar- 
ried, and acquired a high reputation for business talents, indus- 
try and integrity. 

About retiring from commercial life and connected with one 
who was interested in the Holland Company purchase, he was 
induced to accept the general agency at Philadelphia, in the 
place of Mr. Cazenove; and most faithfully and satisfactorily 
did he perform its duties for a period of 24 years, up to the day 
of his death, July 23, 1824. He left no children. 

The original proprietors — the eleven who constituted the 



I'AUi. ijus'ii. 49 

priniitix'c Hollaiul Company, were merchants in the City of 
Amsterdam (then in the RepubHc of Batavia). They had little 
of the spirit of speculation ; had acquired wealth by careful 
investments and fair profits. They had spare capital and wished 
to invest it ; their highest anticipations were perhaps a realization 
of something near the per cent, interest which was generally 
fixed upon money in this country, instead of the then low per 
cent, money yielded in Europe. And here it may be remarked, 
that considering the period of investment — 1792 and 1793, — 
but ten years after the close of the Revolutionary war — these 
Dutch merchants were far in advance of the prevailing senti- 
ment in Europe, as to the success and permanency of the experi- 
ment of free government. We should respect their memories 
for such an earnest, at that early period, of confidence in the 
stability of our system. 

Mr. Busti's agency, as will be observed, commenced before 
the completion of surveys and the opening of sales ; conse- 
quently it was under his auspices that settlements began. In 
his early instructions to Mr. Ellicott, he proposed liberal meas- 
ures — seems to have started on the basis that the interests of 
his principals and the interest of the settlers were mutual. 
While he guarded strictly and with rigid economy the one, his 
views and munificence were liberal in reference to the other. 

Mr. Ellicott acted under general instructions from him as to 
the opening of roads, building of mills and public buildings; 
but when he advised, as he often did, additional measures of 
improvement or increased outlays, he was quite sure to be sec- 
onded by his principal. 

Next to Mr. Ellicott Mr. Busti was more closely identified 
with the settlement of the Holland purchase than any other 
individual. His administration of the general agency, embraced 
almost the entire period of pioneer settlement. The records of 
the company furnish conclusive evidence of clear judgment, 
great integrity of purpose and a disposition to promote the 
interests of the wild region he was aiding to settle and improve. 

Joseph Ellicott. 
No man has ever, perhaps, been so closely identified with the 
history of any region, as he is with the history of the Holland 



50 j')si:i'ii Kr.Licoir. 

rurcliasc. He was not onl}- the land-ag^cnt, superintending 
from the start, surve\-s and settlement — exercising locally, a 
one-man-power and influence — but for a long period, he was far 
more than this. In all the early years of settlement, especially 
— in all things hax'ing reference to the organizing of towns, 
counties, erection of public buildings, the la\'ing out of roads, 
the establishment of post-offices — in all that related to the 
prosperit}' and convenience of the region over which his agency 
extended, he occupied a prominent position, a close identity, 
that few, if any, patrons of new settlements have ever attained. 

As early as 1770, Joseph Ellicott's father and his brothers 
purchased a tract of wild land on the Patapoca, in Maryland, 
and erecting mills and machinery, became the founders of what 
was long known as '• Ellicott's Mills," now, for the sake of 
brevity, termed " Ellicott's." 

Andrew, the eldest brother, became an eminent surveyor ; 
surveyed the Spanish boundary line under the administration 
of Mr. Jefferson : \\as afterwards Surveyor-General of the U. S.: 
and died the Professor of Mathematics at West Point, in 1 820 
or '21. 

Bexjamix, entered the service of the Holland Company at 
an early period, as the assistant of his brother Joseph. He 
was at an early period, one of the Judges of Genesee county, 
and a representative in Congress, from the district. He was 
a bachelor; died a resident of W'illiamsville, Erie count}-, 
in 1827. 

David, the )-ounger brother, a somewhat erratic genius, was 
in some of the earliest \-ears, a sur\e\-or upon the Purchase. 
He went south and no tidings ever came of him. 

There were five sisters, three of whom married three brothers 
by the name of Evans. In this circumstance, the reader will 
find the explanation of the numerous heirs of Joseph Ellicott. 
bearing that name. 

Joseph Ellicott's earh* lessons in surveying, were gi\-en him 
by his elder brother, Andrew. His first practical surveying, 
was as an assistant of his brother, in the survey of the City of 
Washington, soon after that site had been selected for the 
national capital. In 1791, he was appointed by Timothy 
Pickering, then Secretary of War, to run the boundary line 



JOSEI'lI KL1.I(()|-|-. 51 

between Geoi-oiu and the Creek Indians. After completini;- this 
survey, he was employed by Mr. Cazenove, to survey the 
Holland Company's lands in Pennsylvania. 

This completed, he was engaged for a short time in Maryland, 
in business with his brothers, and then enlisted in the Holland 
Company's service in this region. 

The active years of his life were those, principally, inter- 
vening between the years 1790 and 1 821 — a period of about 
thirty years. At least ten or twelve years were spent in the 
arduous duties of a surveyor ; and when he left the woods and 
settled down in the discharge of his duties as local agent, his 
place was no sinecure, as the records of the of^fice will abund- 
antly testif)^ He was a man of great industry; careful, system- 
atic in all his business, and recjuired of all under his control a 
prompt and faithful discharge of all their duties. 

Jacob S. Otto. 

This gentleman was the successor to Mr. Ellicott in the local 
agency. He was previously a resident of Philadelphia ; had 
been engaged in mercantile and commercial pursuits. 

The period of his agency was from 1821 to his death, in 1826. 

It was during Mr. Otto's administration, that the plan of 
receiving cattle and grain from the settlers, that had previously 
been entertained, was effectually commenced. Depots were 
designated in different parts of the Purchase, for the delivery 
of wheat; where the settler could carry it, and have its value 
endorsed upon his contract. Agents were appointed to receive 
cattle. They advertised yearly, the times and places, when 
and where the cattle would be received, fixed upon their price, 
and endorsed it upon contracts. It was one among the 
measures of relief, and its operation was highly beneficial. 

David E. E\'ans. 
During the administration of Mr. Otto, Mr. Evans had been 
appointed as his associate, to give the incumbent the advantage 
of his long experience and familiarity with the details of the 
business. Yet he did not to any considerable degree partici- 
pate in the joint administration proposed, his time being chiefly 
occupied with his own private affairs, and the duties of a mem- 
ber of the Senate of this state. 



52 D.WIl) K. KNAXS. 

Upon the death of Mr. Otto, he entered upon tlie dischart^e 
of the duties of the local agency. Earl\- in life he had been 
a clerk in the office, under his uncle, Joseph Ellicott, and had 
for a long period occupied the desk of the cashier and accountant 
of the agency. Few, therefore, could have been more familiar 
with the wants, interest and welfare of the settlers. They were 
old, familiar acquaintances, and his interests were identified 
with theirs. 

It was during the second year of Mr. Evans' administration 
(in September, 1827,) that a general plan for the modification 
of land contracts was adopted. It was regarded at the time as 
a very decided measure of relief to the settlers, and its opera- 
tions were highh' beneficial to a very large class of the debtors 
of the Holland compan\'. 

Mr. Evans' agency continued until 1837. It embraced the 
large sales of the Holland company's interest ; in fact, before 
it closed the entire business and interests of the company had 
progressed nearly to a termination. 

Having served one term as State Senator, Mr. Evans had 
been elected a Representative in Congress at the period of Mr. 
Otto's death. He resigned to take upon himself the duties of 
the agency. 

R(^BERT Morris. 

A short biography of one eminently useful in our revolution- 
ary struggle is suggested by his after-identity with our local 
region. He was, as will have been seen, at one period the pro- 
prietor of the whole of Western New York west of Phelps and 
Gorham's purchase, by purchase from Massachusetts and the 
Seneca Indians. 

In the attempt of feeble colonies to throw off oppression 
there was work to be done in council as well as in the field — at 
the financier's desk as well as in the more conspicuous conflicts 
of arms. If raw troops called from the field and workshop 
were to be enrolled and disciplined, upon a sudden emergency 
provisions were to be made for their equipment and sustenance ; 
J^oth were tasks surrounded with difficulty and embarrassment; 
both required men and minds of no ordinary cast. Fortun- 
ately they were found. Washington was the chief, the leader 



RoiiKki' MORRIS — i:aki.n I. hi:. 53 

of our armies, the master-spirit that conducted the stru<j^le to 
glorious termination. Morris was the financier. The}' were 
heads of co-ordinate branches in a i^reat crisis, and e(|uall}- well 
performed their parts. 

Robert Morris was born in Lixerpool, in 1733. His father 
emif^rated to the United States in 1745, and settled at Port 
Tobacco, in Marylanci, en<^af^intr extensively in the tobacco 
trade. 

Previous to the death of his father, Robert Morris had been 
placed in the counting-house of Mr. Charles Willing, an 
eminent merchant of Philadelphia, where he soon acquired a 
proficiency in mercantile afTairs that recommended liim as a 
partner of the son of his employer. 

When the first difficulties occurred between the colonies and 
the mother countr}-, though extensively engaged in a mercan- 
tile business that was to be seriously affected by it, he was one 
of other patriotic Philadelphia merchants who promoted and 
signed the non-importation agreement, which restricted com- 
mercial intercourse with Great Britain to the mere necessaries 
of life. 

When the news of the Battle of Lexington reached Philadel- 
phia, Mr. Morris was presiding at a dinner usuall}^ given on the 
anniversary of St. George. He participated in putting a stop 
to the celebration in honor of an English saint, and helped to 
upset the tables that had been spread. His resolution was 
fixed ; it was one of devotion to the cause of the colonies, and 
well was it adhered to. 

In 1775 and '76, he w^as a Member of Congress, and became 
a signer of the Declaration of Independence. 

When Washington had re-crossed the Delaware for the 
second time, in December, 1777, the time of service of nearly 
all the Eastern troops had expired. To induce them to engage 
for another si.x weeks, he promised a bounty of ten dollars 
each, and for the necessary funds applied to Mr. Morris. In 
the answer of Mr. Morris accompanying the sum of fifty 
thousand dollars, he congratulated the Commander-in-Chief 
upon his success in retaining the men, and assured him that 
" if farther occasional supplies of money are wanted you may 
depend upon m)' exertions either in a public or private capacity." 



54 ELECTED MEMISER OF (( ).\( IRESS. 

In March, 1777, he was chosen, with l-5enjamin Franklin and 
others, to represent the Assembly of Pennsylvania in Congress, 
and in November following was associated with Mr. Gerry and 
Mr. Jones to repair to the army and confidentially consult with 
the Commander-in-Chief upon the best plan of conducting the 
Winter campaign. 

In August, 1778, he was appointed a member of the stand- 
ing Committee of Finance. 

The years 1778 and '79 were the most distressing periods of 
the war. The finances were in a wretched condition, and Mr. 
Morris not only advanced his money freely, but put in requisi- 
tion an almost unlimited individual credit. 

In 1781 (a period of despair), in addition to other contribu- 
tions of money and credit, Mr. Morris supplied the almost fam- 
ishing troops with several thousand barrels of flour. This timely 
aid came w^ien it was seriously contemplated to authorize the 
seizure of provisions wherever they could be found ; a measure 
which would have been unpopular with the whole country, and 
probably turned back the tide of public feeling flowing in favor 
of the Revolution. 

There is upon record a long catalogue of transactions simi- 
lar to those which have been related. Not only the Comman- 
der-in-Chief but Generals of divisions found Mr. Morris the 
dernier resort when money and provisions were wanted. To 
private means, which must have been large, and a large credit, 
he added astonishing faculties as a financier. When he had 
no other resources, he would compel others to use their money 
and credit. In financial negotiations, with him, to will a thing 
was to do it. 

He was appointed to the office of Financier, or what was 
equivalent to the now office of Secretary of the Treasury. 
Never, perhaps, in any country, was a minister of finance placed 
over a treasury, the conditions of which were worse. To use a 
phrase of the play-house, it was 

" Beggarly account of empty boxes." 

It had not a dollar in it and was two millions and a half in debt. 
Those who have seen Gen. Washington's military journal of the 
first of May, 1781, can form some idea of the condition of the 
army and the finances'. 



Ai'i'oiN ii:i) iiN.\\( ii;r. 55 

It was the proxincc of Mr. Morris to financier for Con<^rcss 
and a coiintr\- and cause in such a crisis. He be<^an by restor- 
in<;' credit and estabHshin^' confidence; promuli^ated the assur- 
ance that all his official enL^a^ements would be punctuall)' met, 
and j)ut in rccjinsition his ])ri\'ate means, the means of his 
friends, to fulfill the promises he iiad held out. When apprised 
of his ap|)ointment to the manat^ement of financial affairs, he 
replied : " In acceptini;; the office bestowed upon me, I sacrifice 
much of m\- interest, my ease, nn- domestic enjo\-ment and 
internal traiK[uilit)'. If I know m}" own heart, I make these 
.sacrifices with a disinterestetl \iew to the ser\ice of m\- countr\-. 
I am willing to go further, and the United States ma)' com- 
mand everything I have e.Kcej)t my integrity, and the loss of 
that would efTectualh' dissable me from serving them more." 
Among his financial expedients to resuscitate public credit, was 
the establishment of the Bank of North America. Collateral 
security was given for the ])erformance of engagements of the 
institution, in f(M-m of bonds, signed by wealth}- individuals. 
Mr. Morris heading the list with a subscription of iJ"io,000. 

In a private interview with Washington, the subject of an 
attack on New York was broached. Mr. Morris dissented, 
assuming that it would be too great a sacrifice of men and 
mone)- ; that the success of the measure was doubtful; that 
even if successful the triumph, as to results, would be a barren 
one ; the enemy having command of the sea could, at anytime, 
land fresh troops and re-take it, &c." A.ssenting to these objec- 
tions, the Commander-in-Chief said : " What am I to do? The 
country calls on me for action ; and moreox-er, m\- arm}- cannot 
be kept together unless .some bold enterprise is undertaken." 
To this Mr. Morris replied: "Why not lead \-our forces to 
Yorktown ? There Cornwallis ma}' be hemmed in b}- the 
French fleet b}' sea and the American and French armies by 
land, and will ultimately be compelled to surrender." " Lead 
ni}- troops to Yorktow n I" said Washington, appearing sur- 
prised at the suggestion, " How am I to get them there ? One 
of my difficulties about attacking New York arises from the 
want of funds to transport them thither. How, then, can I 
. muster the means that will be requisite to enable them to march 
to Yorktown ?" " You must look to me for funds," rejoined 



56 MORRIS AND HANCOCK. 

Mr. Morris. ''And how are you to provide them ?" said Wash- 
ington. " That," said Mr. Morris, " I am unable at this time to 
tell you, but I will answer with my head, that if you will put 
your army in motion, I will supply the means of their reaching 
Yorktown." After a few minutes reflection, Washington said: 
"On this assurance of yours, Mr. Morris, such is my confidence 
in your ability to perform any engagement you make, I will 
adopt your suggestion." 

When the army arrived at Philadelphia Mr. Morris had the 
utmost difificulty in furnishing the supplies he had promised, 
but at last he hit upon the expedient of borrowing twenty 
thousand crowns from the Chevalier de Luzerne, the French 
Minister. The Chevalier objected that he had only funds 
enough to pay the French troops, and could not comply unless 
two vessels with specie on board for him arrived from France. 
Fortunately, about the time the troops were at Elk, preparing 
to march to Yorktown, the ships arrived, the money was pro- 
cured and especial pains taken to parade the specie in open 
kegs before the army. The troops were paid, and cheerfully 
embarked to achieve the crow^ning triumph of the Revolution. 

John Hancock, President of Congress, writing to Mr. Mor- 
ris in a severe crisis of the Revolution, says: " I know, how- 
ever, you will put things in a proper way ; all things depend 
upon you, and you have my hearty thanks for your unremitting 
labor." Gen. Charles Lee said to. him in a letter, when he 
assumed the duties of Secretary of an empty treasury: " It is 
an office I cannot wish you joy of ; the labor is more than her- 
culean ; the filth of that Augean stable is, in my opinion, too 
great to be cleared away even by your skill and industry." 

During the Revolution, the commercial house in which he 
continued a partner, was prosecuting a successful business. 
The close of the Revolution must have found him in possession 
of immense wealth, exceeding by far that of any individual cit- 
izen of the United States. But he was destined to a sudden 
reverse of fortune. There followed the revolution a mania for 
land speculation. Mr. Morris participated largely in it, in- 
vesting in large tracts of wild land as they came into market 
in different parts of the United States, realizing for a time vast 
profits up(^n sales. A reaction ensued, which found him in 



ii.i.-iouruNK AM) i»i;.\iii. 57 

possession of an immense landed estate, and lart^ely in debt 
for purchase money. Trom the opulence we ha\e been speak- 
ing of, he was reduced to poverty ; and ultimately some mer- 
ciless creditors made him for a long time the tenant of a 
prison. 

Upon Mr. Morris had devolved the financiering for our coun- 
try in a period of peril and embarrassment. When the army 
of Washington, unpaid, were lacking food and raiment, mur- 
muring as they well might be, it was his purse and credit that 
more than once prevented its dispersion and the failure of the 
glorious achievement of independence. His ships were upon 
the ocean, his notes-of-hand forming a currency, his drafts hon- 
ored everywhere among capitalists in his own country and in 
many of the marts of commerce in Europe. 

A reverse of fortune occurred, which is saddening to those 
who are now enjoying the blessings to which he so eminently 
contributed, and who wish that no cloud had gathered around 
the close of his useful life. 

Mr. Morris died at Morrisiana, N. J., Nov. 6, 1806, aged sev- 
enty-three years. 

Makv Jemison. 

In the Summer of 1755, during the P^rench and Indian wars, 
Mary Jamison's father's house, situated on the western frontier 
of Pennsylvania, was surrounded by a band, consisting of six 
Indians and four Frenchmen. They plundered and carried 
away whate\-er the)' could that was \'aluable, and took the 
whole family captive, with two or three others, who were stay- 
ing there at the time. They were all immediately hastened 
away into the wilderness, murdered and scalped, with the 
exception of Mary and a small boy, who were carried to Fort 
Du Quesne. Little Mary was there given to two Indian sisters, 
who came to that place to get a captive to .supply the place of 
a brother that had been slain in battle. They took her down 
the Ohio to their home, and adopted her as their sister, under 
the name of Dehhewamis — a word signifying " a beautiful girl." 
The sorrow and regret which so sudden and fearful a change in 
her condition produced, gradually yielded under the influence 
of time ; and she began to be quite reconciled to her fate. 



58 MARY JEMISOX AND INDIAN SISTERS. 

when an incident occurred, wliich once more revix'cd her hopes 
of being redeemed from captivit}- and restored to her friends. 
When Fort Pitt fell into the possession of the British, Mary 
was taken with a part)^ who went there to conclude a treaty of 
peace with the English. She immediately attracted the notice 
of the white people, who showed great anxiety to know how 
one so young and delicate came among the savages. Her 
Indian sisters became alarmed, and fearing that they might lose 
her, suddenly fled away with her, and carried her back to their 
forest home. Her disappointment was painful and she brooded 
over it for many days, but at length gained her usual cheerful- 
ness and contentment. As soon as she was of sufficient age, 
she was married to a young Delaware Indian named Sheninjee. 
Notwithstanding her reluctance at first to become the wife 
of an Indian, her husband's uniform kind treatment and 
gentleness, soon won her esteem and affection, and she says: 
" Strange as it may seem, I loved him ! " and she often spoke 
of him as her "kind husband." About 1759, she concluded to 
change her residence. With a little child, on foot, she traveled 
to the Genesee river, through the pathless wilderness, a distance 
of near six hundred miles, and fixed her home at Little Beard's 
Town. When she came there, she found the Senecas in alliance 
with the French ; they were making preparation for an attack 
on Fort Schlosser ; and not a great while after, enacted the 
tragedy at the Devil's Hole. Some time after her arrival, she 
received intelligence of the death of her husband, Sheninjee, 
who was to have come to her in the succeeding Spring. They 
had lived happily together, and she sincerely lamented his 
death. When the war between England and France ended, 
she might have returned to the English, but she did not. She 
married another Indian, named Hiakatoo, two or three years 
after the death of Sheninjee. When General Sullivan invaded 
the Genesee country, her house and field shared a common fate 
with the rest. When she saw them in ruins, with great energy 
and perseverance, she immediately went to making prepara- 
tion for the coming W^inter. Taking her two youngest children 
on her back, and bidding the other three follow, she sought 



Till': (;.\Ri)i;.\i' ki':sKk\Ari()\. 59 

cniploynicnt. She found an ()j)|)()rlunit\- to husk corn, and 
secured in tliat way t\\ent\'-fi\'e busliels of slielled corn, which 
kept tliem through the Winter. 

After the close of the Revolution, slie obtained the ^rant of 
a lar^^e tract of huul, called the " Gardeau Reservation," which 
was about six miles in length and five in breadth. 

In 1 83 I, preferrin<^ to i)ass the remainder of her da}'s in the 
midst of those with w^hom her youth and middle age had been 
spent, she sold the rest of the land at Gardeau Flats, purchased 
a farm on the BufTalo Reservation, where the Senecas, among 
whom she had li\ed, had settled some five years j^revious. She 
passed the remainder of her days in peace and Cjuietness, 
embraced the Christian religion, and on the 19th of Sept., 1833, 
ended a life that had been marked by vicissitudes such as it is 
the lot of but few to experience. 



6o ■ PREPARATIONS OF WAR. 

CHAPTER X. 

WAR OF 1812-15— CAMPAIGN OF 1812. 

War Declared — Troops Called For — Colonel Swift — First Detachment of Mili- 
tia — Council with the Indians ■ — Excitement, Bustle, Confusion and 
Flight —Active Preparations on the Canada Side — General Brock — Fear 
of the Indians — The Caledonia and Detroit — The Defeat of General 
Van Rensselaer— General Smyth and His Failures — Disgust of the Sol- 
diers and the Public. 

After a debate of several days" duration, an act declaring 
war against Great Britain was passed by Congress, and was 
approved by the President on the i8th of June, 1812. On the 
19th the President issued a proclamation declaring that war 
existed between the United States and Great Britain and her 
dependencies. 

Congress authorized the President to enlist 25,000 men for 
the regular army, to raise a force of 50,000 volunteers, and to 
call out 100,000 militia. 

On the 17th of May, Colonel Swift, of Ontario county, came 
to Buffalo to assume command on the frontier. On the i8th, 
the first detachment of militia marched through that village on 
their way to Lewiston. They were from the south towns, and 
were commanded by Major Benjamin Whale}'. 

On the 26th of May, Indian-Superintendent Granger held a 
council with the Chiefs of the Six Nations of Indians, living on 
this side of the Niagara. He did not seek to enlist their ser- 
vices in the war, but urged them to remain neutral. To this 
they agreed. 

On the 23d of June, Colonel Swift, whose headquarters were 
at Black Rock, was in command of 600 militia ; besides there 
was a small garrison of regulars at Fort Niagara. There was 
no artillery except at the fort. 

The preparations for war on the other side were somewhat 
better, there being six or seven hundred British regulars along 
the Niagara and a hundred pieces of artillery. 

. On the morning of the 26th of June, a small vessel, which had 
just left Black Rock, was noticed entering Lake Eric b\' some 



\.\\ ri;nssi;i,.\i;r iaki^s ((i.m.m.\m». 6i 

of the citizens of Buffalo, aiul preseiitK' a British armed xx-ssel 
from Fort Kric was seen makint^ its \va\- toward the /Vmerican 
ship. The hitter was soon overtaken and boarded, and then 
both vessels turned their prows toward the British stron<^hold. 
The vessel was captured, and a few hours later an express-rider 
from the east arri\'ed bearing the President's proclamation of 
war. The Canadians had received the news the earliest. The 
express-riders spread the news as they passed upon the main 
roads; thence it spread rapidh' in every direction from settle- 
ment to settlement. 

The usual avocations of life w ere temporarily suspended ; 
here and there in all the detached neighborhoods were small 
collections of citizens deliberating and consulting upon meas- 
ures of safety, defense or flight. Many made hasty prepara- 
tions and were soon on their wa\' seeking asylums beyond the 
Genesee river. Many families who left, returned after a few 
weeks' absence. All was bustle and confusion ; soldiers were 
mustering, volunteers and drafted militia were marching to the 
frontiers from the back settlements in small squads and larger 
companies. By the 4th of July, the aggregate militia force 
upon the frontier was about three thousand. Soon after the 
declaration of war, Gen. William Wadsworth, of Geneseo, 
assumed command. On the 28th of July, the command 
devolved upon Gen. Amos Hall, of Ontario count}', and on the 
I ith of August upon Major-General Van Rensselaer, of Albany 
(these were not officers of the regular army but of the New 
York State militia). General Van Rensselaer established his 
headquarters at Lewi.ston. 

War preparations were as active in Canada as upon this side 
of the lines. The militia in the Upper Province were ordered 
out en masse. P"ort Erie was put in repair; a redoubt was 
thrown up opposite Black Rock, a battery erected at Chippewa 
and another below the falls ; defences were also erected on 
Oueenston heights directly opposite Lewiston village, and Fort 
George was strengthened. One of the incipient steps in Canada 
was to secure the services of the Indians in the Pro\-ince. This 
had been too long a favorite policy of England to be aban- 
doned. General Brock, the acting Governor of the Province, 
assumed the immediate command of the troops. 



62 CAPTURE OF BRITISH VESSELS. 

After the first turmoil and bustle were over, there succeeded 
comparative quiet — weeks and months of inactivity upon the 
lines. The usual avocations were partially resumed in the 
settlements, though frequently disturbed by militia drafts and 
harrassing, unfounded rumors of actual or contemplated incur- 
sions of the British and Indians. 

There was little real cause for anticipating danger of this 
nature, for the preparations on the other side were wholly 
defensive, and the state of alarm among the inhabitants there 
was as great as here. Among the inhabitants on each side 
of the lines there was mutual fear of invasion. 

One of the most fruitful sources of apprehension and alarm 
in the earlier stages of the war was the fear that the Seneca 
Indians would become allies of the British and Canadian 
Indians. Their neutrality, however, was early secured by a 
talk in council. This position of neutrality, taken in the first 
stages of the war, was not long maintained. The Senecas 
rightly determining their true position and interests, soon 
became fast friends of the United States, and useful armed 
allies. On the 8th of October, a detachment of sailors arrived 
on the frontier from New York, and were placed under the 
command of Lieut. Jesse D. Elliott, stationed at Black Rock. 
Two British armed vessels, the brig Detroit and the schooner 
Caledonia, had just come down the lake, and were at anchor 
near Fort Erie. About one o'clock, on the morning of the 9th 
of October, three boats put out from the American shore with 
their prows directed toward Fort Erie. The first contained 
fifty men under Lieutenant Elliott in person ; the second forty- 
seven, under Sailing-Master Watts, while the third was manned 
by six Buffalonians under Dr. Chapin. The boats moved 
stealthily across the river in the darkness. Arriving at the side 
of their prey, the three crews boarded both vessels almost at 
the same time. In ten minutes, the enemy was overpowered, 
the cables cut, and the vessels on their way down the river. 
The Caledonia was brought to anchor near Black Rock, but the 
Detroit was carried by the current on the west side of Squaw 
island, and ran aground. The prisoners taken in this gallant 
affair numbered seventy-one officers and men ; besides these, 
the captors released about forty American prisoners who were 



DKKKAI' Oh' \A.\ KllNSSKl.Al'.k. 63 

ca])turctl at the I\i\cr Raisin, and were on their \va)' to (.)ue- 
bec. This was the first hostile enterprise which took phice in 
or started from Flrie count}' during- the War of 1812. 

If the settlers on the Holland purchase were somewhat 
cheered by the achiex-ement of Lieutenant Klliott and his com- 
mand, the}' were at once cast down attain b}- the news of the 
defeat of General \'an Rensselaer at Oueenston. He had col- 
lected a force, i)rincipally New \'ork militia, at Lewiston, on 
the Niagara ri\er. At Oueenston, on the opposite side of the 
river, a British force was stationed. On the 13th of October 
(ieneral Van Rensselaer crossed a force under Col. Solomon 
Van Rensselaer (his nephew), and attacked the British fort and 
captured it. General Brock now arriv^ed with a reinforement 
of 600 men and endeavored to regain the fort, but was defeated 
and killed. General Van Rensselaer hastened back to the 
American side to bring over more troops, but his men refused 
to obey his orders, alleging that they could not be ordered out 
of the state without their consent. The British were heavily 
reinforced, and the Americans were attacked and defeated, all 
who crossed to the Canada side being killed or captured. 

General Van Rensselaer was succeeded in command on the 
Niagara frontier by Brigadier-Gen. Alexander Smyth, of the 
regular army, who had been on the lines a short time as Inspec- 
tor-General. Immediatel}' on taking command he began con- 
centrating troops at Buffalo and Black Rock, preparatory to an 
invasion of Canada. On the 1 2th of November, he issued a 
flaming address to the men of New York, calling for their ser- 
vices and declaring that in a few da}'s the troops under his 
command would plant the American standard in Canada. A 
considerable force came to Buffalo ; a brigade of militia arrived 
from Pennsylvania; three or four hundred New York militia 
reported themselves. Peter B. Porter was assigned to the com- 
mand of these New \'ork volunteers. On the 27th of Novem- 
ber the General commanding issued orders to cross the river 
the next da}'. There were then about four thousand men at and 
near Black Rock, but as a large portion of them were militia, it 
is not certain how man}- he could ha\'e depended on to enter 
the enemy's countr}-. There were boats sufficient to carry at 
least 3,000 men. 



64 (APTAIX KIXC; AXl) MEN TAKEN PRISONERS. 

About one o'clock the next morninij two detachments were 
sent across the river, one under Lieutenant-Colonel Boerstler 
and the other under Captain King, with whom was Lieutenant 
Angus of the Navy and fifty or sixty seamen. Bcerstler 
returned without accomplishing anything of consequence, but 
the forces of King and Angus behaved with great gallantry. 
They landed at three o'clock in the morning. Angus attacked 
and dispersed a force of the enemy stationed at what was called 
"The Red House," spiking two field-pieces and throwing then,i 
into the river. The sailors and some of the soldiers then 
returned, bringing a number of prisoners, but througli some 
blunder no boats were left to bring over Captain King, who 
with sixty men remained behind. King and his men then 
attacked and captured two batteries, spiked their guns and took 
thirty-four prisoners. Having found two boats, capable of hold- 
ing about sixty men, the gallant Captain sent over his prisoners, 
half his men and all his officers, remaining himself with thirty 
men. He doubtless expected Smyth's whole army in an hour 
or two, and thought he would take care of himself until that 
time. The general embarkation commenced but went on very 
slowly. About one o'clock I'. M., the regulars, the twelve- 
months volunteers and a body of militia, the whole making a 
force variously estimated at from fourteen hundred to two 
thousand men were in boats at the navy-yard, at the mouth of 
Scajaquada creek. General Smyth then ordered the troops to 
disembark and dine. He then called a council of war, to see 
whether he had better cross the river or not. It is not surpris- 
ing that, with such a commander, several of the officers con- 
sulted were opposed to making the attempt. It was at length 
de'cided to postpone the invasion until more boats could be 
made ready. Late in the afternoon the troops were ordered to 
their quarters. The gallant Captain King was left to his fate 
and was taken prisoner with all his remaining men. 

The next day was spent in preparation. On Sunday, the 
30th, the troops were ordered to be ready to embark at nine 
o'clock the following morning. General Porter advocated post- 
poning the expedition till Monday night, when the troops 
should embark in the darkness and land about five miles below 
the navy-yard, where the stream and the banks were favorable. 



CF.NKKAI. SMVTIl'S RESICXATION. 65 

These views were seconded by Colonel Winder and adopted 
by General Smyth, his intention being to assault Chipi)ewa and 
march through Oueenston to Fort George. 

Then it was found that the Quarter-Master had ncjt rations 
enough for two thcnisand five hundred men for four days. Never- 
theless, the embarkation commenced at three o'clock on Tues- 
day' morning. Again some fifteen hundred men were placed in 
boats. It was arranged that General Porter was to lead the 
van and direct the landing, on account of his knowledge of the 
river and the farther shore. 

Hut the embarkation of the regulars was greatl}' delayed and 
daylight appeared before the flotilla was under way. Then the 
redoubtable Smyth called another council of war, composed of 
four regular officers, to decide whether Canada should be in- 
vaded ihat season. They unanimously decided it should not. So 
the *'fH>»ps were again ordered ashore and the militia and most 
of th^' volunteers sent home, and the regulars put into winter 
quarters. 

The breaking up of the command was attended by scenes of 
the wildest confusion ; four thousand men firing off their guns, 
cursing General Smyth, their officers, the service, and every- 
thing connected with their military experience. The disgust 
of the public was equally great. Smyth became the object of 
universal derision. The mere fact of his twice waiting till his 
men were in boats for the purpose of invading Canada before 
calling a council of war to decide whether Canada should be 
invaded, showed him to be entirely deficient in the qualifica- 
tions of a general. 

On the 22nd of December, Smyth resigned his command to 
Col. Moses Porter, and retired to Virginia on leave of absence. 
Before his leave expired. Congress legislated him out of office. 
4 



66 ARRIVAL OF PERRY. 



CHAPTER XI. 
CAMPAIGN OF 1813. 

Arrival of Captain Perry, of the Navy — Fitting out a fleet — General Dearborn 
in command of the northern frontiers — Toronto captured— Fort George 
evacuated by the British — Americans occupy it — Americans occupy the 
whole Canadian side of the Niagara — Fortifying in Holland, Hamburg 
and Boston — Chapin's gallant exploit — The Senecas take part in the war 
— Battle at Black Rock, the British defeated — Perry's victory on Lake 
Erie — Harrison's victory on the Thames — General McCiure — Fort 
Niagara captured — General Hall. 

Early in March, Capt. Oliver Hazard Perry, of the United 
States Navy, a young man twenty-six years of age, of hand- 
some features and gallant bearing, arrived in Buffalo from the 
East, and after a brief stay, went forward to Erie to superin- 
tend the fitting out of a naval armament there. During the 
Winter, the Government had purchased a number of merchant 
vessels, for the purpose of converting them into men-of-war, 
and the construction of several new ones had been begun. 
Erie, from its comparatively secure harbor, had been selected 
as the naval headquarters. 

Five vessels, however, were fitted out in Scajaquada creek, 
and for several months Perry flitted back and forth between 
the two places, urging forward the work. 

In the fore part of April, soldiers began to arrive on the 
frontier. On the 17th of that month, Major-General Lewis 
and Brigadier-General Boyd arrived in Buffalo to assume com- 
mand according to their respective ranks. General Dearborn 
took cominand on the n'hole northern frontier. The British 
force on the other side of the Niagara was very weak. 

The campaign in the north was commenced by an expedi- 
tion from Sacket's Harbor, under General Dearborn and 
Commodore Chauncy, by which York (now Toronto) was cap- 
tured b\- a dashing attack, the gallant General Pike being killed 
by the explosion of the enemy's magazine. This triumph pre- 
vented the sending of re-enforcements to the British forts on 



AMERICANS OCCUPY FORT GEORGE. 67 

the Niai^ara. and when our fleet appeared off Fort George, 
about the 25th of Ma)', it was immediately evacuated. The 
Americans, under General Lewis, crossed and occupied it. 

The same day, the commander at Fort Erie received orders 
under which he kept up a heavy cannonade on Black Rock 
until the following morning, when he blew up his magazines, 
destroyed his stores, and dismissed his men. All other public 
stores, barracks, and magazines, from Chippewa to Point Abino, 
were likewise destroyed. Lieutenant-Colonel Preston, the 
commandant at Black Rock, immediately crossed over and 
took possession. So at length the Americans had obtained 
possession of the Canadian side of the Niagara, and it would 
not seem that it need to have been difficult to retain it. 

But the lack of success in this respect, and in fact the greater 
part of the disasters of the war of 1812, were attributable no 
doubt to the blundering of the Government, the weakness of 
the Commanders, to loose dicipline and to the excessive short 
term of service of the drafted men and volunteers. As a gen- 
eral rule, if a volunteer of 18 12 stayed on the line three months 
he thought he had done something wonderful. 

In the fore part of 18 13, the inhabitants on the upper part 
of Cazenova creek combined and built a stockade of consider- 
able magnitude, on the farm of Arthur Humphrey, in Holland. 
About the same time Captain Bemis' barn, in Hamburg, was 
surrounded by a similar stockade. There was also a block- 
house built in that vicinity. Job Palmer's barn, in Boston, was 
likewise stockaded, and there may have been other fortifica- 
tions of the kind in the county. 

On the 23d of June, 18 13, a force of Americans started up 
the river from Fort Geoi-ge. It consisted of four or five hun- 
dred regular infantr\-, twenty regular dragoons and Chapin's 
company of forty-four mounted riflemen, the whole under 
Lieutenant-Colonel Bctrstler. On the 24th, when nine miles 
west of Queenston at a place called Beaver Dams, it was 
attacked by a force of British and Indians. After some skir 
mishing and marching, accompanied with slight loss, the assail, 
ants sent a flag to Colonel Bcerstler, and on the mere statement 
of the bearer that the British regular force was double the 
American, besides 700 Indians, that officer surrendered his 



68 SIX NATION INDIANS ENROLLED. 

whole command. Chapin and his Erie county volunteers were 
sent to the head of Lake Ontario (now Hamilton), whence the 
Colonel, two officers and twenty-six privates were ordered to 
Kingston by water, under guard of a Lieutenant and fifteen 
men. They were all in two boats. When about twenty miles 
out on Lake Ontario Chapin and his comrades arose, captured 
the guard and rowed them to Fort George and delivered them 
as prisoners to the commandant. The British men-of-war still 
commanded the lake. About the 15th of June the five vessels 
which had been fitted up in Scajaquada creek, stole out of 
Black Rock and joined Perry at Erie. 

The Queen Charlotte and other British vessels, this year as 
last, hovered along the lake shore and occasionally sent a boat's 
crew ashore to depredate on the inhabitants of Hamburg and 
Evans. 

In the earl}' part of July, a skirmish took place near Fort 
George, in which an American Lieutenant and ten men were 
captured, who were never heard of more, and were supposed to 
have been slain by the savages. Then General Boyd accepted 
the services of the warriors of the Six Nations. Those then 
enrolled numbered 400, and there were 550 in the ser\'ice in all. 

General Dearborn had withdrawn all the regular soldiers from 
Buffalo and Black Rock, leaving a large amount of public stores 
entirely undefended. Being advised, however, of the danger 
of a raid, he ordered ten artillerists to be stationed at the block- 
house at Black Rock, and called for 500 militia from the 
neighboring counties. Between a hundred and fifty and two 
hundred of these arrived at the threatened point earl}- in Jul)-, 
and were stationed at the warehouses at Black Rock, being 
under the command of Maj. Parmenio Adams, of Genesee 
County. They had three pieces of field artillery and near by 
was a battery of four heavy guns. Nearly a hundred recruits 
for the regular infantry and dragoons on their way to Dear- 
born's headquarters, under Captain Cummings, were ordered 
to stop at Buffalo. Judge (Granger was directed to engage as 
many Seneca warriors as he could, and General Porter who 
was then staying at his residence at Black Rock, was requested 
to take command of the whole. By the loth of July Judge 
Granger had received such positive information of an immediate 



GENERAL PORTER's ESCAPE. 69 

attack, accompanied by sjiccial threats a^^ainst himself, that 
he iinited some Indians to come to his house north of the 
Scajaquada creek. Thirt\'-seven of them arrived at II o'clock 
that (Saturday) ni<^dit under the lead of I^\'u-mer's Brother. As 
the\- were not all armed, and as the Judt^e was confident that 
the enemy would be over the next day, he sent to the village 
and yot a full supply of arms and ammunition for his braves 
that niL^ht. The British headcjuarters were at Lundy's Lane, 
close by the Falls, where their expedition was fitted out. The 
commander was Lieutenant-Colonel Bishop. He had under 
him a part of the forty-first regiment of the British army, and 
a detachment of Canadian militia, commanded by Colonel 
Clark. They took boat at Chippewa, on the night of the loth, 
and after rowing against the current in the darkness several 
hours, landed just after daylight a mile below the mouth of the 
Scajac]uada. Forming his men, Colonel Bishop led them 
rapidl)^ up the river bank. There was a single sentinel at the 
Scajaquada bridge ; he flung away his musket, dodged into the 
woods, and took a bee-line for Williamsville. Major Adams' 
men attempted no resistance, but fled. General Porter had 
barely time to escape from his house, and without his arms. 
The victors, supposing no resistance would be made, set to 
work burning the block-houses and barracks, while the ofificers 
ordered breakfast at General Porter's. But a storm was gather- 
ing. When the militia first began to retreat, a messenger was 
sent to Buffalo, on whose arrival. Captain Cummings mustered 
his recruits and marched towards the scene of action. On his 
wa)' he met (General Porter, who ordered him to proceed to a 
piece of open ground not far from the site of the reservoir, 
and await re-enforcements. 

Taking a horse, sword and other eciui{)ments from one of 
Cumming's dragoons, the general galloped down to the village, 
where he found everything in confusion ; the women and 
children in a state of terror, and the men in the streets with 
arms in their hands, but doubtful whether to fight or flee. 
Being assured there was a chance of success, forty or fifty of 
them formed ranks under Caj)tain Bull, the commander of the 
Buffalo volunteer company, and marched to join Cummings. 
About a hundred of the retreating militia had been kept 



70 farmer's brother and his warriors. 

together by Lieutenant Phineas Staunton, the adjutant of the 
battalion. Meanwhile, Major King, of the regular army, who 
was accidentally at Black Rock, on seeing the sudden retreat of 
the militia, hurried through the \\-oods to Judge Granger's 
(who lived beyond Cold Springs, on Main street), \\hence the 
alarm was speedily carried to the scattered inhabitants of 
" Buffalo Plains." F"armer's Brother at once gathered his war- 
riors and made them a little speech, telling them that they 
must now go and fight the red-coats ; that their country was 
invaded ; that they had a common interest with the people of 
the United States, and they must show their friendship for 
their American brethren b}' deeds, not words. The old chief- 
tain then led his little band to join his friend, General Porter. 
Volunteers, too, came hurrying to the village from the Plains 
and Cold Springs, until about thirty were gathered, who were 
placed under the command of Capt. William Hull, of the militia. 

General Porter now felt able to cope with the enemy. 
Bringing together his forces, numbering but about three hun- 
dred all told, at the open ground before-mentioned, he made 
his dispositions for an attack. As the foe held a strong 
position at Major Adams' encampment. Porter determined to 
attack him on three sides at once, to prevent the destructive 
use of artillery on a column in front. 

The regulars and Captain Bull's Buff volunteers formed the 
center. The Genesee militia, under Staunton, were on the left. 
Captain Hull's men and the Indians were in the woods on the 
right front. Farmer's Brother and his braves prepared for 
action ; they cjuickly ranged themselves in line with their chiefs, 
a few yards in front. At eight o'clock the signal for attack was 
given. The militia, gallantly led on by Staunton, and ashamed 
of their recent flight, dashed forward against the enemy. A 
fight of some fifteen or twenty minutes ensued, in which the 
militia stood up against the British regulars without flinching. 
The right flank of the Americans came up ; the Indians raised 
the war-whoop and opened fire. Colonel Bishop was severely 
wounded, and fell from his horse ; his men became demoral- 
ized, and when the regulars appeared in front, the enemy fled 
towards the water's edge. The whole American force then 
pressed forward together, the Indians making the forest resound 



GENERAL WILKINSON TAKES COMMAND. 7 1 

with Scivage yells. The chief, Younc^ ^i'li^- 'intl another warrior 
were wounded. Part of the British wounded were carried off, 
but part were left on the field. 

.\t the Black Rock landing, the British rallied, but on the 
approach of the Americans, hastily retreated into some boats 
which they found there, leaving fifteen prisoners in the hands 
of their pursuers. Many were killed and wounded after enter- 
ing the boats, but tlie chief loss fell on the last one. It contained 
sixty men and most of the officers, including Colonel Bishop, 
who, notwithstanding his wounds, had insisted on remaining to 
the last. The whole American force came up to the bank and 
opened fire on this boat inflicting terrible injury. Two or three 
Indians even sprang into the water, siezed the boat by the gun- 
wale and endeavored to direct it ashore, but were compelled 
to desist by the fire of their friends in the rear. Captain 
Saunders, of the British Forty-first, was severely wounded at 
the water's edge and left a prisoner. Colonel Bishop was pierced 
with several bullets, receiving wounds of which he died, and 
several other ofificers were killed or wounded. The enemy were 
said at the time to have acknowledged a total loss in killed, 
wounded and prisoners of nearly a hundred. The Americans 
lost three killed and seven wounded. 

The militia were in the front of the fray throughout, and 
gallanth" retrieved their tarnished reputation. Their good 
conduct was doubtless due largely to the example of Adjutant 
Staunton, who also distinguished himself on several other oc- 
casions in tlie war of 1812. All accounts speak in high terms 
of the conduct of the Seneca warriors. iMthough the numbers 
engaged in this affair were not large, it was cjuite an exciting 
conflict, and is of importance as showing the value of one or 
two resolute ofificers, in rallying and inspiriting a body of raw 
troops, utterly demoralized by less ef^cient leadership. 

Just before this event. General Dearborn had resigned the 
chief command on the northern frontier, and soon after General 
Wilkinson was appointed in his ])lace. General Porter and 
Colonel Chapin gathered up another bod\' of volunteers and 
went down to Fort (ieorge, taking a hundred or so Indians 
with them. 

A plan was concerted to cut off one of the enemy's pickets 



72 PERRY AND HARRISON S SUCCESS. 

on the morning of the 17th of August, Chapin and Porter went 
out west from Fort George for the purpose. A heavy rain re- 
tarded their progress, so the picket was not captured, but a fight 
ensued in wliich the volunteers and Indians captured sixteen 
prisoners and killed a considerable number of the enemy who 
were left on the field. Chapin and his volunteers and most of 
the Indians continued to operate in the vicinity of Fort George 
until the 7th of September, when they returned to Buffalo. 

A few days later came the news of " Perry's Victory" on 
Lake Erie, which caused great rejoicing among the people. 
Immediately succeeding Perry's victory, came that of Harrison 
over Proctor and Tecumseh. It being supposed that the upper 
peninsula was pretty well cleared of foes, General Wilkinson's 
forces were nearly all withdrawn to the lower end of Lake 
Ontario. 

The force left behind by Wilkinson, was under the command 
of Gen. George McClure, of Steuben county, a brigadier- 
general of the New York militia, who made his headquarters 
at Fort George. On the 6th of October, Colonel Chapin had an 
all-day skirmish with some British outposts near Fort George. 

On the 24th of October, Harrison and Perry with their vic- 
torious army and fleet, came down the lake to Buffalo. On 
the 25th a dinner was given to the two commanders at " Pome- 
roy's Eagle." The next day Harrison and his army crossed 
the river and went down to Fort George and thence in a short 
time to Sackett's Harbor. General McClure was thus left with 
about a thousand militia, two hundred and fifty Indians and 
sixty regulars. The terms of the militia were fast expiring, and 
they would not stay a day longer. 

Another draft was ordered about the middle of November 
of six hundred men from Hopkins' brigade, under Lieutenant 
Colonel Warren. These marched to Fort George and remained 
nearly a month. 

When the term of Warren's regiment was about to expire, 
McClure determined to abandon Fort George. In this he was 
unquestionably justifiable, as his remaining force would have 
been entirely inadequate to defend it. But he, at the same 
time, took a step cruel in itself and fraught with woe 
to the American frontier. He ordered the burning of the 



CAl'TURK OK FDRl" \lA(,.\kA. 



/J 



lloun'sliin^" xilla^c of Newark, situated close to the fort aiul 
containin<^ about one hundred and fift\' liouses. 'Ilie inhabit- 
ants were turned out in the snow, and the torch ai)j)hed to 
every buildini;" in tlie phice. McClure nio\ed tlie remnant of 
his force across tlie river, closely ])ressed b}- the enrai;ed British, 
leavin<^ Fort Niagara defended by a hundred and fift)' ret^ulars, 
he called two hundred others from Canandaigua to Buffalo 
On the morning of December 19th, h\^rt Niagara was surprised 
and captured by a small British force through the criminal 
negligence of its commander, who was at his residence four 
miles away. 

Before leaving Buffalo, McCIure called out the men of Gen- 
esee, Niagara and Chautauqua counties en masse, and on arriving 
at Batavia, on the 22d of December, he turned over the com- 
mand to Major General Hall, the commander of this division 
of militia. That ofificer who manifested no lack of zeal, 
sent forward all the troops he could raise and proceeded to Buf- 
falo himself, on the 25th, leaving McClure to organize and for- 
ward r e i n f o re e m e n t s . 



74 I'RErARATIOXS FOR DEFENSE. 



CHAPTER XII. 
BURNING OF BUFFALO. 

Number of Troops — The Enemy's Approach — Movements in Defense — Attack 
and Repulse — Battle of Black Rock — The Retreat — The Flight — Univer- 
sal Confusion — The Indians — Chapin's Negotiation — Mrs. St. John — The 
Village in Flames - Murder of Mrs. Lovejoy — The Enemy Retire - The 
Slain — Calvin Cary^McClure to Blame — The Flight in the Country — 
The Buffalo Road— The Big Tree Road— Exaggerated Reports — Return 
of the British- — More Burning — The Scene at Reese's — Building Relief. 

On the 27th of December, General Hall reviewed the forces 
at Buffalo and Black Rock, \\hich were thus described in his 
report. At Buffalo there were a hundred and twenty-nine 
mounted volunteers under Colonel Broughton, of Ontario 
county, four hundred and thirty-three Ontario county volun- 
teers under Colonel Blakeslie, one hundred and thirty-six Buf- 
falo militia under Colonel Chapin, ninety-seven Canadian vol- 
unteers under Colonel Mallory, and three hundred and eighty- 
two Genesee county militia under Major Adams. At Black 
Rock there were three hundred and eighty-two under Colonel 
Warren and Churchill, thirty-seven mounted men under Captain 
Ransom, eighty-three Indians under Colonel Granger, one piece 
of field artillery under Lieutenant Seeley. The aggregate 
force at both places according to the re[)ort was about seven- 
teen hundred. Colonel Warren lived in Aurora and his regi- 
ment was from the south towns of Erie county. On the 29th, 
there arrived a regiment of Chautaucjua count}' militia under Col- 
onel McMahan, numbering about three hundred men, bringing 
the aggregate force to about tw^o thousand. 

Besides Seeley's field-piece, there were seven other cannon 
at the two villages, but none of them mounted on carriages. 
Several of them were in a battery at the top of the hill over- 
looking Black Rock, and with them was May Dudley with a 
part of Warren's regiment ; the rest, \\ ith Churchill's detach- 
ment, were in the Village of Black Rock. >\bout midnight of 
the 29th, a detachment of the enemy landed a little below 



r.HNKRAi, iiAi.i, ()KI)i;rs ax at tack. 75 

Scajaquada creek. The news was at <Jiice carried to Colonels 
Warren antl Cluircliill at IMack Rock, and tlien to (ieneral Hail 
at Buffalo. Tiie i^eneral ordered out his men, but,fearinir tliat 
the enemy's movement was a feint, and that he would land in 
force above Buffalo and march down, he did not send an\- con- 
siderable force down the river. Colonels Warren and Churchill 
endeavored to reach Scajaquada creek before the invaders and 
hold it ai^ainst them, but the J-^ritish arri\'ed there first and got 
possession of the bridge. Warren and Churchill deemed it 
impracticable to dislodge the enemy in the darkness but deter- 
mined to take a position at a small run between the village and 
the bridge, and there oppose his further advance. The enemy 
did not advance, but in the course of an hour or so Colonel 
Chapin arri\-ed with a body of mounted men, and delivered 
General Hall's order that they should immediately make an 
attack. Chapin led the way, Warren and Churchill followed. 
All was silent as death. Suddenly from the darkness flashed 
a volley of musketry almost in the faces of the head of the 
column. They instantly broke and fled, rushing back through 
the ranks of Warren's men, who became utterly demoralized 
withcHit receiving a shot. As the horsemen stampeded through 
them they broke up, scattering through the woods or retreat- 
ing toward Buffalo. Warren retired to the main battery to 
endea\'or to ralh' some of the fugitives ; Churchill, with at 
least part of his men, remained below the village. When 
General Hall received news of this failure, he ordered Major 
Adams, with his Genesee militia, to march against the enemy. 
This movement was equally futile. The general then ordered 
Colonel Blakeslie, with his Ontario County militia to ach'ance 
to the attack. Hall then gathered his remaining forces and 
started for Black Rock. .Vs he approached that village the 
day began to dawn, and he discovered the enemy's boats cross- 
ing the river in the direction of General Porter's house. 
Blakeslie's command was ordered to meet the approaching 
force at the water's edge. That force consisted of the Ro}'al 
Scots under Colonel Gordon, and was estimated at four hun- 
dred men. The invasion was under the general superintendence 
of Lieutenant-General Drummond, but the troops were under 
the immediate command of Major-General Riall. The artillery 



76 THE AMERICAN RETREAT. 

in battery fired on them as they advanced, and Blakeshe's 
men opened fire when they landed. They returned it, and a 
battery on the other side sent shells and balls over their heads 
among the Americans. For half an hour, the forest and river- 
side re-echoed with the thunder of artillery and ceaseless rattle 
of small arms. 

All accounts agree that Blakeshe's men did the most of the 
fighting, and sustained the attack of the Ro\'al Scots with con- 
siderable firmness. Had all the regiments been kept together, 
and met the enemy at his landing the result might have been 
far different. 

Meanwhile, the hostile force at Scajaquada creek, consisting 
of regulars and Indians, moved up the river, easily dispersing 
Churchill's meagre force, and marched against Blakeshe's right. 
It is not believed there were then over six hundred men in our 
ranks, and these thus assailed on two sides were entirely unable 
to maintain their ground. Large numbers were already scat- 
tered through the woods toward home, when General Hall 
ordered a retreat, hoping to make another stand at the edge of 
Buffalo. This, as might be supposed, was utterly hopeless ; 
once the men got to running, there were few that thought of 
anything else. In a few moments all were in utter route. A 
part hurried towards Buffalo ; others rushed along the Guide- 
board road (North street) to Hodge's tavern, and thence took 
the Williamsville road, while many fled through the woods 
without regard to roads of any kind. Fugitives were rushing 
through Buffalo and striking out for Williamsville, Willink or 
Hamburgh. The Buffalo volunteers came hurrying up to take 
care of their families. They declared that the Americans were 
whipped, that the British were marching on the town, and, 
most terrible of all, that the Indians were coming. Then all 
was confusion and dismay. Teams w^ere at a premium ; horses, 
o.xen, sleighs, sleds, wagons, carts — nearly everything that had 
feet, wheels or runners, were pressed into service. Many who 
neither had nor could obtain teams, set forth on foot. Men, 
women and children by the score were seen hastening through 
the light snow and half-frozen mud in the bitter morning air 
up Main street, or out Seneca, or up the lake shore. 

A crowd of teams and foot-men, and foot-women too, were 



THE FLAG OF TRUCE. T"] 

hurr\-in<4" up Main street, when suddenlx' tlie head of a cohinm 
stopped and sury;ed back on the rear. " I'he Indians I" was the 
cr\- from the front, "they are coming" up the Guide-board road." 
\\\.\c\< down Main street rolled the tide. Teams were urged to 
their utmost speed and people on foot did their best to keep 
u[j with them. Turning down Seneca street, the crowd sped 
on, some going straight to the Indian village and thence across 
the reservation to Willink, others making for I'ratt's ferry and 
thence up the beach to Hamburg. 

There was good reason for the sudden retreat of the Main 
street fugitives. While the main bod\' of the enem\' marched 
along Niagara street, the Indians on the left pressed up the 
"Guide-board road" (North street). Here it was that Job 
Hoysington, a resolute volunteer, said to his comrades, with 
whom he was retreating, that he would have one more shot at 
the red-skins, and in spite of remonstrance waited for that pur- 
pose. He doubtless got a shot at them, but they got a shot at 
him too, as he was found with a bullet through his brain. His 
wife waited for her husband's return at their residence at the 
corner of Main and Utica streets, and finally set out on foot 
with her children. She was soon overtaken by two cavalrymen, 
who took two of the little ones on their horses. For a long time 
she did not hear of them, but at length discovered them, one in 
Clarence and one in Genesee county. (Many interesting inci- 
dents of a similar nature might be mentioned, but for want of 
space they are omitted.) 

As the British came u[) Niagara street, se\'eral men, appar- 
ently without any organization, manned an old twelve-pounder 
mounted on a pair of trucks at the junction of Main and Niag- 
ara streets, two ^^\■ three shots were fired and then it was dis- 
mounted. 

Colonel Chai)in then \\ent forward with a white handkerchief 
tied to his cane, as a flag of truce, asked a halt, which was 
granted, and began a parley. In a statement published by 
himself shortly after, he speaks of "attempting a negotiation," 
claiming that while this was going on the people had a chance 
to escape. 

The Indians came to Main street before the I^ritish troops 
which were draw n up near the corner of Morgan, Mohawk and 



78 THE FIRE — KILLED AXD WOUNDED. 

Niagara streets. The savages had apparent!}- full license to do 
what the\- pleased in the way of plundering, though some 
British officers went ahead and had the casks of liquor .stove in 
to prevent their red allies from getting entirely beyond control. 

Presently flames burst forth from the houses in the main part 
of the village near the corner of Main and Seneca .streets. A 
Lieutenant with a squad of men went from house to house 
applying the torch. By 3 o'clock in the afternoon all of the 
lately flourishing village of Buffalo, save some six or eight 
structures, was smouldering in ashes. What few houses there 
were at Black Rock were likewise destroyed, and the enemy 
then retired across the river. The foe took with them about 
ninety prisoners, of whom eleven were wounded. Forty of the 
ninety were from Blakeslie's regiment. Besides these a con- 
siderable number of American wounded were able to escape — 
probably fift}' or sixt}-. Forty or fifty were killed ; most of 
them lay on the field of battle, but some were scattered through 
the upper part of the village. Among the slain the officer of 
the highest rank was Colonel Boughton, of Avon. In Erie 
county, reckoning according to present division of towns, the 
killed were Job Noysington, John Roop, Samuel Holmes, John 
Trsket, James Nesbet, Robert Franklin (colored), Mr. Myers 
and Mr. Lovejoy, of Buffalo ; Robert Nilland, Adam Lawfer, 
of Black Rock ; Jacob Vantine, Jr., of Clarence ; Moses Fenno, 
of Alden ; Israel Reed, of Aurora; Newman Baker, Parle}^ 
Moffat and William Cheeseman, of Hamburgh and Ea.st Ham- 
burgh ; Maj. William C. Dudley, and probably Peter HofTman, 
of Evans, and Calvin Cary, of Boston. 

Calvin Cary, oldest son of the pioneer Deacon Richard Cary, 
though only twenty-one years of age, was a man of gigantic 
stature and herculean strength, weighing nearly three hundred 
pounds. Pursued by three Indians, he shot one dead, killed 
another with his clubbed musket, but was shot, tomahawked 
and scalped b}- the third. His broken musket, which was found 
by his side and testified to his \'alor, is still preserved b)' his 
kindred. 

During all that day (the 30th of December), the road through 
Williamsville and Clarence was crowded with a hurrying and 
heteroijcnous multitude — bands of militiamen, families in 



THE ENEMY RETIRES. 79 

sleighs, women dri\in^ ox-sleds, men in watj^ons, cavalrymen on 
horseback, women on foot bearing infants in their arms and 
attended by crying- children — all animated by a single thought, 
to escape from the enemy and especially from the dreaded 
Indians. 

On the Big Tree road (running cast through Hamburg and 
Aurora to the Genesee river) the scene was still more diversi- 
fied, for in addition to the mixed multitude which poured along 
the northern route, was the whole bod}' of Indians from the 
Ruffalo reservation. Mr. Turner, the author of the " Histor\- 
of the Holland Purchase," then a youth residing in Sheldon, 
Wyoming county, gives the following picture of the scene from 
personal recollection : 

" An ox-sled would come along bearing wounded soldiers, 
whose companions had perhaps pressed the slow team into their 
service ; another \\-ith the family of a settler, a few household 
goods that had been hustled upon it, and one, two or three 
wearied females from Buffalo, wdio had begged the privilege of 
a ride and the rest that it afforded ; then a remnant of some 
dispersed corps of militia with the arms they had neglected to 
use ; then squads and families of Indians, on foot and on pon- 
ies, the squaw with her papoose on her back, and a bevy of 
juvenile Senecas in her train. Bread, meats and drinks soon 
\'anished from the log taverns on the routes, and fleeing set- 
tlers divided their scanty stores with the almost famished that 
came from the frontiers." 

When it was found that the enemy had retired, curiosit}- 
induced many men from the nearest towns to visit the ruins. 

Others went to render what assistance the\- could, and still 
others, alas, to take advantage of the unixersal confusion and 
purloin whatever might have been left by the invaders. A few- 
went on the 31st of December, more on the ist of Januar\-. 
On the former day everything was quiet, (^n the latter, as 
the few remaining citizx-ns and some fron-i the country were 
staring at the ghastly ruins, a detachment of the enemy sud- 
denl}- appeared, making prisoners of most of them. They then 
fired all the remaining buildings except the jail, which would 
not burn, Reese's blacksmith shop and Mrs. St. John's cottage. 

A day or two after the second raid the people assembled and 



8o RELIEF FOR THE SUFFERERS. 

picked up the dead bodies and brou<^ht them to Reese's bhick- 
smith shop. The number is variously stated, but the most 
careful account makes it forty-two killed, besides some who 
were not found (Hoysington was not found until Spring), and 
some prominent persons like Colonel Boughton, who were taken 
care of earlier. At the shop they were laid in rows, a ghastly 
display, all being frozen stiff and most of them stripped and 
scalped. After those belonging in the vicinit}' had been taken 
away by their friends, the rest were deposited in a single large 
grave in the old burying ground on Franklin Square (where the 
city and county buildings now are), covered only with boards, 
so they could be easily examined and taken away. 

On the 6th of January, just a week after the main conflagra- 
tion, William Hodge brought his family back, it being the first 
that returned ; Pomeroy came immediately afterwards and 
raised the first building in the new Village of Buffalo. Soldiers 
were stationed in the village and as time wore on people began 
to feel more safe ; but the Winter was one of intense excite- 
ment and distress. Twice during the Winter, small squads of 
the enemy crossed the river but were driven back by the 
soldiers and citizens without much fighting. Most of the 
people who came back had nothing to live on save what was 
issued to them by the commissary department of the army. 
The suffering would have been even greater than it was had 
not prompt measures of relief been taken by the public author- 
ities and citizens of more fortunate localities. The legislature 
voted $40,000 in aid of the devastated district, besides $5,000 
to the Tuscarora Indians, and $5,000 to residents of Canada, 
driven out on account of their friendship for the United States. 
The city of Albany voted $1,000, and the city of New York 
$3,000. The citizens of Canandaigua appointed a committee 
of relief who raised a considerable amount there and sent com- 
munications soliciting aid to all the country eastward. They 
were promptly responded to, and liberal contributions raised 
throughout the state. With this aid, and that of the Commis- 
sary department, and the assistance of personal friends, those 
who remained on the frontier managed to live through the 
woeful Winter. 



AUKi\Ai. <)i' \viMn:i.i) scorr. 8i 



CHAPTER XIII. 
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1814. 

Soldiers' Graves — Scott and Brown — Discipline at Buffalo— The Death Penalty — 
Capture of Fort Erie — Approaching Chippewa — An Indian Battle — A 
Retreat — \'ictory — Scalps — Advance to Fort George — Return— Lundy's 
Lane — Retreat to Fort Eric — Bridgewater — Battle of Conjockety Creek — 
Assault on Fort Erie — The Explosion — Call for Volunteers— The Res- 
ponse — The Sortie — Gallantry of the Volunteers — General Porter 
— Peace. 

As Spring approached, the frontier began to revive. More 
troop.s appeared, and their presence caused the paying out of 
considerable sums of money among the inhabitants. There 
was a ready market for produce at large prices. 

Williamsville was the rendezvous for the troops. There was 
a long row of barracks, parallel with the main street of that 
village and a short distance north of it, and others used as a 
hospital, a mile or so up the F],leven-Mile creek. 

Near these latter, and close beside the murmuring waters of 
the stream, rest several scores of soldiers who died in that 
hospital, all unknown, their almost imperceptible graves 
marked onl}' by a row of ma])les, long since planted b)' some 
reverent hand. 

On the lOth of .April there arrived on the frontier a state!}' 
young warrior, whose presence was alread)' considered a har- 
binger of victory, and whose shoulders had latel)' been adorned 
by the epaulets of a brigadier-general. This was W'infield 
Scott, then thirt\' \-ears old, and the hcau ideal of a gallant 
soldier. 

Immediatel}- afterwards came his superior officer, Major- 
General Brown, who had been rapidl}' advanced to the highest 
rank, on the strength of the vigor and skill he had shown as a 
commander at the foot of Lake Ontario. 

Bodies of regular troops and some \olunteers continued to 
concentrate at Williamsville and Buffalo. Scott removed his 
headquarters to the latter place toward the last of May, where 
5 



82 THE PENALTY OF DESERTION. 

the troops were encamped amid the ruins. Great efforts were 
made to introduce rigid discipHnc. The men were under con- 
.stant drill, and desertion was mercilessly punished. 

Among the reminiscences of that era, no scene appears to 
have been more vividly impressed on the minds of the relators 
than the one which was displayed near the present corner of 
Mar}'land and Sixth streets, on the 4th of June, 18 14. 

I'^ive men, con\-icted of desertion, knelt ^\'ith bandaged eyes 
and pinioned arms, each with an open coffin before him and a 
new-made grave behind him. 

Twenty paces in front stood a platoon of men, detailed to 
inflict the supreme penalty of military law. The whole arm}^ 
was drawn up on three sides in a hollow square, to witness the 
execution, the artillerymen standing by their lighted matches, 
ready to suppress a possible mutiny, while Generals Brown, 
Scott and Ripley sat upon their horses, surrounded by their 
brilliant staffs, looking sternly on the scene. Then the 
firing party did their deadly work, four men fell in their coffins 
or their graves, but one youth under twenty-one was unhurt. 
He sprang up, wrenched loose his pinioned arms, and tore the 
bandage from his eyes. Two men advanced to extinguish the 
last remains of life in those who had fallen. 

He supposed they were about to dispatch him, and fell 
fainting to the ground. 

He was taken away without further injury. Doubtless it 
had been determined to spare him on account of his \'outh, 
and therefore his supposed executioners had been furnished 
with unloaded muskets. 

The work of preparation went forward not very rapidl}-. 
On the 28th of June a statement appeared in the Gazette that 
the rumors of an immediate advance which had been in circula- 
tion were not true, and that the transportation of the army 
was not ready. This was not inserted by order, for on the 3rd 
of Jul\- the advance began. Brown's force consisted of two 
brigades of regulars, under Generals Scott and Ripley, and one 
of volunteers under General Porter. This was composed of 
five hundred I'enns)-lvanians, six hundred New York xolun- 
teers, all of whom had not arrived when the movement began, 
and near!)' six hundred Indians. 



SliRRKNDKR Ol' llli: FORT. J^3 

Six huiulrcd was almost the entire strength of the Six 
Nations, and these liad been L^atliered from all reser\'ations in 
Western New \'ork. It is i)robable that the i,n-eat a^c of Far- 
mer's Brother prevented him from crossini^. Actinij^ as a pri- 
\ate in the ranks was Red Jacket, the i)rincii)al and leader of 
the Six Nations, who, notwitlistandin^^ the timidity usually 
attributed' to him, was unwilling' to stay behind Avhile""his 
c<Hmtr}-men were winning;' i^"lor\' on the field of carnage. 
Col. Robert P'lemini;- was (|uartermaster of this peculiar bat- 
talion. 

Fort Erie was garrisoned b}- a hundred and se\'enty l^ritish 
soldiers. The main bod}' of the enemy was at Chippewa, two 
miles above the falls and eighteen miles below the fort. 

On the 2nd of July, Brown, Scott and Porter reconnoitred 
Fort P^rie and concerted the plan of attack. Riple}', with a 
part of his brigade, was to embark at Buffalo in the night and 
land a mile up the lake from the fort. Scott, witli his brigade, 
was to cross from l^lack Rock, and land a mile below Fort Erie, 
which, in the morning, both brigades were to invest and 
capture. 

Scott and Ripley both started at the time appointed, but as 
in most military operations depending on concert of action be- 
tween separate corps, there was a difificulty not foreseen. Rip- 
ley's pilot was misled b\- a fog on the lake and his command 
did not land until several hours past time. Scott, however, 
cro.s.sed promiUl}- and was able to invest the fort with his brigade 
alone. At sunrise the artillery and Indians crossed at the fer- 
ry, and after some parle>-ing the fort surrendered, without 
awaiting an attack. 

The afternoon of the ^rtl, Scott marchetl sexeral miles down 
the Niagara, and on the morning of the 4th, drove in the 
enemy's advanced posts. He was followed by Brown and Rip- 
ley, and both brigades established themselves on the south side 
of Street's creek, two miles south of Chippewa. On the left, 
three-fourths of a mile from Niagara, was a dense and some- 
what swampy forest on both sides of Street's creek, extending 
to within three-fourths of a mile of Chippewa creek, which was 
bordered for that purpose by a level cleared plain. On the 
north side of that creek, the British arm\'la\- inlrcnclud. The 



84 ADVANCING TOWARD THE ENEMY. 

two armies were concealed from each other's sight by a narrow 
strip of woodhind, reaching from the main forest to ^\•ithin 
a hundred yards of the riv^er bank. 

During the night of the 4th, the Americans were much an- 
noyed by Indians and Canadians lurking in the forest, who 
drove in their pickets and threatened their flanks. 

Late that night General Porter crossed the river with his 
Indians and Pennsylvanians, and in the morning marched to- 
ward Chippewa. He was met on the road by General Brown, 
who spoke of the manner in which he had been annoyed by 
lurkers in the forest, and proposed that Porter should dri\'e 
them out, declaring confidently that there would be no 
British regulars south of the Chippewa that da)\ Still, he said, 
he would order Scott to occupy the open ground beyond 
Street's creek in support of Porter. The latter accepted the 
proposition of his chief, and at three o'clock started to put it 
in execution. 

The Indians assumed their usual full battle-dress, of mantur- 
nipline, breech-clout, moccasins, feathers and paint, and the war- 
chiefs then proceeded to elect a leader. Their choice fell on 
Captain Pollard, a veteran of Wyoming and man}^ other fights. 

Porter left two hundred of his Pennsylvanians in camp, think- 
ing their presence needless, and formed the other three hun- 
dred into one rank on the open ground, half a mile south of 
Street's creek, their left resting on the forest. The whole five 
or six hundred Indians were also formed in one rank in the 
woods, their right reaching to the left of the whites. General 
Porter stationed himself between the two wings of his com- 
mand, with Captain Pollard on his left. He was also attended 
by two or three stafT ofTficers, by Hank Johnson, the interpreter, 
and by several regular officers, who had volunteered to see the 
fun. Ked Jacket was on the extreme left of the Indian line. 
A company of regular infantry followed as a reserve. The war- 
chiefs took their places twenty yards in front of their braves, 
and a few scouts were sent still further in advance. 

Then, at a given signal, the whole line moved forward, the 
whites marching steadily \\ith shouldered arms on the plain, the 
naked Indians gliding through the forest with cat-like treatl, 
their bodies bent forward, their rifles held ready for instant 



rXDlAX M.Wd'.UVRINC. 85 

use, their feathers nocUlini; at every step, their fierce eyes 
llashiiiL;- in every direction. Suddenly one of the cliiefs made 
a sii,mal, and tlie whole line of painted warriors sank to the 
i^round as quickly and as noiselessly as the sons of Clan Alpine 
at the command of Roderick Dim. This manceuvre was a jKirt 
of their primitive tactics, and the chiefs rapidly assembled to 
consult over some rei)ort broui^ht back by a scout. At another 
sit;nal the warriors spranc;- up and the feather-crested line 
again moved through the forest. The manctuvre was repeated 
when the scouts brought back word that the enemy was await- 
ing them on the north bank of Street's creek, General Porter 
was informed of this fact and made some slight changes in his 
arrangements, and again the line advanced with increased speed. 

As the Indians approached the creek, they received the fire 
of a force of British Indians and Canadians stationed there. 
They instantly raised a war-whoop that resounded far over the 
Niagara, and charged at the top of their speed. The foe at 
once fled. The Iroquois dashed through the little stream and 
bounded after them, whooping, yelling, shooting, cleaving sculls 
and tearing off scalps like so many demons. Many were 
overtaken, but few captured. Occasionally, however, a Seneca 
or Cayuga would seize an enemy, unwind his maturnipline, bind 
him with surprising quickness and then go trotting back to the 
rear, holding one end of the maturnip as a man might lead a 
horse by the halter. 

Such speed and bottom were displayed by the Indians that 
neither the regulars nor volunteers were able to keep up with 
them. For more than a mile the pursuit was maintained in the 
words of General Porter, " through scenes of frightful havoc." 

At length the Indians who had got considerable in advance, 
emerged upon the ojien ground three-quarters of a mile from 
Chippewa creek, where they were received with a tremendous 
fire from the greater part of the British regular army, draw-n in 
line of battle on the plain. 

It looked as if General Riall had determined to attack the 
Americans, and had sent forward his light troops to bring on a 
battle, expecting, probably, that the whole American force 
would get exhausted in pursuit, and become an easy prey to his 
fresh battalion. 



86 f]j-:ei\(; ix confusion. 

The fact that the pursuit was carried on by the American 
h'l^ht troops and Indians alone broke up, and, in fact, reversed 
this programme. The warriors c|uickl\' fled from the de-^truct- 
ive fire in front. 

General Porter, supposing that it came from the force they 
had been pursuing, rallied the greater part of them, formed 
them again on the left of his volunteers and moved forward to 
the edge of the woods. Again the long red-coated battalions 
opened fire. 

The volunteers stood and exchanged two or three volleys 
with them, but when the enemy dashed forward with the bay- 
onet, Porter, seeing nothing of Scott with the supports, gave 
the order to retreat. 

Both whites and Indians fled in the greatest confusion. On 
came the red-coats at their utmost speed, supposing they had 
gained another easy victory, and that all that was necessary 
was to catch the runaways. 

The Indians being the best runners and unencumbered with 
clothing, got ahead in the retreat as they had in the advance, 
but the whites did their best to keep up with them. The flight 
continued for a mile, pursuers as well as pursued becoming 
greatly disorganized, and the speed of the fugitives being acceler- 
ated by the constant bursting of shells from the enemy's artillery. 

Approaching Street's creek, Scott's brigade was found just 
crossing the bridge and forming line. They took up their posi- 
tions with the greatest coolness under the fire of the British 
artillery, but Porter claimed that through the fault of either 
Scott or Brown, they were very much behind time. 

The former General was always celebrated for his prompt- 
ness, and the fault, if there was one, was probabh' with Brown. 
Perhaps he didn't expect Porter's men to run so fast, either 
going or coming. 

The result, however, was as satisfactory- as if this precipitate 
retreat had been planned to draw forward the foe. Ripley's 
brigade was at once sent off to the left, through the woods, to 
flank the enemy. The fugitives as they ran also bore to the 
w estward, and Scott's fresh battalion came into line in perfect 
order, making somewhat merry over the haste of their red and 
white comrades. 



TiiK Kn.i.ED AND \V( )r M )i:i ). 87 

Some of ihc Iiulians had taken tlicir sons, from twelve to 
sixteen years old, into battle to initiate them in the business of 
war. One of these careful fathers was now seen running at his 
best speed, with liis son on his shoulders. Just as he passed 
the left flank of Scott's brigade, near where the General and 
his stafT sat on their horses, superintending the formation of 
the line, a shell burst directly over the head of the panting war- 
rior. " Ugh," he exclaimed in a x'oice of terror, bounding sev- 
eral feet from the ground. As he came down he fell to the 
earth, and the lad tumbled off. Springing up, the older Indian 
ran on at still greater speed than before, leaving the }'oungster 
to pick himself up and scamper away as best he might. The 
scene was greeted with a roar of laughter by the young ofificers 
around Scott, who rebuked them sharply for their levity. 

In a few moments they had plenty of serious work to occupy 
their attention. The Americans reserved their fire till the 
encm\- was within fift\- }'ards, when they poured in so deadly 
a voile}' that the British instantly fell back. They were quickly 
rallied and led to the attack, but were again met with a terrific 
fire, under which they retreated in hopeless disorder. Scott 
pursued them beyond the strip of woods before mentioned, 
when the}' fled across the Chippewa into their intrenchments 
and tore up the bridge, Scott's brigade then lay down on the 
open plain north of the woods. 

By order of General Brown, who was in the midst of the 
fight. Porter took his 200 reserve Pennsylvanians to the left of 
Scott's brigade, where they, too, lay down under the fire of the 
l^ritish artiller}'. 

After a while Ripley's brigade came out of the woods cov- 
ered with mud, having had their march for nothing, as the 
enemy they had attempted to flank had run away before their 
flank could be reached. It not being deemed best to attack 
the foe in his intrenchments, directl}- in front, the Americans 
returned at nightfall to their encampment. 

The battle of Chippewa w;is the first, during the war of 1812, 
in which a large body of British regulars were defeated in the 
open field, and the Americans w ere immensely encouraged by 
it. Enlistment thereafter was much more rapid than before. 
The total British loss, as officially reported, was 514, of whom 



88 INDIANS RETURNING To TIIKIK HOMES. 

between one and two hundred were found dead on the held by 
the victors. About two hundred and fifty were taken prison- 
ers, mostly wounded. The Americans had about fifty killed, a 
hundred and forty wounded and a few taken prisoners. The 
number of American re<^ulars engai^ed was 1,300. General 
Porter estimated the British regulars in the fight at 1,700. 

The Canadian Indians were so roughh' handled that they fled 
at once to the head of Lake Ontario, and ne\'er after took any 
part in the war. 

On the 7th of July, the 600 volunteers frtmi Western New 
York joined Porter's brigade, I have found no account of how 
they were organized nor of the localities from which they came. 

On the 8th, Ripley's brigade and these New York volunteers 
forced a passage of the Chippewa, three miles up, quickly driv- 
ing back the force stationed there. General Riall, finding 
himself flanked, destroyed his works and retreated rapidly to 
Oueenston and then to Fort George. Brown pursued and took 
up his quarters at Oueenston, but did not deem his force suffi- 
cient either to assault or besiege the fortress. 

On the 1 6th, Porter's brigade skirmished around the fort, to 
give the engineers a chance to reconnoitre, but nothing came 
of it. 

Meanwhile, the British received reinforcements and Brown 
determined to return to Fort Erie. Riall followed. Before 
arriving at the Falls, most of the Indians, through the arrange- 
ment of Red Jacket, obtained permission to retire to their 
homes, agreeing to return if the British Indians should again 
take the field. But the latter were perfectly satisfied with 
that terrible cirubbing in the Chippewa woods, and never again 
appeared in arms against the Americans. Nevertheless, some 
forty or fifty of our Indians remained with the army through- 
out the campaign. 

On the 25th of Jul}', Brown's ami)' encamped near Chippewa 
creek. Riall was pressing so closely on the American rear that 
Brown sent back Scott's brigade to check him. Scott met the 
enemy at l^ridgewater, just below the P"alls ; sending back word 
to his sujierior, the impetuous Virginian led his columns to the 
attack. 

For an hour a desperate battle raged between Scotts single 



CAI'TUKK OK MAJOR ( il'.MlKA I, KIAI.l.. 89 

bi'ii;a(.lc aiul Riall's army, neither Ljainini; an\' decided advan- 
tai4'e. At the end of that time and but a h'ttle before niL;lit, 
l^rown arrived with the brii^ades of Ripley and Porter. 

Determinini^" to interpose a new Hne and diseni^a^e Scott's 
exhausted men, he ordered forward the two fresh brigades. 
The enemy's line was then near " Lundy's Lane," a road run- 
ninij^ at right anii^les with the riv^er, wliich it reaches a short 
distance below the h^alls. Mis artillery was on a piece of risini^ 
y^round which was the key t)f the position. 

Colonel Miller commanding a regiment of infantr)-, was 
asked by Brown if he could ca})ture it. "I can try, sir!" 
was the memorable response of the gallant officer. 

Though the regiment which should have supported Miller's 
gave way, yet the latter moved steadily up the hill. Increas- 
ing its pace, it swept forward, while its ranks were depleted at 
every step, and, after a brief but desperate struggle, carried the 
heights and captured the hostile cannon at the point of the 
bayonet. At the same time, Major Jessup's regiment drove 
back a part of the enemy's infantry, capturing Major-General 
Riall, their commander, and when General Ripley led forward 
his reserve regiment the l^ritish fell back and disajjpeared from 
the field. 

It was now eight o'clock and entirely dark. In a short time 
the enemy rallied and attempted to regain his lost artillery. 

Seldom, in all the annals of war, has a conflict been fought 
under more strange and romantic circumstances. The dark- 
ness of night was over all the combatants. A little way to the 
northeastward rolled and roared the greatest cataract in the 
world^wonderful Niagara. Its thunders subdued, yet dis- 
tinct, could be heard whenever the cannon were silent. And 
there in the darkness upon that solitary hillside, within sound 
of that mighty avalanche of water the soldiers of the young 
republic, flushed with the triumph w hich had given them their 
enemy's battle-ground antl cannon and commander, calmly 
awaited the onslaught of Mnglaml's defeated but not disheart- 
ened veterans. 

At half-past eight the .Americans saw the darkness turning 
red, far down the slope, and soon in the gloom were dimly 
outlined the advancing battalions of the foe. The red line 



QO AMERICANS RK'l'URNINC WITH TIIKIK TRISOXHRS. 

came swiftly, silently and i^allantl)' up the hill, beneath the 
banners of St. George, and all the while the subdued roar of 
Niagara was rolling gently over the field. 

Suddenly the American cannon and small arms lighted up 
the scene with their angry glare, their voices drowning the 
noise of the cataract. The red battalions were torn asunder, 
and the hillside strewn with dead and dying men, but the line 
closed up and advanced still more rapidly, their fire rivaling 
that of the Americans, and both turning the night into deadly 
day. Presently the assailants ceased firing and then with thun- 
dering cheers and leveled bayonets rushed forward to the 
charge. But the American grape and canister made terrible 
havoc in their ranks, the musketry of Scott and Ripley mowed 
them down by the score, and the sharp-cracking rifles of Por- 
ter's volunteers did their work with deadly discrimination. More 
and more the assailants wavered, and when the Americans in 
turn charged bayonets, the whole British line fled at their 
utmost speed. The regulars followed but a short distance, 
being held in hand by their officers, who had no idea of plung- 
ing through the darkness against a possible reserve. But the 
volunteers chased the enemy down the slope and cai)tured a 
considerable number of prisoners. Then the Americans 
reformed their lines, and then again the murmur of the cataract 
held sway over the field. Twice during the next hour the 
British attempted to retake their cannon, and both times the 
result was the same as that of the first effort. For two hours 
after the Americans remained in line awaiting another onslaught 
of the foe, but the latter made no further attempt. Having no 
extra teams the victors were unable to take away the captured 
guns, with one exception. Accordingly, with this single tro- 
phy, with their o\\n wounded and with a hundred and sixty- 
nine prisoners, including General Riall, the iVmericans at mid- 
night returned to their encampment on the Chippewa. Their 
loss was 171 killed, 449 wounded and 1 17 missing. I^oth l^rown 
and Scott were wounded, the latter severely, and both were 
removed to Buffalo. 

The condition of the two armies is plainly shown by the 
fact that the next day the enemy allowed Ripley to burn the 
mills, barracks and bridges at Bridgewater without molestation. 



I 111, i;.\rii,K OK coNjocKKrv ( ki;i;K. 91 

The Americans then pursuetl their untroubled march to Vovt 
Kric. On their arrixal the most of the xohmteers went lionie 
havini;' served the remarkably loni^" time of three or four months. 
Nevertheless they had done i^ood service and were entitled to 
a rest accordin;4' to the views of volunteering;" then in voL;"ue. 
The regulars had been reduced by various casualties to some 
fifteen hundred men. The British, on the other hand, had 
recei\-ed reinforcements, and felt themselves stroni; enough to 
besiege the fort, if fort it might be called, which was rather a 
partially intrenched encampment. 

General Drummond's ami)- for two weeks steadily worked 
their way toward the American defences at Fort Erie. These 
consisted principally of two stone mess-houses and bastion 
known as " Old Fort Erie," a short distance east of the river 
bank, antl a natural mound half a mile south and near the lake 
which was surmounted with breast-\\orks and cannon, and 
called "Towson's batter}-." 

Between the old fort and the batter\- ran a parapet, and 
another from the old fort eastward to the river. On both the 
north and west, a dense forest came within sixty rods of the 
American works. The British erected batteries in the woods 
on the north, each one farther south than its predecessor, and 
then in the night chopped out openings through which their 
cannon could play on our works. At this time the commander 
at Fort Erie was in the habit of sending across a battalion of 
regular riflemen every night to guard the bridge over Scaja- 
quada creek, who returned each morning to the fort. 

About the loth of August a heavy British force cro.ssed the 
river at night at some point below the Scajaquada, and just 
before daylight they attempted to force their way across the 
latter stream. Their objective ])oint was doubtless the public 
stores at Black Rock and Buffalo. Being opposed by the 
riflemen before mentioned, under Major Lodowick Morgan, 
there ensued a fight of some imi)ortance, of which old men 
sometimes speak as the " l^attle of Conjockety Creek," but of 
which I have found no printed record. Even the Buffalo 
(hizctic of the da\' was silent regarding it, though it afterwards 
alluded to Major Morgan as " The hero of Conjocket)-." The 
planks of the bridge had been taken up and the riflemen lay in 



92 DHUMMONl) REI'UI.SKl) THE THIRD TIMP:. 

wait on the south side. When the enemy's column came up 
Morgan's men opened a destructive fire. The EngHsh pressed 
forward so boldly that some of them, when shot, fell into the 
creek and were swept down the Niagara. 

They were compelled to fall back, but again and again they 
repeated the attempt, and every time they were repulsed with 
loss. A body of militia, under Colonels Swift and Warren, 
were placed on the right of the regulars, and prevented the 
enemy from crossing farther up the creek. 

Several deserters came over to our forces, having thrown 
away their weapons and taken off their red coats, which they 
carried rolled up under their arms. They reported the enemy's 
force at seventeen hundred, but that was probably an exagger- 
ation. 

After a conflict lasting several hours, the enemy retreated, 
having suffered severely in the fight. The Americans had 
eight men wounded. 

Early in the morning of the 15th of August, 18 14, the Eng- 
lish attempted to carry Fort livic by storm, under cover of 
darkness. 

At half-past two o'clock a column of a thousand to fifteen 
hundred men moved from the woods on the west against Tow- 
son's Battery. Though received with a terrific fire they pressed 
forward, but were at length stopped within a few )'ards of the 
American lines. They retreated in confusion and no further 
attempt was made at that point. 

Notwithstanding the strength of this attack, it was partly in 
the nature of a feint, for immediately afterwards two other 
columns issued from the forest on the north. One sought to 
force its way up along the river bank, but was easily repulsed. 
The other, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond, advanced 
against the main bastion. It was defended by several heavy 
guns and field-pieces, by the Ninth United States infantry, and 
by one company each of New York and Pennsylvania volun- 
teers. Received with a withering discharge of cannon and 
musketiy, Drummond's right and left were driven back. His 
center, however, ascended the parapet, but were finalK- repulsed 
with dreadful carnage. Again Drummond led his men to the 
charge, and again they were repulsed. A third time the 



T.Rl riSII \AI,()K — DEATH OK I )kr M M( iM ). 93 

unclaiintctl I'!,n<_;Hshmfn acKanccd o\'cr i^n'ound strewn thick 
u ith the bodies of their brethren, in the face of flame from tlie 
walls (^f the bastion, and a third time they were driven back 
w ith terrible loss. 

This would have satisfied most men of any nation, and one 
cannot refrain from a tribute to Ent^lish valor of the most des- 
perate kind, w hen he learns that Drummond again rallied his 
men, led them a fourth time over that pathway of death, 
mounted the parapet in spite of the volleying frames which 
enveloped it, and actually captured the bastion at the point of 
the bayonet. 

Many American officers were killed in this terrible struggle. 
Drummond was as fierce as he was brave, and was . frequently 
heard crying to his men, " Give the damned Yankees no 
quarter." But even in the moment of apparent victory he 
met his fate — a shot from one of the last of retreatin^T Ameri- 
cans laying him dead upon the ground. Reinforcements were 
promptly sent to the endangered locality by Generals Ripley 
and Porter. A detachment of riflemen attacked the British in 
the bastion but were repulsed. 

Another and larger force repeated the attack but also failed. 
The Americans prepared for a third charge, and two batteries 
were playing upon the heroic band of Britons. 

Suddenl)- the whole scene was lighted up by a vast column 
of flame, the earth shook to the water's edge, the ear was deaf- 
ened by a fearful sound which re-echoed far over the river. 

A large amount of cartridges stored in one of the mess- 
houses adjoining the bastion had been reached by a cannon 
ball and exploded. One instant the fortress, the forest, the river, 
the dead, the dx'ing and the maddened li\ing were revealed 
by that fearful glare ; the next all was enveloped in darknes.s, 
while the shrieks of hundreds of Britons in more terrible a<Ton\' 
than e\-en the soldier often suffers, pierced the murk}- and sul- 
phurous air. 

The Americans saw their opportunity and redoubled the fire 
of their artiller)'. For a few moments the conquerors of the 
bastion maintained their positions, but half their number, 
including most of their officers, were killed or wounded, their 
commander was slain, and the\- were da/ed and o\ erwiielmed 



94 AMERICANS AflAIX VICTORIOUS. 

by the calamity that had so unexpectedly befallen them. After 
a few volleys they fled in utter confusion to the friendly forest. 

As they went out of the bastion, the Americans dashed in, 
snatching a hundred and eighty-six prisoners from the rear of 
the flying foe. Besides these there remained on the ground 
they had so valiantly contested, two hundred and twenty-one 
English dead, and a hundred and seventy-four wounded, nearly 
all in and around that single bastion. Besides these, there were 
the wounded who were carried away by their comrades, includ- 
ing nearly all who fell in the other two columns. The Ameri- 
cans had twenty six killed and ninety-two wounded. 

Seldom had there been a more gallant attack, and seldom a 
more disastrous repulse. During the fight the most intense 
anxiety prevailed on this side. 

The tremendous cannonade a little after midnight told 
plainly enough that an attack was being made. Nearly ever\- 
human being who resided among the ruins of Buffalo and Black- 
Rock, and many in the country around, were up and watching. 
All expected that if the fort should be captured, the enemy 
would immediately cross, and the horrors of the previous Win- 
ter would be repeated. Many packed up and prepared for in- 
stant flight. Then the explosion came, the shock startled even 
the war-seasoned inhabitants of Buffalo. Some thought the 
British had captured the fort and had blown it up, others im- 
agined that the Americans had penetrated to the British camp 
and blown that up ; and all awaited the coming of morn with 
nerves strung to their utmost tension. 

It was noon-day light when boats crossed the river from the 
fort, and the news of another American victory was soon scat- 
tered far and wide through the country. 

A day or two afterwards the wounded prisoners wei'e sent to 
the hospital at Williamsville, and the unwounded to the depot 
of prisoners near Albany. Mr. William Hodge relates that 
when the wagons filled with blistered, blackened men halted 
near his father's house, the\' begged for liquor to drown their 
pain, but some of the unhurt who marched on foot, were saucy 
enough. Looking at the brick house rising on the ruins of the 
former one, the)' declared they would burn it again within a year. 
The)' could not, however, have been ver)' anxious to escape, for 



(;knkka[. r.isowx kf.sumes command. 95 

tlic}- were escorted b\- onl)' a \'er)- small i^^uard. Man\- of the 
prisoners were Hijjjhlanders, of the Glen<,^arry regiment. 

Having failed to carry the fort by assault, the Hritish settled 
down to a regular siege. 

Closer and closer their lines were drawn antl their batteries 
erectetl, the dense forest affording every facilit)' iov uninter- 
rupted api^roach. Reinforcements constantly arrived at the 
I^nglish camp, wliilc not a solitar)' regular soldier was added 
to the constantly diminishing force of the Americans. 

B}- the latter part of August, their case had become so des- 
perate that (jovernor Tompkins called out all the militia \\est 
of the Genesee r// j/iasse, and ordered them to Buffalo. The}' 
are said by Turner to have responded with great alacrity. 

Arriving at Buffalo, the officers were first assembled and 
General Porter called on them to volunteer to cross the river. 
There was considerable hurrying back, but the General made 
another speech, and under his stinging words most of the 
officers volunteered. 

The men were then called on to follow their example, and a 
force of about fifteen hundred was raised. 

The Forty-eighth regiment furnished one company. Colonel 
Warren volunteered and crossed the river, but was sent back 
with other supernumerary officers and placed in command of 
the militia remaining at Buffalo. 

The volunteers were conveyed across the river at night, 
about the loth of September, and encamped along the lake 
shore above Towson's battery, behind a sod of breast-work 
hastily erected by themselves. They were commanded by 
General Porter, who bivouacked in their midst, under whom 
was Gen. Daniel Davis, of Le Roy. General J^rown had 
resumed command of the whole American force. 

At this time the enemy was divided into three brigades of 
fourteen or fifteen hundred men, each one of which was kept 
on duty in their batteries every three days, while the other two 
remained at the main camp on a farm a mile and a half west of 
the fort. 

Immediately after the arrival of the volunteers, a plan was 
concerted to break in on the enemy's operations b}' a sortie. 

The British had openctl two batteries and were nearl)- read)- 



96 MARCHING ON BA'rTF:RV NU.MHER THREE. 

to unmask another still nearer and in a more dangerous posi- 
tion. This was called battery " No. 3." the one next " No. 2," 
and the furthest one "No. i." 

It was determined to make an attack on the 17th of Sep- 
tember, before battery No. 3 could be completed. 

On the 1 6th, Majors Fraser and Riddle, both of^cers of the 
regular army acting as aides to General Porter, each followed by 
a hundred men, fifty of each party being armed and fifty pro- 
vided with axes, proceeded from the camp of the volunteers, 
by a circuitous route through the woods to within a short dis- 
tance of battery No. 3. Thence each detachment cut out 
the underbrush so as to make a track back to camp over the 
swampy ground, curving, when necessary, to avoid the most 
miry places. The work was accomplished without the British 
having the slightest suspicion of what was going on. This was 
the most dif^cult part of the whole enterprise. 

In the forenoon of the 17th the whole of the volunteers were 
paraded, the enterprise was revealed to them, and a handbill 
was read announcing the glorious victories won on Lake Cham- 
plain and at Plattsburg a few days before. The news was jo}'- 
fully received, and the sortie enthusiastically welcomed. The 
volunteers not being uniformed, every one was required to lay 
aside his hat or cap and wxar on his head a red handkerchief or 
a piece of cloth which was furnished. Not an officer or man 
wore any other head-gear except General Porter. 

At noon that commander led forth the principal attacking 
body from the volunteer camp. The advance consisted of two 
hundred volunteers under Colonel Gibson. Behind them came 
the column designed for storming the batteries, composed of 
four hundred regulars followed by five hundred volunteers, all 
commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Wood. These took the 
right-hand track, cut out the day before. Another column of 
nearly the same strength, mostly volunteers, under General 
Davis, intended to hold the enemy's reinforcements in check and 
co-operate in the attack, took the left-hand road. At the same 
time a body of regulars under General Miller was concealed in 
a ravine near the northwest corner of the intrenchments, pre- 
pared to attack in front at the proper time. The rest of the 
troops were held in reserx'c under General Riplc)-. Just after 



CAPTURE ()!• THE THREE liATTERIES. 97 

the main column startctl it bcL;'an to rain and continued to do 
so throughout the afternoon. Tlie march was necessarily slow 
along the swampy winding pathway, and had it not been for 
the underbrushed tracks the columns would probably have lost 
their way or been dela\x'd till nightfall. 

At nearly 3 o'clock Porter's command arrived at the end of 
the track within a few rods of battery No. 3, entirely unsus- 
pected b)' its occupants. The final arrangements being made, 
they moved on, and in a few moments emerged upon the 
astonished workers and their guard. With tremendous cheer, 
which was distinctly heard across the river, thoi men rushed 
forward, and the whole force in the battery thoroughly sur- 
prised and overwhelmed by numbers, at once surrendered 
without hardly firing a shot. The attack was the signal for the 
advance of Miller's regulars, who sprang up out of their ravine 
and hurried forward, directing their steps toward battery No. 2. 
Leaving a detachment to spike and dismount the captured can- 
non, both of Porter's columns dashed forward toward the same 
object, General Davis leading his volunters and co-operating 
closely with Wood. They arrived at the same time as Miller. 
They were received with a heavy fire, but the three commands 
combined and carried the battery at the point of the bayonet. 
Leaving another party to spike and dismount the cannon, the 
united force pressed forward toward battery No. i. But by 
this time the whole British army was alarmed and reinforce- 
ments were rapidly arriving. Nevertheless, the Americans 
attacked and captiu'ed battery No. I after a severe conflict. 

How gallantly they were led is shown by the fact that all of 
Porter's principal commanders were shot down — Gibson at bat- 
tery No. 2 ; Wood while approaching No. i, and Davis while 
gallantly mounting a parapet between the two batteries at the 
head of his men. In the last struggle, too, General Porter him- 
self was slightly wounded by a sword cut on his hand, and tem- 
porarily taken prisoner, but was immediately secured b}' his 
own men. 

Of course in a sortie the assailants are not expected to hold 
the conquered ground. The work in this case had been as 
completely done as in any sortie ever made, and after battejy 
No. I had been captured a retreat was ordered to the fort, 



98 HONORS TO GENERAL PORTER. 

where the victorious troops arri\ed just before sunset. The 
loss of the Americans was sevent)'-nine killed and 214 wounded; 
very few, if any, captured. Four hundred British were taken 
prisoners, a large number killed and wounded, and what was 
far more important, all the results of nearly two months' labor 
were entirely overthrown. 

So completely were their plans destro}'ed b)- this brilliant 
assault that only four days afterwards General Drummond 
raised the siege and retired down the Niagara. After the 
enemy retreated the volunteers were dismissed with the thanks 
of their commanders, having saved the American army from 
losing its last hold on the western side of the Niagara. 

The relief of Fort Erie was one of the most skillfully planned 
and gallantly executed sorties ever made. Gen. Napier, the 
celebrated British soldier and military historian, mentions it as 
one of very few cases in which a single sortie had compelled 
the raising of a siege. 

Very high credit was given to General Porter, both for his 
eloquence in engaging the volunteers and his skill in leading 
them. 

The press sounded his praises, the citizens of Batavia ten- 
dered him a dinner, the governor breveted him a major-general, 
and Congress voted him a gold medal, he being, I think, the 
only ofificer of volunteers to whom that honor was awarded 
during the war of 1812. The raising of the siege of P\~)rt Erie 
was substantially the close of the war on the Niagara frontier. 
A few unimportant skirmishes took place, but nothing that 
need be recorded here. 

All the troops except a small guard were withdrawn from 
Fort Erie to Buffalo. It was known during the Winter that 
commissioners were trying to negotiate a peace at Ghent, and 
there was a universal desire for their success. 

In this vicinity, at least, the people had had enough of the 
glories of war. On the 15th of Januar\', 1S15, the news of the 
victory of New Orleans was announced in an extra of the Buf- 
falo Gazette, but although it occasioned general rejoicing, }'et 
the delight was by no means so great as when, a week later, the 
people of the ravaged frontier were informed of the signing of 
the treaty of Ghent. 



CLOSE OF TIIK WAR. 99 

I'ost-ridcrs, as they dclivcrctl letters, doctors, as thev' visited 
their patients, ministers, as they journej'ed to meet their back- 
woods con<jre<^ations, spread everywhere the welcome news of 
peace. General Nott, in his reminiscences, relates that the first 
sermon in Sardinia was preached at his Jiouse by " Father 
Spencer." early in 181 5. There was a large gatherint,r. The 
people had heard that the good missionary had a newspaper 
announcing the conclusion of peace, and the}' were, most of 
them, probably more anxious to have their ho[)es in that respect 
confirmed than for ought else. 

h\'ither Spencer was not disposed to tantalize them, and im- 
mediately on rising to begin the service, he took the paper 
from his pocket, saying: "I bring you news of peace." He 
then read the official announcement, and it may be presumed 
that the gratified congregation afterwards listenqd all the more 
earnestly to the news of divine peace, which it was the minis- 
ter's especial province to deliver. 

In a very brief time the glad tidings penetrated to the most 
secluded cabins in the country, and all the people turned with 
joyful anticipations to the half-suspended pursuits of peace- 
ful life. 



lOO ENTERING UPON THE HOLLAND PURCHASE. 



CHAPTER XIV. 
GENERAL PIONEER HISTORY, 

THE EARLY SETTLERS. 

As a rule, the pioneers of the Holland Purchase were men of 
splendid pJiysiquc\ intelligent, self-reliant and possessed great 
strength, courage and endurance, which stood them well in 
hand in the herculean task they had in rescuing this fair 
domain from a savage state They came of a noble race and 
could trace tl^ieir lineage back to the pilgrims who landed on 
Plymouth Rock, through the bloody times that tried men's 
souls during the dark days of the Revolution. And they had 
come here actuated in part by the same bold spirit that had 
prompted their ancestors to leave the comfortable abodes of 
civilization and to seek new homes in the Western world, 
across three thousand miles of trackless ocean. They had left 
the homes and scenes of their childhood and bid good-bye to 
early associates and friends, turned their faces toward the 
setting sun, and with their wives and little ones had started 
forth on their long and weary journey towards their future 
homes. P'or weeks and weeks they continued their course 
with slow and toilsome progress, sometimes compelled to camp 
in the wilderness, and cook and sleep beside some fallen tree. 
And when at last arrived at their destination, within the dense 
forests of the Holland Purchase, hundreds of miles away from 
any city or large village, and without post offices or mails to 
aid them in communicating \\\\.\\ their Plastern friends, the\' 
selected lands and built their log cabins, without lumber or 
nails, and entered upon a new mode of life. They had health, 
strength, energy and perseverance, and soon the sound of their 
axes and the crashing of falling trees were heard in every 
direction. And as the great forest receded year by year before 
their sturd}' blows, smiling fields of grass and grain appeared in 



THE HOME OF THE I'lONEER. lOI 

its stead. The loi^" cabins aiul lunels that they were com- 
pelled at first to occupy, in due time gave place to commodi- 
ous barns and comfortable dwellings. 

And if the sons inherited the wisdom, courage and valor of 
the sires, what shall be said of the daugliters? Endowed with 
tile s[)irit and fortitude of the Spartan mothers, who. in times 
of extremit}-, became trul\- heroic ; still possessing" the gentle- 
ness, tender solicitude and undying love, that has ever distin- 
guished the pure \\'oman from the sterner sex. They cheer- 
fully shared all the toils, trials and dangers, incident to that 
period, and they were the guardian angels that watched over 
the pioneer's log cabin, ministering to him and his in sickness 
and caring for their comforts in health. Their thrifty and 
diligent hands, with wheel and distaff, supplied most all the 
creature-comforts that were enjoyed in their humble homes. 
And it was their province and mission to smooth the rugged 
pathwa)' of progress ; commencing' in the great primeval forest 
and in the lowly bark-covered cabins and carried forward step 
by step and )'ear by year, up to its present state of luxury and 
refinement, which many of them lived to enjoy. Those dear 
old mothers! their useful li\es may have given them but few 
opportunities for culture and accomplishments. They may 
have know n but little of letters or of the sciences, but there 
were two problems, that these sainted mothers had solved, 
that proved a benison to those around them — i.e. a sweet accept- 
ance of the life that is, and an unfaltering assurance of the life 
to come. This rendered them cheerful at all times, and made 
them a tower of strength in the darkest trials, and their toil- 
worn hands have smoothed many a sufferer's d\-ing pillow, 
and their plain manner of speech has sustained many a sinking 
soul when called to meet " the hour and article of death." 
The deeds of the mothers should be hallowed in memory 
above all things else and ma)- (jod bless them ; for most of 
them have fulfilled their mission ; and the wheels havx^ ceased 
their turning, and for them the brittle thread on life's distaff has 
been broken. But ne\er let the memory of them depart, in the 
glitter and glow of modern days. Give them the warmest 
place in your hearts, and whenever you breathe their names, 
let it be in the hoh' and sacred dei)ths of affection. 



I02 FORMATION OF COUNTIES AND TOWNS. 

THE PIONEER SETTLER UPON THE HOLLAND PUR- 
CHASE AND HIS PROGRESS. 

" Through the deep wilderness, where scarce the sun 
Can cast his darts, along the winding path 
The Pioneer is treading. In his grasp 
Is his keen ax, that wondrous instrument, 
That like the talisman, transforms 
Deserts to fields and cities. He has left 
The home in which his early years were past, 
And, led by hope, and full of restless strength. 
Has plunged within the forest, there to plant 
His destiny. Beside some rapid stream 
He rears his log-built cabin. When the chains 
Of Winter fetter Nature, and no sound 
Disturbs the echoes of the dreary woods, 
Save when some stem cracks sharply with the frost ; 
Then merrily rings his ax, and tree on tree 
Crash to earth ; and when the long keen night 
Mantles the wilderness in solemn gloom. 
He sits beside his ruddy hearth, and hears 
The fierce wolf snarling at the cabin door, 
Or through the lowly casement sees his eye 
Gleam like a burning coal." 

EARLV ORGANIZATION OF COUNTIES AND TOWNS. 

All the Colony of New York west of the river countie.s, was 
nominally a tract of Albany county up to 1772. In 1784, 
Tryon county, of which Erie was nominally a part, was changed 
to Montgomery. In 1789, the County of Ontario was erected 
from Montgomery, including all west of Seneca lake — a territory 
now comprising thirteen or foui"teen counties. 

The Town of North Hampton covered all the Western part 
of the State. In the Spring of 1802, the County of Genesee 
was erected, comprising the whole of the State west of the 
Genesee river, and of a line running south from the mouth of 
the Canaseraga creek to the Pennsylvania line. The Town of 
North Hampton was divided into four towns; one of them was 
Batavia, which contained all of the Holland Purchase. The 
county seat was fixed at Batavia, a village that was to be. In 
1804, Batavia was divided into four towns. The first, second 
and third ranges were called Batavia; the fourth, fifth and sixth 
ranges were called Willink, and the seventh, eighth, ninth and 



CONCORD AND OTHER TOWNS. IO3 

tciitli raiii^cs were called Erie; the reniaiiuler of the I'urcha.sc 
WcsJ was called Cliautauc]ua. These raii<(es were six inilcs 
wide and running- from the Pennsv'lvania line north to Lake 
Ontario, about one hundred miles in lent^th. March 11, i!So7,the 
Counties of Niagara, Cattaraugus and Chautau(|ua were taken 
from Genesee count}-. 

In 1807, the Count)- of Niagara was divided into three towns. 
All that pnvi north of the Tonawanda creek was called Cambria; 
all the territor}- between the Tonawanda creek and the center 
of the I^ufTalo Creek reservation was called Clarence; all 
between the center of the Buffalo Creek reservation and the 
Cattaraugus creek was called Willink. 

March 20, 1812, the Town of Willink was divided into four 
towns — Willink, Hamburg, Eden and Concord. The Town of 
Willink then comprised the Towns of Aurora, Wales, Holland 
and Colden. The Town of Hamburg comprised the present 
Towns of Hamburg and East Hamburg. The To\\n of Eden 
comprised the present Towns of Eden, Evans and Boston. 
Concord comprised the present Towns of Concord, Sardinia, 
Collins and North Collins. March 16, 1821, Concord was 
divided into Concord, Collins and Sardinia. April 2, 1821, 
Erie county \\as formed from Niagara, comprising all that part 
of Niagara count)- K'i ng between the Tonaw^anda and Cattarau- 
gus creeks. On the 24th day of November, 1852, the Town of 
Shirley \\-as formed from Collins, and the next Spring it was 
changed to North Collins. 



I04 



PIONEER SETTLERS 



THE NAMES OF THE FIRST SETTLERS, THE Tl ME OF SETTLEMENT AND THE 
TIME OFTHE ORGANIZATION OFTHE SEVERAL TOWNS IN ERIE COUNTY. 



Name ok Town. 



Buffalo . . . . 
Clarence . . . 
Amherst. . . 
*Newstead . 
Hamburg.... 

Boston 

Evans 



East Hamburg 

Lancaster 

Aurora 



Tonawanda . . . 

Wales 

Holland 

Concord 



Collins 



Eden 

Cheektawaga 
Sardinia .... 



North Collins. . 



Colden 

Alden 


1810 
1810 


Brandt 

West Seneca. . . 
Elma 


1817 
1826 
1827 
1829 


Manila 

Grand Island. . . 









1789 
1799 
1801 
1802 
1803 
1804 
1804 

1804 

1804 

1804 

1805 

1806 

1807 

1807 

1807 

1808 
1808 
1809 

I81O 



Names of the FujstSettlek.s in each 
Respective Town in Ekie County. 



King 



Cornelius Winney 

Asa Ransom 

John Thompson 

Peter Vandeventer 

■i'Dydimus Kinne}' 

Charles Johnson 

Joel Harvey. 

\ Ezekiel Smith, David Eddy ) 

( and others \ 

James and Amos Woodward. 
Jabez Warren, Taber Earle ) 

and Henry Godfrey \ 

Alex. Logan, John 

and John Hershey. 
Oliver Pattengil and William ) 

Allen \ 

Arthur Humphrc}^ and Ab- I 

ner Cumer \ 

Christopher Stone and John / 

Albro ( 

Jacob Taylor and others of I 

the Quaker Mission \ 

Benj., Joseph and Sam'l Tubbs 

Apollus Hitchcock 

Geo. Richmond and Ezra Nott 
I Stephen Sisson, Abram 
I Tucker s 
i wick 

Richard Buffom 

Moses Fenno 

Moses Tucker 

Reuben Sackett 

Taber Earle 

Jerry and Joseph Carpenter. . . 
Unknown 



and Enos South- 



C 5 



> « 



1810 
1808 
1818 
1823 
1812 
1817 
1821 

1850 

1833 
1818 



1836 



1818 
1818 
1812 

1821 

1812 
1839 
1 82 I 

1852 

1827 
1823 

1839 
1851 
1857 

1853 
1852 



* Organized as Erie ; changed to Ncwstead-, 1831. 

t Dydiraus Kinney was the first while settler in the South Towns ; his house stood on Jere- 
miah Pierce's farm, on the left hand as you go towards While's Corners, and northwest of 
the orchard on a low ridge of land in the meadow. 



i:.\Ki.\' lowN ()1'I1(i;ks. 105 

rilK OLD TOWN OK CONCORD. 

The original Town of Concord was orL;ani/.cd b\- tlu; legis- 
lature March 20, 1812. It comprised the present towns of 
Sardinia, Concord, Collins, North Collins and part of Brant. 
It is to be regretted that there is no record of this town in 
existence. The great fire that occurred in Spring\ille in the 
Summer of 1868, destroyed the old town book, and the author 
has to reh' upon his menior)' of the records made in this book. 
and also the recollections of the old settlers. He is certain that 
the first record was, that the town meeting was held at the house 
of John Albro, in the Spring of 1812 ; that Thomas M. Barrett 
was chosen Supervisor, Amaziah Ashman, Town Clerk, 
Solomon Field, Collector, and Jonathan Townsend, Overseer 
of the Poor. The town bounds remained unchanged up to 
1821 ; and the place of holding the town meetings was subject 
to the will of the electors. For four or five years these meet- 
ings were held at Springville, but the author learns from talking 
with some of the venerable men who have a di^itinct recollec- 
tion of those times, that it was once held on Townsend Hill. 
After a time, quite a spirit of dissatisfaction was manifested by 
those living in the east and west parts of the town, for Spring- 
ville and vicinity not only monopolized the place of holding 
these meetings, but it enabled them to secure also, the most of 
the important offices. This led to a fusion of the electors of 
the east and west parts, and upon one occasion they rallied 
their forces and \'Oted the town meeting to Taylor Hollow, in 
the extreme west part of the town, and from thence it was 
adjourned to Sardinia, near the east bounds of the town, for 
the next year. The action of the electors in carrying these 
extreme measures caused those living in the central part of the 
town to consent to a division, which was soon after effected. 
For the first eight consecutive years after the organization of 
the town, there is no evidence that there was any other man 
except Thomas M. Barrett, who held the ofifice of Supervisor. 
The author, in looking o\'er the first records of the Town of 
Collins, bearing date 1821, finds it recorded, that a committee was 
appointed "to settle with Frederick Richmond, late Supervisor 
of the town," so it appears, that he at least held the office one 
year. During this time he learns that John Lanton, " Gen." 



I06 THE TIDE OF IMMIGRxVTION. 

Knox, " Dea." Russell, and Mr. Abbey held the important 
office of Commissioner of Highways; and he also learns that 
Harry Sears succeeded Fields as Collector. The Justices of 
the Peace, were not elected by the people, but were appointed 
by the authorities at Albany. 

COMING INTO THE COUNTRY — LOG HOUSES AND DUTCH 

CHIMNEYS. 

Most of the early settlers in these towns came from the New 
England states and the eastern part of the State of New York, 
but few came from New Jersey or Pennsylvania. More in pro- 
portion came from Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island and 
Connecticut than from New Hampshire or Maine. The route 
generally taken was through the Mohawk valley by Utica, Can- 
andaigua, Avon and Batavia to Buffalo, then out here. Some 
turned off near the Genesee river and came through on the 
" Fig Tree Road," that passes through Wales, Aurora and Ham- 
burg. Others turned off the main route near the Genesee and 
came through by Pike and Arcade. Others again came by the 
way of New York, across New Jersey and a corner of Pennsyl- 
vania to the Susquehanna river, and by different routes made 
their way here. Many came on foot, sometimes one alone and 
sometimes two or more in compan}\ Some came with horses 
and sleighs, or horses and wagons, but more came with oxen 
and sleds, or oxen and wagons than any other way. It generally 
took them about twenty-five days to come from the New Eng- 
land states here. 

" New-comers were always warmly welcomed b)' their prede- 
ces.sors, partly, doubtless, from motives of kindness, and parth' 
because each new arrival helped to redeem the forest from its 
forbidding loneliness and add to the value of improx'cments 
already made." If there were already a few settlers in the 
locality, the emigrant's family was sheltered by one of them 
until notice could be given of a 

LOG RAISIN(;. 

P'or log houses, the logs used were general!}- from eight to 
eighteen inches in diameter and twelve, fourteen, si.xteen, eight- 
een and twenty feet in length. It required the assistance of a 



lUll.DlM. •nil'. 1.0(i CAIJIN. 107 

ckjy.cii <ir more ahlc-hodicci men to put up the bod)' of such a 
house, ami, at first, the country had to be scoured for many 
miles to obtain that number (and sometimes half of that num- 
ber had to suffice). " The hands '" were in\ited to come to 
the raising;- on a specified da\' — the lo^s were cut in ad- 
\ance — and were drawn to the desired spot by oxen and four 
of the Iart;"est ones selectetl for the bottom logs. Four of the 
most active and experienced men were chosen to cut the cor- 
ners." The\- bet^an b)' cutting;" a saddle at the ends of the two 
lo^q,s, a space tweKe to eii;hteen inches long, shaped like the 
roof of a house. Notches to fit these saddles were cut near the 
ends of two other loi;"s and then they w ere laid at right angles 
upon the first two. The operation was repeated again and 
again, the four axe men rising with tlie building and cutting 
saddles on the top near the end of the side logs and cutting 
notches in the end logs to fit them, as they were handed up to 
them b\' their comrades. After the building was up five feet or 
so, ropes or chains would be attached to the ends of the logs, and 
the men on the building would pull while the others lifted or 
pushed from below. And if they had no ropes or chains, the\' 
sometimes would cut a bush ten or twelve feet high and form 
a loop by withing the twigs together and slip it over the end 
of the logs and pull on that. They also, sometimes, used what 
was called a " horse," which was a crotched stick six feet or 
more long with the crotch at the upper end, and strong pins 
through the lower end to lift by. 

Having arrived at the height of six or seven feet, notches 
were cut on the top of the two top side logs and poles six or 
seven inches in diameter laid across to serv^e as joists for the 
chamber for the chamber floor. General!}' the building was 
raised one, two or three tiers of logs higher than the chamber 
floor. After the body of the house was raised to the required 
height, sometimes rafters made of jjoles from the forest were 
placed in position, and sometimes the gable ends were built up 
with logs, with poles running lengthwise of the building and 
about three feet apart, and fitted into them (the gables) for the 
support of the roof. Most of the earliest roofs were made of elm 
or other kinds of bark, laid rough side up, and held in its place by 
the weight of poles resting on top of it and running lengthwase 



I08 FIRE-l'LACES AND DUTCH CHIMNEYS. 

of the building. Some roofs were made of " shakes, " that is, 
rough shingles three or more feet long, generally made of white 
ash, pine or oak. Another kind of roof was made by cutting 
small-sized basswood logs the desired length and splitting them 
through the center, and then digging out the inner side from 
end to end. "trough fashion."' Then placing them on the roof 
one-half of them with the hollowed side up. and the other half 
with the hollowed side down and placed over the first in such a 
manner that the water that fell on the rounding side of the top 
ones would run into the grooves in the lower ones and from 
there to the ground. A place for a door was then sawed out 
and another for a window, and sometimes places for two win- 
dows. A blanket frequently served for a door in the Summer 
time the first year, and doors were sometimes made of plank or 
boards split out of white ash or basswood and hewed down, and 
hung on wooden hinges and held closed with a wooden latch 
and catch, with a " latch-string hanging outside the door." 
Sometimes they had one or more windows with four or six 
lights of glass, but they were frequently compelled to use 
greased paper as a substitute for glass. Floors were made of 
"puncheons" split out of basswood logs and hewed down with 
a narrow axe. Cook stoves had not then been invented, and 
fire-places were universally used ; brick were not to be had. and 
chimneys were made of stone, wood and mud. " Dutch chim- 
neys " were the most common among the early settlers ; they 
consisted of a stone back built up about six feet high, more or 
less, and of about the same width. Instead of jams wooden 
arms, either straight or curv-ing downwards, were fastened at 
their lower ends into the logs on each side of the stone back, 
about three feet from the floor, with their upper ends resting 
against the beam overhead on which the chamber floor was 
laid. On and from these arms the chimney was built up and 
topped out with sticks and mortar, and when thoroughly plas- 
tered from top to bottom was considered finished. 

Some chimneys were built entirely of stone, and had jams to 
the fire places. A pole called the " lug pole " was put into 
and through all the early chimneys. It was placed directly 
over the fire and five or six feet above the hearth, which was 
made of flat stone. Sometimes a wooden hook from three to 



4 



PREPARING FOR THE FIRST CROP. 109 

four feet long was hooked over the "lug pole," and which had one 
or more notches near the lower end in which to hang the bails 
of pots and kettles. And sometimes a chain would be used for 
the same purpose, and sometimes families that could afford the 
e.xpense would ha\e " trammels."' The\- were made of two 
bars of iron, one thin and flat, and about two inches wide, with 
the top end bent over in a half circle, so as to hook over the 
"lug pole," and the remainder perforated with holes about half 
an inch in diameter and two or three inches apart. The other 
bar was about half an inch in diameter, with a hook at the 
lower end. and an inch or two of the upper end bent at right 
angles with the bod>' of the bar. and made to fit into the holes 
in the flat bar so that the hook could be raised or lowered as 
occasion required. 

The cracks between the logs were generally chinked up with 
three-cornered pieces of timber, split out of small basswood 
trees, fitted in and plastered with mud both outside and inside. 
Sometimes the cracks between the logs would be closed up 
with moss gathered in the woods. Occasionally houses were 
built with logs hewed on both sides before they were raised ; 
these were called " block houses." 

CLEARINi; I. AND, CHOPPING TIMBER, BURNIN(. BRUSH, LOG- 
GIN(; AND LOGGING BEES. 

After the pioneers had a house or shanty built, and had got 
rigged up ready to commence housekeeping, the next task was 
to clear some land. If the settler arrived very earh- in the 
season he would be able, and generally did, clear off a small 
piece in time to plant some corn and potatoes and sow some 
turnips; but his greatest ambition was to get several acres 
ready for Winter wheat in the Fall. To do this he worked hard, 
early and late, unless interrupted b)- sickness. The first business 
was to cut down the trees — in this man}- of the pioneers ac- 
quired great skill : the}' would so cut and guide a tree as to 
have it fall in most cases, exactly where the}- wanted it. In 
cutting timber for the purpose of clearing land, several differ- 
ent methods were practiced by the early settlers. One was to 
cut down the trees, then trim out the tops, that is, cut off the 
limbs and pile the brush into large heaps, then cut the bodies 



110 BURNING A FALLOW. 

up into lo^s of from twelve to twenty feet in length, depend- 
ing upon the size of the trees. This method was generally 
pursued when they intended to clear the land the same year. 

Another method was to "windrow" the timber; this was 
done by cutting all the trees on a strip of land four, live or six 
rods in width so that their tops would all fall from both sides 
of the strip into the center, and form a row the whole length of 
the strip, while the bodies of the trees on the right hand and 
left hand sides laid angling and at different angles with the 
center of the row. After the trees were felled, the limbs on 
the top side were generally cut off or lopped down. Windrows 
were made parallel to each other and w^ere from four to six- 
rods apart from center to center. 

Another method of cutting timber for the purpose of clear- 
ing land, was "slashing it down." This consisted simpl)' in 
cutting down the trees and letting them fall in any direction 
without trimming them out, or cutting up the bodies. Some- 
times choppers when slashing timber down would cut what was 
called a "drive" where the timber was thick and large, and the 
lay of the land and the range of the trees was favorable. They 
would commence at a certain point and cut all the trees partly 
down for a considerable distance and sometimes over an extent 
of several acres, and each successive tree was so cut that when 
it fell it was so guided or drawn as surel}' to strike the next 
intended tree, whether it stood straight ahead or sometimes to 
the right or left. When all was ready the large tree, which for 
its size and location had been selected for the "driver," was cut 
and fell against the next tree and that against the second, and 
the second against the third, and the third against the fourth, 
and so on, until they all went thundering and crashing down 
together. 

After the timber on a piece of land had been cut down for 
the purpose of clearing the land, and left to lay a considerable 
time, it was called a " fallow," and when the brush was burned 
it was called " burning a fallow." After the timber had lain a 
sufficient length of time and the brush had become sufficientl}' 
dry to satisf}' the owner, a day was selected when the weather 
was favorable to set on fire and " burn the fallow." " Fallows" 
were burned during a dry time, and on a day when the sun 



J 



CHOPJMN(; AXD L()(;(;iN<;. iii 

shone bright, and i^encrally set from 12 to 2 o'clock V. M. 
The}' wore iisuall}' set in several places about the same time ; 
and presently the blaze would shoot up here and there in dif- 
ferent parts all o\'er the fallow; and rapidly extendini^ and in- 
creasini;" the flames would swa\' to and fro, and at times rise 
nearl\- to the hei«^ht of the tallest trees ; the heat, the ^lare, the 
crackling, the swaying, and the roar of the fierce and consum- 
in<; flames, as witnessed at the burning' of a large "fallow" 
])resented a grand and exciting scene. 

Timber that was slashed or windrowed was left a year and 
a half or two years or more, until it became very dry, before 
the brush was burned. And sometimes the brush and timber 
became so dry that when it was fired the brush was all burned 
up, and a considerable portion of the timber, besides the soil 
of the land being burned and materiall)' injured b)' the fire in 
some instances. 

After the brush had been burned on a piece of land where 
the timber had been "slashed" or "windrowed" the bodies of 
the trees had to be cut up the proper logging length before the 
logging commenced. The bodies of the trees were generally 
considerably seasoned and quite hard. A custom prevailed to 
some extent with the choppers to " nigger off" the largest logs 
while they were chopping up the smaller ones. It was done 
in this way : Notches were cut at proper distances on top of 
the large trees and places hollowed out, coals put on, a fire 
started and sticks laid across at right angles with tlie log and 
when the}' burned up other sticks of wood, brands or poles were 
laid across, and renewed from time to time until the large logs 
were burned through and off. After the fire got well started 
it was not much trouble to keep it going, and a man could at- 
tend to and "nigger off" twenty or thirty large logs while 
he was chopping up the remaining smaller ones in the 
\icinit}'. 

After the brush had been burned and the trees cut into logs, 
the next business in order was the logging. When the piece to 
be logged was small and the pioneer owned a yoke of oxen, he 
would hire or change works with two or three helpers, and if 
he did //ot own a yoke of oxen he would hire or change works 
with some man that did, and with two or more neighbors, and 



ii2 THE LOGGING BEE. 

they together would " log " about an acre a day. Sometimes 
small pieces of land were so far cleared of timber as to produce 
crops without the use of any team whatever. Frequently land 
would be chopped and cleared by the job at a specified price 
per acre. Jobs of from five to ten acres were frequently let. 
and jobs of fifteen or twenty acres were let less frequently, and 
occasionally, but not often, jobs of from thirty to forty acres 
were cleared. 

In pioneer times the practice of having "logging bees" was 
quite common. When a large tract was to be logged, the 
settlers for several miles around were invited to a " bee." At the 
appointed time^from fifteen to thirty men would be present. 
About half a dozen would bring ox teams and the balance 
would be provided with hand-spikes or cant-hooks. To do the 
business up properly and expeditiously it required three or four 
hand-spike men to each team. 

The owner of the land, or some other experienced man, 
would select places to build the different heaps, and the work 
began and the bee commenced. 

The logs were rapidly drawn or " snaked " alongside the 
heap, and then the hand-spike men quickly rolled them to the 
proper place. Another and another was snaked up in rapid 
succession, the handspike men being always ready to unhitch it 
if it caught against a root or stump. As it tore along the 
ground, the black dust flew up in every direction. Soon every 
man was covered with a black coat of coal-dust and soot, 
involving clothes, hands and face in " outer darkness." But 
the work went on still more rapidly. The several gangs caught 
the spirit of rivalry, and each strove to make the quickest trips 
and the largest pile. The oxen would sometimes get as excited 
as the men, and would " snake " their loads into place with 
ever-increasing energy. Teams that understood their business 
would ' stand quiet while the chain was being hitched, then 
spring with all their might, taking a bee-line to the log heap^ 
and halt when they came to the right spot. Faster and faster 
sped the men and teams to and fro, harder strained the hand- 
spike men to increase the pile, higher flew the clouds of dust 
and soot, reckless of danger, men sprang in front of rolling logs 



PROCESS OF MAKINO SUGAR. [I3 

or boiiiulcd over them as the}- went \\hirHn<^ amoiii;" the stumps. 
Accidents sometimes happened, but it was a wonder that the 
number was not increased tenfold. 

As the day draws to a close a thick cloud covers the field, 
through which are seen a host of sooty forms, four-legged ones 
with horns, and two-legged ones with hand-spikes, pulling, run- 
ning, lifting and shouting, until night descends, and the tired, yet 
still excited laborers clothed in blackness, return to their homes. 

If the weather was favorable, the log heaps were frequently 
set on fire that evening, and, within a few hours, the thirty or 
forty brightly blazing piles glimmered in the darkness and illu- 
minated the heavens similar to the burning buildings of a vil- 
lage or city. If left alone while burning the heaps would all 
burn out in the center, leaving some parts of logs and brands 
at the sides and ends that would not burn up, so it was neces- 
.sary for men to go around and " put up " the heaps, that is, roll 
the logs in together and throw on the brands. After the several 
heaps had burned all they would, there would still be a fe\v 
brands remaining, and the " fallow " had to be " branded up." 
and the)' were drawn from all parts of the fallow into one or 
more places and re-piled and set on fire and kept burning until 
entirely consumed. 

SUGAR-MAKING. 

The very earliest settler followed the practice of making 
more or less sugar every spring. All over the country grew the 
sugar-maple and there was hardly a lot large enough for a farm 
on which there was not a "sugar bush." The first thing the 
pioneer had to do when preparing for sugar-making was to make 
a lot of " sap-troughs," they were generally made of cucumber, 
basswood, ash, butternut or cherry timber. Trees from twelve 
to eighteen inches in diameter were cut down and logs from 
two and a half to three feet in length cut off, and split 
open through the center, then the inside portion was dug out, 
leaving the sides and bottom an inch or an inch and a half 
thick, and the ends two or three inches thick and each trough 
large enough to hold from one to two pails full of sap. " Store 
troughs," for storing sap were generally made from large cu- 
cumber trees, from two to three feet in diameter and from 
7 



114 



GATHERIN(; THE SAP. 



twelve to twent}' feet in length, and it required from one to 
three to each " sugar bush." Trees were tapped b)' cutting a 
notch in the side of the tree inclining downwards and inwards 
with a narrow axe and drix'ing a wooden spout about a foot 
long into an orifice made by a tapping gauge, just below the 
lower end of the notch. The sap was boiled b\- the early set- 
tlers sometimes in cauldron kettles, but mostly in kettles hold- 
ing fi\^e pails or three j^ails, and of smaller size generally made 
of iron, but sometimes of brass. The boiling place was rigged 
b}' setting two posts into the ground ten or tweh'e feet apart 




SnCAR-MAKINC. 



and se\-en or eight feet high with crotches at the top, and la\-- 
ing a strong pole into the crotches from one post to the other, 
then hanging chains to the pole or hanging on large wooden 
hooks with notches cut near the lower ends, in which to hang 
the kettle bails. Sometimes a half dozen or more kettles of 
different sizes would hang in a row, with a large log ten or' 
twelve feet long, rolled up on the back side, and another on the 
front side until the)' touched or nearh- touched the kettles, 
then fine split wood was placed under and around the kettles 
and a fire started, and shorth- the boiling would commence. 



CLOSE OF THE SUGAR SEASON. II5 

The sap was " gathered " or brought to the boiUng place in sap 
buckets carried by the aid of a sap-yoke, wliich was made to fit 
the neck and shoulders of the person carrying it. 

Sugar-making sometimes commenced when the snow was two 
feet deep in the woods, and then gathering sap with a sap- 
)'oke was a \'ery laborious and difficult job. Sometimes there 
would be a crust on the snow in the morning and the sap- 
gatherer would start out fort)' or fift\' rods and fill his buckets 
and walk carefulK' and slow towards the boiling place on the 
crust, when sutidenl)' one foot would break through and go 
down to the ground in a twinkling and the sap would fly in 
ever)' direction, and give the bearer a wetting down. 

Such accidents happened quite frequently, and it is feared 
that in some instances the)' might have called forth exclama- 
tions that would hardly be proper to repeat in a Sabbath School 
or print in a book. 

After fifteen or twent)' v'ears from the time of the first set- 
tlement, wooden sap-buckets began to be used in place of 
troughs ; and the number of cauldron kettles was increased, 
and trees began to be tapped with a small auger or bit instead 
of an axe, and the sap began to be gathered with a team instead 
of a sap-yoke. 

The glory of sugar-making was in the great bush, where 
hundreds of trees were tapped, where a shant)- was erected, 
where the sap was brought to the central fires in barrels or 
casks on ox-sleds, where cauldron and smaller kettles boiled 
and bubbled night and day, where, after a sufficient quantit)' 
had been " syruped down " a day was set to " sugar off." When 
the boys and girls and young men and maidens would gather 
in, and with dishes and spoons or a flattened stick, 

" Would taste and eat, and lap and lick," 

and if any part of a snow bauK rcmanicd in striking distance, 
chunks of it were procured and the warm sugar spread on and 
made into wax and then eaten. 

About thirty or forty years ago, large flat-bottomed sap-pans, 
with low sides and made of sheet iron, and set in arches, began 
to be used for boiling sap. And about the same time tin 



ii6 



THE FIRST WELLS — THEIR FIXTURES. 



buckets began to take the place of wooden buckets and 
troughs for catching sap, and large tubs were made and used for 
storing it, instead of store "troughs." 

PIONEER WELLS. 

The early settlers were n(^t alwa\'s successful in finding a 
location for their cabins near a spring, and in such instances a 
well had to be dug, which like almost everything else was done 
by the proprietor himself, with the aid of his boys if he had 
any large enough, or a neighbor, to haul up the dirt. Its 
depth of course depended on the location of water, but that 
was generally to be found in abundant quantity, and of good 




PIONEER WELL. 



quality at from ten to thirt}- feet, but occasionalh' a well had 
to be dug to the depth of forty or fifty feet. Plent\' of stone of 
good quality was to be found all over the country; and the 
pioneers here were not compelled to do what the pioneers of 
some parts of the western country have been ; to stone up their 
wells with Cottonwood or other plank. 

The well being dug and stoned up, it was completed for use 
by a superstructure, then almost uiuxcrsal, but is now almost 
entirely a thing of the past. A post ten <~>r twehe inches in 
diameter and some ten feet high, with a crotched top was set 
in the ground a few feet from the well. On a stout pin run- 
ning through both arms of the crotch, was hung a heavy pole 



i 



WINDLASSES AND I'UMI'S INTRODUCED. 11/ 

or "sweep," often twent)' feet or more lon^r. the lar^^er end 
resting on the <;rouncl. the smaller end rising in air, directly over 
the well. To this was attached a smaller pole, reachin<^ to the 
top of the well ; at the lower end of this pole huni;" the bucket, 
the veritable " old oaken bucket, that huny; in the well," and 
the process of drawini;- water consistetl in takintr lu)ld of the 
small "well-pole" antl pulliiii;' down the small end of the 
"sweep" till the bucket struck the water and was filled, and 
then letting;" the butt end pull it out with some assistance. A 
board curb about three feet square and nearK' the same heiL,dU 
was placed around the top of the w ell to pre\ent children antl 
others from fallint^- in. 

The whole formed, for a lons^' time, a picturescjue antl far- 
seen addition to nearl)- every dooryard in this section of coun- 
tr\-. Once in a L;reat while some wealth}' citizen would have a 
windlass ft)r raisin<;- water, but for over a tpiarter of a century 
after the first settlements, a farmer nexer thought of having a 
pump. St)metimes there was no well-sweep erected, but the 
water was drawn up by hand with a pail, and a small pole with 
a crotch or hook on the lower end. And st)metimes it was 
drawn up with a pail and rope. At a later date water was 
sometimes raised with a long rope running over a pulley with a 
bucket attachetl to each end, and when one bucket came up 
the other went down. At the present time water is nearl)' all 
raised from wells b\' pumps of diflerent kinds. 

THE OLD OAKEN BL'CKET. 
How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood ! 

When fond recollection presents them to view ; 
The orchard, the meadow, the diep-tangled wild-wood, 

And every loved spot which my mfancy knew; 
The wide-spreading pond and the mill that stood by it 

The bridge, and the rock where the cataract fell. 
The col of my father, the dairy house nigh it, 

And e'en the rude bucket which hung in the well; 
The old oaken bucket — the iron-bound bucket — 

The moss-covet 'd bucket which hung in the well. 

That moss-covered vessel I hail as a treasure — 
For often at noon, when return'd from the field, 

I found it the source of an exquisite pleasure. 
The purest snd sweetest that nature can yield. 

How ardent I seized it with hands that were glowing, 



Il8 THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET. 

And quick to the white-pebbled bottom it fell : 
Then soon, with the emblem of truth overfiowing. 

And dripping with coolness, it rose from the well; 
The old oaken bucket — the iron-bound bucket — 

The moss-cover'd bucket arose from the well 

How sweet from the green, mossy brim to receive it. 

As poised on the curb it inclined to my lipsl 
Not a full, blushing goblet could tempt me to leave "it, 

Though filled with the nectar that Jupiter sips. 
And now, far removed from the loved situation. 

The tear of regret will intrusively swell. 
As fancy reverts to my father's plantation. 

And sighs for the bucket which hangs in the well; 
The old oaken bucket — the iron-bound bucket — 

The moss-cover'd bucket which hangs in the well. 

I'lONEER EEXCIN(;. 

As the pioneer had more or less stock when he commenced 
growing crops, some sort of fence was required. Probably the 
records of ex^ery town organized in the Holland Purchase, down 
to 1850, would show that at its first town meeting an ordinance 
Avas passed, providing that horses and horned cattle should be 
free commoners. Hogs, it was usually voted, should not be 
free commoners ; while sheep held an intermediate position, 
being sometimes allowed the liberty of the road, and some- 
times doomed to the seclusion of the pasture. These ordi- 
nances were changed from time to time as circumstances 
seemed to require. The fence that was constructed the easiest 
and cheapest by the pioneers and one that was frequently used 
was a brush fence, or a "slash fence." It was made b\' felling 
trees in together in a line in the desired direction. Where the 
timber was thick and the trees large a brush fence could be 
made that wt)u1c1 answer a good purpose for two or three 
years. Another style of fence used was a log fence, which was 
made by laying the logs one above the other in a line with the 
ends lapping by each other, and resting upon sticks four to six- 
inches in diameter, and three or four feet long, laid cross-wa\s 
under the ends of each tier of logs. Log fence \\-as sometimes 
made b}' cutting logs the proper length and la\'ing them after 
the fashion of the common crooked rail fence. But as settle- 
ments increased, the crooked rail fence or the " Virginia rail 



RAII., i;0.\Rr) AM) WIRF. FENCES. II9 

fence," became the standanl protection for the L;"ro\\inn[ crops. 
Rail spHttin_<( constituted an important part of the pioneer's 
work. Equipped with ax, beetle and wedi^es, he would spend 
weeks and months in transforminL;' the noble ash and cherr\- 
into rails twehe feet loni;. 

In the Spring; these were laid in fence, the bi^yest at the 
bottom, one end of each rail below and the other abo\e, and 
each " lengtli " of fence formin^^ an obtuse antj^le with that on 
eitlier side. Four and a half feet was the usual height pre- 
scribed b\' the town ordinances, but the farmer's standard of 
efTicienc)' was a seven-rail fence, staked and ridered. Two 
stout stakes were driven into the ground and crossed above the 
sixth rail, at each corner, while on the crotch thus formed, was 
laid a large rail, serving to add to the height and to keep the 
others in place. Such a fence would (^ften reach the height of 
six feet. This fence, somewhat modified, forms to this da)' a 
considerable portion of the fence on man\- farms in the south 
part of the county ; but the adoption of other styles of fence 
and the scarcity of timber is fast driving the rail splitter and 
his occupation from the field (or rather from the forest). The 
kinds of timber from which rails were made, were chestnut, 
oak, cherry, white ash, black ash, pine, hemlock, elm, basswood, 
and sometimes beech and maple. 

About 1830, board fences began to come into use; they were 
generally made of boards sixteen feet long and six or eight 
inches wide. The posts were six and one-half or seven feet 
long, and set in the ground ab(jut eight feet apart, and the 
boards nailed on. I'osts were sometimes made from small 
trees hewed on one side, sometimes the\' were sawed, anci 
sometimes s])lit out. The kind of timber used for posts was 
generally cedar, oak, hemlock, cherry, chestnut and red beech. 
.Another kind of fence was made of posts and rails; rails being 
used instead of boards. Holes were mortised through the 
posts and the ends of the rails fitted in. 

Within the last few years wire fence has been introduced and 
used to some extent. Posts are set in the ground and the wire 
strung from post to post and fastened. Wire fence is made of 
plain and barbed wire. The amount of barbed wire fence in 
use is being increased considerabh- at the j)resent time. Cattle, 



I20 THE OLD-FASHIOXEl) BARNS. 

horses, and other domestic animals are not now allowed by law 
to run loose and feed aloni;" the highways, consequenth' fences 
along the roads in front of meadows and cultivated fields are 
frequently dispensed with. 

FKA.Mt: BARNS. 

After the pioneer had built his log house and had a piece of 
land cleared and fenced, the next thing he needed was a barn. 
Log barns were sometimes built but it was difficult to make 
them large enough to store any considerable amount of wheat, 
oats, rye and hay, and frame barns were generalh' built as soon 
as lumber could be procured, anywhere in reasonable distance, 
to enclose them. 

Plenty of excellent timber was growing in the forest near b\', 
and was quickly " got out," that is, cut down, scored and hewed 
by the pioneer and his boys or hired help. The kinds of tim- 
ber used in barn frames were generally rock elm, cherr}\ red 
beech, ash, cucumber and pine. The timber was draw n on the 
spot, and framed, and raised, and enclosed with hemlock or pine 
boards, all running up and down. 

There are several pioneer barns still standing and in use that 
are more than sixty-five years old and the frames are "just as 
good as new%" the beams in which are fourteen inches deep 
and twelve inches thick, and the size of the sills and posts and 
other timbers are in proportion. They are still covered with 
the same old boards that first enclosed them, which are held on 
by the same nails first driven. These barns were generally 
forty feet long and thirty feet wide with posts from fourteen 
. to sixteen feet high, and the roof put on with a " quar- 
ter pitch." They were nearh' all constructed after the same pat- 
tern, with a threshing floor and drive-wa\' near the center run- 
ning crosswise of the building, being generalh^ twelve feet wide 
by thirty long, with a stable at one end from ten to twelve feet 
wide and thirty feet long, and about seven feet high, with a 
scaffold overhead for grain, and on the other side of the thresh- 
ing-floor was a bay, sixteen or eighteen feet wide and thirty feet 
long, used for storing ha)-. In those days, horse-forks had not 
been invented, and hay and grain were pitched on and off by 
hand-forks, and when the barn was nearly full it had to be 



noUSKlIolJ) KU RN I ri'KK, KTC. 121 

])itchctl up ()\cr the " bi^ beam," which was about twelve feet 
abo\e the floor. 

A ii^c'At inan\' of those old-fashioned barns are still standin<r 
and in use, but w itliin the last twenty-five years — since dairying 
has l:)econie the princi[)al business of the farmers here and man\' 
of the farms have been enlarged, and the number of cows kei)t 
has been s^reatly increased — new and lar<^er barns have been 
built, some of them one hundred feet loni;" and fort}' feet wide: 
large enough to stable fifty to one hundred cows, and to hold 
fodder enough to Winter them. The old-fashioned barns were 
single-boarded, but barns built now are generalh- double boarded 
or battened. 

PRIMITIVE HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE AM) COOKING UTENSILS. 
THE OVEN — THE OPEN EIRE-PLACE — THE OLD KITCHEN. 

Household furniture was oftentimes limited as to variety, and 
all told would show but a meager invoice. The first, an indis- 
pensable article, was bed and bedding. Cooking utensils were 
next in order, and these were at first chiefly such as the family 
brought with them, with such additions as the skill and resources 
of the head of the family could improvise. Beds and bedding 
consisted of one or more feather beds and straw ticks filled with 
straw, husks or fine boughs, with such covering as the family 
means would permit. In many cases the feather bed was want- 
ing and the straw tick filled with straw, husks or the boughs 
of hemlock or pine were substituted, and in some cases the 
straw ticks were wanting. In such a case the boughs were 
skillfull}- prepared and spread in some convenient locality that 
the tenement would permit. Often times the sleeping room for 
the younger members of the family was located in the loft or 
upper story of the house, and access was had by means of a 
ladder. This upper lodging room was enjoyed only by those 
whose building was high enough between the floors and roof. 
Sometimes some other or less expensive room was provided. 
The trundle bed was in frequent use, and when not being used 
was pushed under the bed occupied b}' the older members of 
the famil}-. Bedsteads were of various patterns; small poles 
were cut of suitable length for the purpose, and an axe and 
auger in skilful hands did the work. Cooking utensils were 



122 DOi\[ESTIC LMl'ROVE-MEX'lS. 

limited in numbers. The " Johnnx'-cake board '" was a board 
about ^tw'o feet lonj^ and from ei^ht to ten inches in width and 
about one and one-fourtli or one and one-lialf inches in thick- 
ness spHt out of some hard wood, generally white ash, and 
planed smooth, set up obliquely before the fire. On this the 
dough, which had been mixed ver\' thick so that it would sta}- 
on, was spread and kept there until it baked sufficiently. There 
were cast-iron kettles of \arious kinds with legs three inches in 
length, the tea kettle, the spider with three legs, to keep the 
bottom above the ashes when set upon the coals on the heartli, 
sometimes the long handled frying pan and the iron bake ket- 
tle. This kettle when in use was placed on a bed of coals and 
coals piled on the iron cover, did the family baking. Some- 
times when the weather permitted a hole was dug in the ground 
out of doors and a fire made in it. When the ground was 
properly heated the coals and ashes were removed in part and 
the kettle with its contents placed therein and hot ct:)als piled 
upon the co\'er, and in due time the baking was done. Some- 
times a stone oven was built out of doors, and this became a 
favorite family institution. After brick could be liad they were 
built of this material, and sometimes tliey would be used in 
common by the near neighbors. Other houseliold utensils 
were of similar primitive patterns. Wooden dishes, bowls 
and plates of rude construction were often used and some" 
times pewter plates, basins and platters. Chairs and tables were 
of various patterns. A seat made of boards with a high back 
some fi\'e or six feet long and called a " settle," was used 
frequently for children. Shelves arranged along the walls 
of the house performed the work of cupboards, closets aiul 
bureaus. And sometimes, where there was no stand, the 
old famih' Hible ku' on the shelf. Hut as the years went by 
the bus\' hands of the pioneer tolci upon his surroundings. 
Broad and fertile fields took the place of j^atches. and large 
frame barns that were burdened from foundation to ricige-pole 
with the products of the soil had supplanted the log hovels. 
Meantime the good wife's thrifty hands had not been idle_ 
The flock of geese that she had reared and cared for, had sup- 
plied her with the materials for several "spare beds," and the 
loom and wheel had been the means of her laying up a goodh' 



i 



'I'liK L().\(i wixiKR i:\ K\i.\(;s. 123 

store of woolens and linens to furnish a nioi'e comfortable 
abode. 

Sixty )'ears a_n"o frame houses be^an to take the ])lace of tile 
log ones. In structure the}' differed l)ut little from those of 
to-da\' — sa\e in one feature — e\"er\- main room in the house 
whether parlor, sitting-room or kitchen, was supplied with an 
open fire-place. That in the kitchen was much lari^er and 
alwa\'s so arrans^ed that it contained a brick o\en in one of the 
jambs. This o\'en was used as often as once a week to do the 
family bakintjj, and around the kitchen fire, usually, the famih- 
])assed the lonq; winter evenin_<^^s. The children in readinij; or con- 
ninij lessons that must be recited to the district pedai^ot^ue the 
"followini^ day. in peelini^ beech nuts or roastinL( chestnuts in the 
embers, or crackiuL;' butternuts in the corner. 

Perhaps an elder member of the famih' would read aloud 
"Tales of the Arabian Ni<;'hts,"" "Thaddeus of Warsaw," or 
the fate of ])ot)r " Charlotte Temple." But change, inexorable 
change is stamped on e\-er}'thing that pertains to kitclien life 
of 60 years ago. The range and cook sto\e ha\'e supplanted 
the fire place of our father's time, with its rudd}' and welcome 
cheer, and in its banishment vanished many of the fondest 
joys that belong to childhood's home anci years. The good 
wife's household burdens may have been greatly ameliorated by 
the new order of things, but when modern improvement 
invaded the old-fashioned kitchen, and banished the " ingle 
side," we felt it to be sacrilege, and as a descendant of the pio- 
neers, we feel called upon to earnestly protest against the 
change. Think of listening to '• folk-lore," or fair\' tales b)- 
the side of a coal stove, or playing "blind man's buff," and 
"hunt the slip|)er" around a range. No. we say it, and with- 
out fear of contradiction, that when the fireplace was banished 
from (Hir yXmerican homes, one of its sacred and most endear- 
ing altars was destroyed. The old fireplace with its endearing 
associations has attuned many a lyre, and poets have sung its 
praises. No fool of a poet ever attempted to immortalize a 
coal stove or cooking range in verse; nor ever will. Coal 
and cast-iron are too practical and onl\' used to "save fuel." 
We are not in enmit}' to the cook sto\-e in its proper place, but 
the family sitting-room should be supplied with an open fire. 



124 THE DYE-HOUSE OF EARLY Tr^rES. 

cither of wood or coal. It is far healthier and a thousand 
times pleasanter. 

(ARDINO. SI'INXIXO AND WEAYINCi. 

The first process in manufacturing wool into cloth, after 
proper cleansing, was to pick and card it, or prepare it for 
spinning. This work had to be performed by hand for there 
were no carding-machines in operation at the time we speak of. 
Hand-cards were of simple construction ; similar in shape to 
the horse-card of the present day, only larger and of finer wire. 
Two cards were required, a right and left, and the wool was 
worked or manipulated between these into rolls. The mother, 
or the grandmother, or the maiden aunt generally performed 
this duty, and these rolls were spun into threads on the "big 
wheel." After which the )'arn was reeled from the spindle into 
skeins, again scoured, and it was ready for coloring. The 
domestic colors were of different shades. If " sheep's grey," 
the color was obtained b\' taking two fleeces of white wool and 
mixing it \\'ith one fleece of black. If brown was desired, it 
was obtained by boiling the yarn in a solution of butternut 
bark, copperas and alum. If purple, Nicaraugua wood obtained 
at the store entered largeh- into the composition of the dye. 
If blue, it was immersed in " }'e " ancient dye-tub, and was 
called coloring " indigo blue." What juvenile of those days 
can ever forget the odors that arose when the process of wring- 
ing out the }'arn was going on. Madder red was one of the 
favorite colors, a color that was more or less worn by the 
famih' during the winter. The materials for producing this 
color had to be obtained at the village store. Flannel cloth of 
different colors, wo\'en after the manner of " Scotch plaid," 
was much worn b\' women and girls. The noise of the spin- 
ning wheels would commence in early fall, and its low , busy, 
humming drone would be heard far into the Winter. A mother 
or an elder sister's bus\' feet usualh- trod to and fro to its music, 
and generally her voice in "Silver Street," or "Camden," or some 
other of those dear old melodies of the olden time would 
accompan\' it. .Vh ! ye boys and girls w ith siKer locks, who 
number the seasons that have come and gone to \'ou in the 
sixties, at the mention of thi.s, do not your thougiits turn back 



i 



126 THE OLl) SPINNINC; WHEEL. 

through the great gap of years to that fairy-lancl, "mother's 
kitchen, and her spinning-wheel." and do not the thoughts that 
linger around the old open fire-place, the glow of the embers, 
and the giant shadows of the revoK'ing wheel upon the wall 
on those long Winter excnings, burn brighter in memory than 
aught else. This labor, like all the handicraft performed about 
the household in those days, was long and tedious. Just imagine 
the countless number of steps that would be required to form 
the warp and woof for ninety or one hundred yards of flannel, 
drawn out at a single thread at a time. Ikit this was the only 
way the pioneer mothers had of protecting those who were 
dear and near to her from Winter's chilling reign, and the 
spinning was not the only work that had to be performed 
before it ^\■as ready for use. The yarn must be reeled from 
the spindle — the operator holding the thread with one hand 
while the other turned the reel, and the bus}- brain numbered 
the revolutions into "knots" and "skeins." The warj) was 
then spooled on the " quill wheel," and the si)0()ls were placed 
in the " scam," and the \'arn warped onto the " bars." From 
here the warp was wound or beamed onto the beam and then 
passed through the harnesses and then through the reed. The 
woof or filling was quilled on the same little w heels into bob- 
bins or quills, and was then read}- for the shuttle and the 
weaver. I^^rom fort}- to fift}' }'ari,ls was the custt)mar}' length 
of the webs. Perhaps the same hands that picked the wool 
performed the rest of the labor, and the fabric was termed 
" home-made," or " home-spun," a definition literally true. 

THE OLD SPINNING WHEEL. 
Broken, dismantled ! would that it were mine : 

I would not keep it in that dusty nook, 
Where tangled cobwebs cross and interwine, 

And grim old spiders from their corners look. 

From distaff, band and polished rim, ere hung 

The dusty meshes. Black the spindle is, 
Crooked and rusty — a dead, silent tongue. 

That once made whirring music — there it lies. 

Oh. dear to me is this forsaken thing ! 

1 gaze upon it and my eyes grow dim ; 
For I can see my mother, hear her sing, 

As winds the shining thread and whirls the rim. 



IHK FI.AX IM>rS'Ik\. 127 

So sweet she sang ! her youngest on her knee — 

Now a warble, now some fine old hyiin. 
Sublime, exultant, full of victory. 

Triumphant as the songs of seraphim. 

Sweet toiler 1 through her life of crowded care, 
While grief came oft, and pain and weariness 

Till swelled the anthem, still was breathed the prayer, 
Till death came clasping with his cold caress. 

She sings no more ; beside the chimney wide 

No more she spins. Years come and go ; 
Above her grave upon the lone hill side 

The snow drifts lie, the summer grasses grow. 

RAISIN(;, DRESSING AND Sl'INNIN(; I l.AX. 
Flax was an indispensible necessity to the pioneer, and its 
culti\ation was observed by all. This commodit)' was never 
raised for commerce or barter b\' the pioneer, but its uses were 
purely domestic, suppl}'ing all the sewinj^' thread and it took the 
place of cotton for all purposes that this staple article is used 
in to-da\'. It furnished a g'ood share of the summer clothini.>' 
of the famil}-, and entered largely into the comforts and con- 
veniences of the household. Its cultivation was simple and 
easN', and required no more attention than the raising of oats or 
wheat, or the rest of the cereals sa\e in its harx'est. Instead of 
being reaped it was pulled up, the dirt shook out of the roots, 
and laid in " ga\els." When sufficiently dry it was bcnmd into 
bundles and "shocked," where it would remain until perfecth- 
cured. Then it would pass to the threshing floor and be sub- 
ject to a sex'ere "head-beating" that removed all the seeds 
from the "bell" or "heads." After this it was taken to some 
convenient grass plot and spread upon the ground in swaths 
and left to the action of the elements until the wood\- portion 
of the stalks had become thoroughh* rotten and brittle. Then 
again it was bound into bundles and taken to the barn where it 
was ready for the brake. By the aid of this implement the 
operator would commence and continue the breaking process 
until the wooden substance of the stalk was broken or loosened 
from the outside fiber or bark. After passing through this 
process it is "swingled," b\' taking as much as you can conven- 
iently hold in the hand, hanging it across the sharp edge of a 
board fixed for the [Hirpose, while with the other hand you beat 



128 ACRICULTUKAL IMl'LEMKXTS. 

it with a wooden knife some two feet long, this is done to 
remov^e all the " shieves." After it has been thoroughly 
swingled, it is taken to the " hetchel," where the silken fibers 
of the flax is combed into " hanks," with the same ease that 
one of our modern belle combs out her " switch," and this flax 
is ready for the " distaff." This is a very simple affair, gener- 
ally cur. from the top of a little maple, not over half an inch in 
diameter with four little protruding branches, which are bent 
together and fastened at the top. This distaff is set in a socket, 
which allows it to turn, the flax is loosely bound around, a few 
of the fibers are attached to the spindle of the little wheel, the 
foot is placed upon the treadle and the spinning has com- 
menced, the thread that runs through the flyers to the spindle 
turns the distaff and supplies the spindle with flax. The tow 
was carded and spun as you would wool, on a big wheel. 

THE HULL PLOW AND CROTCH DRAG. 

In pioneer days, farming implements were of rude construc- 
tion and most of their parts were the works of the farmer's 
hands. The " bull plow" that was in common use sixty years 
ago was made mostly of wood. The plow-share and land-side 
were made b}' the blacksmith out of wrought iron, with the 
point laid with steel and all in one section. The mold-board 
was of wood and split out of a winding log or tree, and worked 
clown to about one and one-half inches in thickness, and in size 
and shape similar to the mold-boards of cast-iron plows. The 
crotch-drag was almost entirely a natural production, and a 
description of which may be found in the article on milling, 
was used, only this drag must be furnished with nine or eleven 
teeth, some twelve inches in length and one inch in diameter. 
The capital " A " will give a good idea of this drag. One of 
the teeth is set in the apex, or point, where the draught is 
attached while each right and left arm is pierced by an equal 
number of teeth, which were of steel or iron. 

The author, then a lad of some dozen years, has a \i\'id 
recollection of the practical workings of this drag upon a 
newl)'-burned fallow: how il would jerk and tip, hop and skip 
along until it would find something to fasten upon, when things 
would be brought up standing; then there would be a season 



'JHE .\E\VLV-CLEAR1£1) [.AND. \ 2i) 

of tugging and liftiiiL; <ind hallowing, and the drag would be 
tided over the obstacle only to be lifted again and again to 
clear its teeth of roots, sods or brush, or to remove it again 
from its anchorage on some treacherous root or stum]). In a 
few years the plowing of his ground must be performed, and 
that was a task which, to be full)' appreciated, one must ha\'e 
had some practical experience, great patience, forbearance, and 
an unfaltering faith in a bountiful Providence. Oh. )'e modern 
tillers of the soil who ride at careless ease upon your improved 
" sulky plows," could you ha\e witnessed the breaking of this 
self-same sod by '' Old (jrimes " sixty or seventy years ago 
with that same old " bull plow ," all your fine-spun theories of 
scientific farming and performing this work b\' inanimate force 
w ould ha\e departed as " \-anishes the dew before morning's 
sun !" And could \ou have heard the language employed b\' 
" Old Grimes " w hen that plow anchored under the big roots 
of a stump and he undertook to "gee" "them" steers and 
the\' " hawed," and in doing so, traveled on one of his corns, we 
fear that your faith in the native goodness of that old gentle- 
man would liave been terribK' shaken. Instances of the remark- 
able patience of Job under trying circumstances are given but 
it is not recorded anywhere that he ever dragged with a " crotch 
drag " or plowed with a bull plow among the roots and stumps 
on a newh'-cleared piece of land. 

" He that by his plow would thrive 
llimself must either hold or drive," 

Is an adage that t(j-day wi)uld be questionable, but the pioneer 
not onl)- was comjielled to //<>M, but it was ///_if, ///'/, p//s/i and 
/>//// until e\er\' bone had its own ])eculiar ache. There are 
very few to-da\' who look upon the practical working of the 
machinerx' now employed in farming who ha\e any just con- 
ception of the toils, trials and hardships that w ere endured b)- 
the pioneers who (icvotcd tluir lives to making the countr)- what 
it now is. 

MILLINC;. 

The first mill south of the reservation was built by Daniel 

Smith in 1805. It was of rude construction, built of logs 

8 



I30 



ADVENT OF THE CiRIST MILL. 



with wooden gearing and had a capacity of grinding only 
from five to six bushels of corn per day. This mill was located 
on a small stream in the Town of East Hamburg. The follow- 
ing year, John Cummings erected a grist mill on the Eighteen- 
Mile creek, a mile or so below Water Valley, in the Town of 
Hamburg. This was the first mill built, that did a general 
business of grinding, south of the Reservation. 

In 1809, Joseph Yaw built a grist mill in the town of Boston. 
In 1812, Jacob Taylor erected another at Taylor Hollow, in 
the town of Collins, and in 18 14 Benjamin Gardner built one 
in S.pringville. These mills supplied the pioneers for a few 
years with the necessary material for bread, and the task of 
doing the family milling was no slight one. The roads were 




GOINi; TO MILL. 



but little better than a bridle path, and sometimes three days 
would be consumed in coming and going where the pioneer 
lived remote. The task was performed in various ways. When 
the distance would allow, the head of the family would sling a 
grist across one shoulder, and by occasionally resting and shift- 
ing it was transported in this way; or again the grist would be 
placed upon the back of a horse and a boy set upon this and 
sent to mill ; sometimes several boys would come to the same 
mill in this way on the same day, but more often where the 
distance was of any consideration, the " drag" was used. This 
conveyance was almost a natural production and called but little 
skill in its construction. 

The first to be done was to select a tree that threw out two 
main branches, seven to eight inches in diameter and as many 



CLOTHINC ()]•■ TllK l'I().\Ki:i<. I3I 

tcct in length. These branches formed a " dra^;," or the letter 
V. Now champer the under side of the "drai^" at tlie nose, 
where the draft is to be attached, upwards and to a point. 
This gives it the shape of a sled runner and allows it to slide 
over all obstacles without hindrance. Across the top of the 
dray place split planks and fasten them; aflix two stakes at 
the rear to prexent the load from slipping off and you have it. 
This could be used in all seasons and was niuch more conveni- 
ent than the ox sled where the ways were different. On this 
the grist was put. the oxen attached, and the jMoneer set out 
for the mill, almost through an unbroken wilderness. If tlie 
distance was great, rations for himself and team would be 
carried. Sometimes the drag would carr}- grists for the entire 
neighborhood and the milling would be done by turns. 

THE MANUFACTURE OF CLOTHINC;, BOOTS AND SHOES. 

A marked change has taken place in everything that apper- 
tains to the production of wearing apparel. Such a thing as 
ready-made clothing, or even boots and shoes was unknown sixt}' 
or seventy years ago. The good housewife received the cloth 
for the Winter's clothing (mostly, perhaps, the work of her own 
hands) from the fuller and dresser, and then she was ready for the 
tailoress, who came and remained until the garments for the 
family were cut and made. Their services were always in good 
demand during Fall and early Winter. These sewing girls (usu- 
ally two worked in company) would cut and fit and ba.ste and 
prepare, and then push forward the garments to final completion. 
They passed from home to home, and comfort and good cheer 
was sure to accompany them. The very nature of their calling 
afforded them opjjortunities of becoming well qualified to con- 
verse on all subjects of general interest, and rendered them 
agreeable and interesting compan\% and their advent in the 
family, was hailed, more especialh' by the younger members, 
with feelings akin to gratitude; for perhaps it was their skilled 
fingers that were to improvise for the first time " those pants," 
and " that roundabout"with caudal appendage, that makes ever\- 
bo\- feel that he has reached a certain stage where his impor- 
tance is recognized and acknowledged. 

Pants and vests were made up for all the male, members of 



132 BOOTS AND SHOES FOR THE WINTER. 

the family old enough to wear them, and for the father and 
young men, these were fashioned according to the prevailing 
styles, " cutaways," or else high collared, straight bodied, or 
swallow-tailed coats, " all buttoned down before," with metal 
buttons which perhaps had done service for several years on 
one or more preceding coats. The boys were all provided 
with roundabouts of fulled cloth or Linsey-Wolsc}', and fre- 
quently with cloth caps of various styles made at home. 

And it was the custom in early times to have the itinerant 
shoemaker visit the pioneer homes and there to remain and 
labor until the family were supplied with boots and shoes. 
Generally the pioneer furnished his home for the Winter with 
beef of his own raising, and the skins of the animals were usually 
taken to the tanner and made into leather upon shares, and fur- 
nished the family with boots and shoes. The luxury of wearing 
boots was not often indulged in by the boys, but a compromise 
was effected and high shoes with knit leggings sufficed for all 
occasions, and when attired in these with " roundabout " and 
pants to correspond, there was just about as much importance 
done up in the small boy of sixty ot seventy years ago as 
there is to-day. 

The women and girls were supplied with boots make of calf 
skin, while boots and shoes for men and boys were made of 
cow-hide Sometimes the boots and shoes for the family would 
not be made up until after the snow had covered the ground 
for several weeks, and a few instances are mentioned when boys 
had neither boots or shoes and went without either all Winter, 
and even attended school barefooted. 

MAKING BLACK SALTS. 

In the early settlement of the Holland Purchase, as Western 
New York was called, " black salts " was one of the valuable 
productions of this portion of the country. As it was for the 
most part heavily timbered and the necessity of clearing up the 
land for farming purposes furnished wood ashes in abundance. 
These ashes were either sold at the ashery and there converted 
into potash or were worked up by the owners and made into 
"black salts." The ashes were carefully housed, protected from 
the wet and put into leaches, made in various ways as the 



11 



THE BLACK SALTS TRADE. 



133 



means at the command of the owner's permitted. By a con- 
tinuous hberal wetting with water soon the lye began to run, 
which was boiled down in iron kettles until it became a mass of 
black salts, which had a cash value at the nearest point where an 
ashery was located. The money thus obtained was very largely 
the only resources from which money could be had by the 
early settlers. And not only in the clearing of the farms was 
black salts manufactured, but very often, when other employ- 
ment was wanting, the new-comer, the mechanic and others, who 




MAKING BLACK SALTS. 



were not otherwise employed, would go to the nearest un-. 
claimed land, cut and burn timber for the ashes it would pro- 
duce and make black salts. The ashes from the elm were the 
best, sugar maple, beech, birch and other hard wood were next, 
while hemlock, pine and other soft wood was nearly useless. 
Black salts were manufactured into "pearl ash;" the ashes pur- 
chased at the ashery were manufactured into potash, which 
were commodities for export and enter largely into the numer- 
ous preparations of potash in use for medical and mechanical 
purposes at the present da\'. There was a great deal of laborious 



134 THE MIRTHFUL HUSKING BEES. 

work about this industr}\ as it took twenty bushels of ashes 
to produce lOO pounds of salts, and these when hauled to the 
market would bring only about $2.50 or at the highest $3.00 
per cwt. Great care had to be used in boiling or evaporating 
this lye to the proper consistency lest it should be burned, 
but, as we said before, it was about the only industry that sold 
for cash and early pioneers were compelled to lay by a little 
money to satisfy the demands of the tax gatherer. 

HUSKINC BEES, APPLE BEES AND QUILTINGS. 

When the ripened corn had been cut and marshalled into 
shocks, "husking bees" were common to the season. These 
gatherings like the other "bees" of pioneer days, were when 
the work performed was paramount, and when the honest, 
hearty good will of the participants entered largely into the 
joy of the occasion. These gatherings were participated in by 
nearly all. If the corn was to be husked in the field, prepara- 
tion would be made by drawing all the shocks that stood con- 
veniently near, around one common center. This formed the 
buskers' arena, and here they would assemble upon some moon- 
lit night designated, and strip the yellow corn of its covering;, 
meanwhile stories would be told, farming discussed and songs 
sung. After husking a sufficient amount the host would invite 
his guests to the house, where a collation awaited their coming, 
consisting of pumpkin pies, doughnuts, cider and cheese. 
After doing ample justice to these refreshments, the fragments 
would be picked up, chairs and tables would disappear, the en- 
livening strains of a violin would fall upon the ear, perhaps in 
the " Monnie Musk " or the " Opera Reel." As by instinct, a 
new life seemed to possess the buskers: the old forgot their 
years and the weary their toils; partners were chosen; two 
columns stood facing across the old kitchen floor that were soon 
keeping step and time to those grand old melodies, and which 
would be kept up until near the hour of morning. If the 
husking was to be done indoors, the great threshing floor would 
be filled to overflowing with shocks of corn. Chairs would be 
furnished the aged and punij:)kins sufficed for seats for the 
young, and the work would go on as " merry as a marriage 
ell," until the floor was cleared of its burden of shocks, and in 



APPLK BEES AND QUII/riNGS. 1 35 

tlicir place was a heap of <^oIden cc^rii. The (jld-fashioned tin 
hmterns were arran<^cd along the great swing beam, and fur- 
nished the workers with light. 

One of the first things that occupied the attention of the 
pioneer here was the planting of an orchard ; in a few years 
these orchards yielded an abundance, and " apple bees " were 
in order, and, like the huskings, they brought out a full house. 
The fruit would be stored conveniently near and brought into 
the old kitchen by the basketful, where an active, busy scene 
would be witnessed — some paring, some quartering and coring, 
some stringing and all talking, laughing and enjoying them- 
selves. Paring machines were not known, and this work was 
done with a knife the same as you would pare potatoes to-day. 
There is nothing but the stringing that needs an explanation. 
The stringer was armed with a long needle, most generally 
improvised out of a knitting needle, with an eye large enough 
to carry a strong string of linen twine. The needle was held 
in the right hand and the quarters were placed upon its sharp 
point with the left, and when it was full it was drawn through 
the apples, leaving them upon the string as you would string 
beads. This operation had to be repeated until the string was 
full ; then the ends were tied and it was ready to be hung up to 
dry. Most generally this work would continue until the walls 
or ceiling of the old kitchen were deeply festooned with the 
drying fruit. Then would follow the repast to be closed with 
playing or dancing and sometimes both. 

Quiltings were fashionable at all times, and differed but ver\- 
little from the rest of the merry makings save in this : the mat- 
rons and maidens would most generally meet in the afternoon 
and the "quilt" would be finished and taken from the frames 
before the swains put in an appearance. When this was the 
case the dance would commence at early candle light and be 
continued for three or four hours; then an intermission of half 
an hour or so for rest and refreshments ; the latter would be 
passed around, and again on would go the dances, sometimes 
closing at midnight and sometimes not until the "dawning of 
the day." Sometimes these quiltings forestalled a wedding, 
and many of the spectacle-wearing grandamesof this age, though 
for them the nightingale's song of love ceased long ago, and 



1.0 THE I'RIMITIVE SCHOOL-HOUSES. 

the flowers of }'Outh have faded and been swept awa}- , \'et with 
them still lingers some of the bright hopes of their sweet 
maiden years, and they will pause and ponder with fond recol- 
lection at the mere mention of these " merry-makings." 

SCHOOLS. 

It is a credit that is due to the earl)- pioneer to say that he 
realized the benefits to be derived from an education that has 
been of vast importance to the succeeding generations, for 
whenever there were scholars enough to form a class a school 
was organized, a teacher secured and the Summers and Winters 
were devoted by the young to acquiring an education. This 
was the case in the earliest days of the settlement, and before a 
saw-mill had been built. Sometimes the pioneer's humble 
abode contained more space than was actually needed b)' tlie 
famih', and this was used as a school room. Sometimes the 
log barn sufficed for the Summer's term, and sometimes several 
terms would be taught in this way before the building cf a 
school house or the organization of a school district, and per- 
haps in good time a central site would be secured, a day named 
when the whole neighborhood would turn out and the body of 
a log school house would rise, as by magic, and another day 
would witness the covering, and perhaps the labor of another 
day would be all that was required to fit it for occupation. 
Generally egre.ss was had at one end, while the stick chimne)' 
and Dutch fire-place occupied the other. Two or three single 
windows (according to the size of the room) on a side admitted 
the light ; a single row of desks was arranged along the walls 
with benches to correspond. These were occupied by the 
older or more advanced scholars, while the inner circle was 
occupied by the juveniles on benches to correspond. Perhaps 
some patron would supply the teacher with a splint-bottomed 
chair, and he or she would keep ward and watch over the 
"young idea" from the center of the room. 

These teachers were supposed to be proficient in the com- 
mon English branches and most all that our venerable ances- 
tors knew of these rudiments were acquired in these log school- 
rooms. 

At times more pains would be taken in the erection of these 



KARLV SCHOOL RECORDS. I 37 

buil(liiiq;s. Tlic lo^s that were to form the walls were squared 
to the desired thickness by scoriiiL;- and hewini^, and when care 
was used in jilaciiii;" them into the walls they formed a very 
comfortable and substantial building". These were termed 
"block houses," and when adorned with brick chimne)'s and 
double windows they were cjuite imposin^^ in appearance and 
spoke well of the public si)irit and liberality of the patrons. 
Just as sooji as sawed lumber could be i)rocured the log school 
house was supplanted by the framed one. Those differed but 
very little from those of the present, save in the modern im- 
provements that ha\-e been made b\- the introduction of the 
box stox'c in heatint;" and the patent desks and benches now- 
used in the most ot our schools. 

The uliool fund at the time we s|)eak w as but a mere pit- 
tance, being less than thirt}'-seven cents per scholar, and most 
of the teachers' wages were raised by a rate-bill. The teachers 
were also required to board around among the patrons of the 
school, and the amount of board was regulated by the number 
of scholars sent by the several families, and the wood was also 
furnished for the school by the patrons in the same manner. 

Unfortunateh' we have no records that extend farther back 
than 1832-3, and this record is not only worthy of preserva- 
tion, as a period in the history of our schools, but it gives us a 
true idea of the character and ability of the inen who were the 
prominent actors of half a century ago. \V'e give the report 
vcrbati}>L, dated I<S33 : 

" To the Commissioners of Common Schools of the Town of 
Concord: We the trustees of school district number five in 
said town in conformity with the statutes for the support of 
common schools, do certif\- and report. That the whole time 
any school has been kept in our district during the \'ear 
ending on the date hereof, and since the date of the last 
report, such schools has been kept by teachers duly appointed 
and approved in all respects according to law, is seven 
months, that the amount of money received in our district 
from the commissioners of common schools during the said 
year and since said last report is tii<cnty-)ii)ic dollars and fifteen 
cents, and that the same has been expended in paying the 
wages of teachers, who were duly appointed and approved 



i^S 



REPORT OF SCHOOr. TRUSTEES. 



in all respects according to law. That the number of children 
taught in said district during said year and since said last report 
is ninety. 

" And that the number of children residing in our district on 
the first day of Januar}% instant, who are over five and under 
sixteen years of age is s ev c tit y -nine, and that the names of the 
parents or other persons with whom such children respectively 
reside and the number residing with each are as follows, viz.: 

NAMES OF PATRONS, NUMBER OF SCHOLARS AND AMOUNT OF 
WOOD FURNISHED. 



Calvin Blake 

Abiel Blodgett. . . 
Sylvester Russell . . 

Phineas Scott 

Enoch Sinclear . . . 

— Green 

Amasa Loveridge. 
James Anthony . . . 
George A. Stewart 
Jarvis Thompson. . 
Orrin Loveridge. . 

John House 

Harry House 

James Flemings.. 



3 

3 ! 

2 ! 

4 ii 

2 i 

2 I 

3 i 

2 

4 |i' 

3 ; ; 

2 

2 

4 |i 
3 • 



Va cord 



Ebenezer Blake . . 6 
Benjamin Fay. ... 3 
Amos Stanbro. . . 5 
Ebenezer Ferrin.. 4 i 
Printis Stanbro. ..41 
Ephram A. Briggs 4 i 
Noah Townsend. . i 
Constant Trevitt. . 2 
Asa Phillips, Jr. . . i 
Barzilla Briggs. . . i 

Isaac Russell 2 

Amasiah Ashman., 4 li 
Samuel Twichell.. I 2 I 
Metzgar i 

!79l 



13^ cords 

3/ " 



" And we further report that our school has been visited by 
the Inspector of Common Schools during the year preceding 
this report twice, and that the sum paid for teachers' wages 
over and above the public moneys apportioned to said district 
during the same year amounts to $35.00. 

" Dated at Concord the first day of January, in the year of 
our Lord one thousand eieht hundred and thirt\--three. 



Benjamin Fav, j 

Enoch Sinclear, - Trustees. 

Amasiah Ashman. \ 

Noah Townsend, Clerk." 



INNOCENT PASTIMES OF LONG A(;o. 1 39 

THE SPELLING SCIIOOF,. 

There is not one scholar of fifty or sixt\- \'ears ago Hving 
to-day but what has a \'ivid recollection of the " spelling 
school," and though it was a " long spell " ago, and many a sad 
"spell" since then has cast its shadows over the hearts of 
scholars and teachers, still these lines will bring to memory one 
of the brightest "spells" on life's pathway. 

Word had been given out a week or so beforehand. The 
invitation was made general, not only to those who belonged 
t(^ the district, but those of other districts were welcomed, and 
their presence was sure to add greater interest to the occasion. 
The elder scholars in several households had been requested to 
bring candles to give light while some of the older girls would 
stay over to give the school-house an extra sweeping, and to 
see also that the fire was kept brightly burning. Their busy 
hands were never idle, — the door, the windows and the walls 
of the room would be deeply festooned with evergreens that 
grew abundant and near, and when the room was all ablaze 
with light from the great open fire, and the burning candles 
fixed all along the walls, the sight, to the youthful imagination, 
was truly enchanting. Then, as the appointed time drew near 
and the scholars began to assemble, some on foot and some on 
sleds and sleighs, what shouts of joy would greet the ear as 
these vehicles drew up to the door and turned out their loads 
of happy, merry-hearted boys and girls. These sleds and 
sleighs were great institutions of their time, and they performed 
an important part in the Winter's merry-makings. Like the 
omnibus, there was always room for one more, and upon these 
occasions the great box would be filled with clean, bri"-ht 
straw, and then they would start out and gather them in as 
they passed from house to house until they had reached their 
destination. Perhaps the driver wielded an ox gad and the 
pace was slow, but it was free from danger and full of innocent 
fun. In good time all would be assembled before the great 
log fire. Hats and hoods, capes and cloaks, would be placed 
upon shelves or hung upon the wall, and after all had become 
sufificiently warm, the teacher would step to the desk, the 
laughing and talking would cease. Two of the best spellers 
were generally selected to choose sides. " Cuts " were drawn 



I40 FRIENDSHIPS FORMED AT 'SPELLING SCHOOL. 

for the first choice, and the choosers would take their places 
on the opposite sides of the room face to face. Then the one 
who had won first choice would call out the name of a favorite 
speller, and he or she would be marshalled on that side, and 
likewise the second choice would be made by the other chooser, 
and this alternate choosing would go on until ever}^one 
present had been invited to take a part, and two long columns 
sat facing each other. 

Now some of the spectators present would be chosen to keep 
" tally." The master would step to the head, with book in 
one hand and candle in the other, a word would be pronounced 
to the right, then to the left, and so on, until everyone in the 
lines had spelled in turn. A word missed by a speller on the 
right, and passed to the left and corrected, was scored a point 
for the left. A word missed by a speller on the left, and 
passed to the right and corrected, was scored a point for the 
right. A word missed on the left, passed to the right and 
missed again, and passed back and corrected, was termed 
saved and no score made, and vice versa. 

What a conflict of emotions filled the hearts of those young 
spellers as the words were dealt out right and left. How when 
the words grew hard there might have been a little blue-eyed 
divinity in pink frock and cheeks in that row of spellers, that 
made your boyish heart tremble every time she undertook to 
wrestle with a hard word. How you longed to be by her side, 
if only to prompt her, for you know there were friendships 
formed at those spelling-schools of fifty and sixty years ago 
that burn brightl}- to-day, and will continue to burn until the 
hands are folded across the peaceful breast, and you feel that 
life's brightest spell for you has gone, when these same loving 
blue eyes are forever closed. 

As the spelling began at " Baker " to give the younger ones 
a chance, nearly half the evening has gone. The book is closed 
and fifteen minutes are given for intermission, when all is fun 
and frolic. Fhe master would snuff the candles and brand up 
the fire, aiid at times he too would enter into the merry-mak- 
ings. The fifteen minutes are up and teacher and scholars 
again take their places, and two more scholars, perhaps 
\'ounger. are selected t<^ choose up, and the same programme 



i 



CONCLUSION OF TIIK SI'KI.I,I\(; MAICFl. I4I 

is carried out as before, aiul should it be your fate to be clioseii 
next to " your girl," the enjo)"nieiit of the occasion would be 
i^reatl)- heightened. 

The teacher is perhaps assisted b\- a teacher from some 
neighboring school ; or perhaps b}- some competent citizen of 
the district present ; or by some one of the more advanced 
scliolars, and the spelling would proceed for a while as before, 
and the evening's exercises would be brought to a cU^se 
by " spelling down."' The. teacher recjuests the school to 
rise, and then the spelling proceeds as before, from right 
to left, and from left to right, with this difTerence, that 
when a scholar missed a wf)rd, they took their seats, and 
those only who remained standing continued to spell. The 
words simple at first grew harder and harder, and these spellers 
go down as grass falls before the mower's scythe, and as the 
ranks of the spellers decrease, the interest in the contest 
increases ; and so close was the attention, and so great the 
interest, that the falling of a pin might have been heard, and 
even the trembling limbs and voices of the spellers added 
more and more to the intense interest of the occasion. The 
master has exhausted all the hard words in the common les- 
sons ; the tallow candles burn low; the younger scholars stretch 
and yawn in their drowsiness, and the master's voice has a 
wear}' husky tone, still the gladiators keep their places. Then 
the master closes his book and drops his head as if about 
to retire x'anquished, but he was only preparing strateg)' and 
he pronounces out a word not found in the spelling-book. The 
speller is taken by surprise, and he spells out the word with 
trembling and fear. " Next ! " cries the master in a defiant 
tone. There is a longer pause ere the next speller attempts 
for the letters have got mixed up in the brain and confidence 
has fled ; then the word is hesitatingly drawled out. "Wrong ! " 
cries the master with nuich relief, as he correctl}- renders the 
word. Then school is dismissed and there is a hurrying to and 
fro for the wrappings, candles are taken from the walls and 
blown out. the sleds and sleighs are read)' at the door to 
receive their loads of merry, happy-hearted boys and girls. A 
few of the larger lads and lassies linger around the flickering, 
dying embers; then the master or some one who has it in 



142 thp: sickle and hand-scythe. 

charge, covers with ashes the great bed of coals, that will keep 
for the morrow's fire, and almost total darkness reigns. Then 
there is a low, whispering consultation b}^ the lingerers, and 
the shouting waiting loads at the door are told to move on 
by these same lingerers as they choose to walk, and the old 
school-house that stood on the hill is left to the silent watches 
of the night. 

REAPING WITH A SICKLE, THRESHING WITH A FLAIL AND 
CLEANING GRAIN WITH A HAND FAN. 

When the country was first settled farming in its various 
branches was conducted in a primitive manner. The machinery 
now in use was then unknown, and had it been it would 
have been of but very little use to the pioneers, whose fields 
were covered with great stumps that required years to decay. 
The sickle that had been in use from time immemorial, for 
Ruth gleaned in the fields of Boaz after the reapers a thousand 
years or more before the Christian era, made its appearance 
here with the landing of the pilgrim fathers, and its use had 
been indispensable until some "Yankee genius" invented the 
hand-scythe or cradle, with bended snath and wooden fingers. 
So the sickle here was used by the pioneer fathers to cut all 
small or sown grain, such as wheat, oats, barley or rye. It was 
similar in construction to the one now in use for cutting grass 
from shrubbery, only it carried a fine serrated edge, made by 
finely ribbing the lower side of the blade similar to one side of 
a mill-file, and only grinding or sharpening it upon the smooth 
or upper side. 

The skillful reaper would thrust this implement into the grain 
with the right hand, which did the most of the gathering ; then 
with a dextrous movement of the left, the grain would be' 
held bv the thumb and forefinger, the three remaining fingers 
falling upon the back of the blade, holding it to its work, while 
the implement would be drawn by a quick motion upwards 
and to the right and the work was accomplished. Great care 
had to be exercised in the use of this implement, for its fine 
serrated edge was as keen as a razor's blade, and the novice was 
almost certain to receive an ugh- gash on the fingers or ball of 
the left hand. The cut grain would be laid to the right rear in 



THE RAIM'INC ()¥ THK II. All.. 1 43 

" gavels," and these would be bound in bundles and " shocked." 
A skillful reaper would cut from a half to an acre per day, and 
would handle his sickle with as much dexterit}- as the mower 
could swini^ his bended snath. 

The threshini^ was chiefly done with a flail upon a threshing 
fltior. Wlien the farmers had progressed so far in affluence as 
to be able to build a barn, this floor was the main one in the 
building. If otherwise, this floor was constructed out of doors 
by placing "sleepers" on the ground and covering these with 
two-inch plank, the grain stacked conveniently near and the 
grain beaten from the chaff and straw with flails. A diligent 
man could thresh from twenty to twenty-five bushels of oats 
per day, and from eight to ten bushels of wheat, and it might 
have been laborious, but it was not an unpleasant occupation 
in the cold days of winter where it was performed indoors. 
The big barn floor would be made perfectly clean by a free use 
of the splint broom; a flooring would be thrown from the scaf- 
fold, consisting most generally of twenty-four bundles, these 
placed in two swaths across the floor, with the heads of the 
grain resting together; then the threshers, for company's sake, 
generally two, would step to one end of the flooring, and the 
work would begin, one to advance and the other to retreat 
across the grain to the alternate music of the flails. Then the 
grain would be turned over and another advance and retreat 
had across the grain and this flooring was finished. Then 
the straw^ was gathered up and the grain carefully shaken from 
it, and bound into bundles, the threshed-out grain pushed to 
one side and the threshers were ready for another flooring. 
Most generally the threshing season would begin at the com- 
mencement of cold weather, and would be continued far into 
the winter, and the alternate rapping, rapping, rapping of the 
flails heard throughout the land from early dawn until evening, 
was not disagreeable to the ear, but rather pleasing. Here we 
wish to diverge a little and then we are done with threshing. 

In these times men would follow some calling and make a 
specialty of it, such as "chopping," "logging" or "threshing." 
A man b\- the name of Carr, and an original of the times, 
moved into the settlement in indigent circumstances. He pro- 
fessed to be a great thresher, and talked a great deal of what 



J44 CLEANING GRAIN WITH THE HAND-FAN. 

he was able to accomplish in this peculiar line. Finally he 
took a job of " Square " Frye to thresh out sex-eral hundred 
bushels of grain. The first day Carr"s efforts, when measured 
up, were very meager, being onh' about one-third what an}- 
active man would hax'e accomplished in the same time, and 
this fell so far short of Carr's professions and the "'Square's" 
expectations that there might have been something said. How- 
ever Carr, at the supper table that night, all of a sudden, 
dropped his knife and fork, and looking the old man in the face 
said, " ' Square,' you need have no fears about my not being 
able to thresh your grain ; I shall do a great deal better to-mor- 
row, for I have got the hang of your barn." This excited the 
old man to a hearty laugh, and ever after if he undertook a task 
that did not savor of success, he would always say to those 
about him, " Wait until I get the hang of the barn." 

As the grain has been cut and threshed, it must be separated 
from the chaff by "winnowing" in the wind. This was done 
by a "hand-fan," an implement, semi-circular in shape, bottom 
composed of thin, light wood, with sides of same material, 
about eight inches high. The shape of this fan would be similar 
to a large semi-circular dustpan, made of wood, with the handles 
on the sides. The operator filled the fan with the grain to be 
cleaned, and stood with his back to the wind. Then by a 
quick and skillful movement of the fan, the grain would be 
thrown into the air, the light chaff caught by the wind and 
carried away while the grain would fall back again into the fan, 
to have the operation repeated until it was free from all chaff. 
A skillful man would clean from thirt)- to fort}' bushels ot 
grain per da}- in this manner. 

MIMTIA IRAINTNCi. 

Although the year 1776 had been numbered v\ ith the [)ast. 
and most of the active participants in the stirring events ot 
that period in our nation's history-, rested from their toils 
" where heaves the turf in man}' a mouldering heap." still that 
spirit which formed a lodgment in the hearts of the ]\iritan 
Fathers had been transmitted to their descendants, and not onl}- 
this, but the Statutes of the State made it imperative on ever}- 
male citizen who had attained the age of eighteen years, and 



MIIITAKV KECJULATIONS. 145 

who was of sound boil}' aiul mind lo do niilitar\' duty until 
he had reached the ai^e of forty-five. This law was strictly 
enforced and there was no way of evading it unless prevented 
by some temporar\- sicknes... The law required that the rank 
and file should drill two days in each year. These " drills " 
were termed traininy;s, and were held in June and September. 
The former was termed comixun- training;-, when only the mem- 
bers of eacli individual compan)' a.ssembled and were instructed 
in the manual of arms, or the science of war, by the captain, 
or his under officers. The latter, or that held in September, 
was termed General Training, or more properly General 
Muster, when the companies of one or more Regiments, would 
assemble upon one common parade ground, and where they 
would be under the command of some field officer, accompan- 
ied by a full staff. 

Aside from these drills there was another drill held by the 
officers and musicians in the month of August, and continued 
for two days. This was termed an "officer's drill," and most 
always the occasion would be honored by the presence of a 
Colonel, who with all the rest would appear in full dress, and 
as may be readily inferred, this band of plumed heroes were 
much ob-served by all the small boys wdio were out in full 
attendance. But the day of all others for Young America, and 
those who loved the pomp and circumstance of glorious war, 
was general muster. The ear-piercing fife and the spirit-stirring 
drum would call the a.ssembled hosts to order. Then there 
would be a hurrying to and fro on prancing steeds, who at the 
sound of fife and drum seemed to possess the military .spirit 
and zeal of the occasion, and would proudly keep step and 
time to the martial strains, as rank upon rank was being formed 
in line Then the officer in com.mand accompanied by his staff 
would take charge of the field, and the troops would be drilled 
in the manual of arms. These officers would be mounted on 
richly caparisoned horses. Their bright uniforms were tasty, 
and made of the most costly material ; their flashing sabers 
hung from silken sashes; their heavy plumed caps and the 
shimmer of their epaulets, reminded one of the splendor of 
Oriental pageantry. 

Sometime during the da)' the troops would be marshaled into 
9 



146 ATHLETIC SPORTS — SNOW SHOES. 

line where the}- would be reviewed by the Brigade Inspector, 
whose duty was to give to each soldier's arms, a personal 
inspection. 

The day would close with a solemn invocation to the Lord 
of Hosts. The troops would be formed into a hollow square, 
with the commanding officers and staff in the center, dis- 
mounted. Then the Regimental Chaplain would step forth, 
arms would be brought to rest and heads uncovered, while the}' 
attentively listened to the brief religious exercises, and the 
order w^ould be given to break ranks. 

WRESTLIN(i. 
In early times, the }'oung men at the most of the gatherings 
indulged more or less in athletic sports, such as jumping, run- 
ning and wrestling. Wrestling was the favorite, as it displayed 
the skill, strength and agility of the contestants. A ring would 
be formed and two of these modern gladiators would step in. 
" Collar and elbow" or " square hold " was the favorite, and a 
very exciting and spirited contest would be witnessed, until 
one or the other had won a fall, then it was the dut}- of the 
defeated to select some wrestler from those present to take his 
place in the ring, and the sport would continue, and, as 'before 
stated, the result depended on the strength, skill and agility of 
the contestants. It has been known for one of these to enter 
the ring and by his own personal prowess vanquish all com- 
petitors. In such an event, he was accorded the champion, an 
honor he had to maintain in all future rings and against all 
aspiring competitors. 

SNOW SHOES. 
Hard as it was and rough as it ma}- appear to us of the pre- 
sent day, the life of the pioneer during the long drear}- Winter 
was not w-ithout its attractions. The log house had been made 
comfortable b\' chinking it with moss and mud. and the great 
open Dutch fire-place always lent its welcome cheer. If the 
weather was severe the great forests shielded his abode from 
the chilling winds that blow now so keenly from the North. 
If his larder was supplied with a plenty of breadstuff, an exist- 
ance more conducive to robustness, more free from artificial 
worries and more hostile to disease in all its forms, cannot be 



THE MERRY, OLD-FASIirONED DAN'CES. 



^^7 



conceived, and it was not witliout its creature comforts either. 
What if the Winters w ere loni^ and the snows were deep, his 
wood pile was near and in abundance. An liour's chopping or 
thereabouts suppHed his stock with plenty of "browse." and if 
his store of meat was ji^ettiui^ low, he knew tlie range of the 
deer, and deep as the snow was he could reach them on his 
trust}' " snow-shoes." These shoes were an indispensable arti- 
cle to the earh' pioneer, and were made b\' bendin_L( two sticks 
of any strong, fje.xible wood, about half an inch in thickness 
and five feet long, as you would shape an ox-bow, by bringing 
the ends together and firmh- fastening them. Two of these 
formed the skeleton work for a right and left shoe. The skele- 
tons were fineh' interlaced with strings of " moose wood." elm 
bark, or more often the rawhide of the deer, in ever\- direction. 




SNOW SHOES. 



Straps were affixed in the center of these shoes similar to those 
on skates, and the}' \\'ere read}' for use. These shoes brought 
over three superficial feet of surface to the }-ielding snow, and 
they enabled the hunter to trax'cl wherex'er he willed without 
sinking: man}- times with his trust}- rifle across one shoulder 
a deer across the other. 



DAXCIXC. 

Dancing in early times was a favorite pastime and was more 
or less indulged in by old and young. Frequently during the 
Winter, as the shadows of cx'ening deepened the gloom of the 
forest, a sound of merriment would be heard at the home of 
one of the settlers, perhaps on the occasion of a quilting or 



148 THE"MONNIE MUSK " AND "SCOTCH REEL." 

wedding, that would be kept up until near the hour of morn- 
ing. There was a great deal of innocent hearty enjoyment in 
one of these old fashioned dances. The old fashioned tunes 
were rich in melody and the figures, though not so intricate as 
some of the modern dances, yet they were more graceful, and, 
perhaps, some might say, moral. The exercises frequently would 
begin with the " monnie musk " and close with the " Scotch reel " 
or " hunt the squirrel," where all could join in the dance. The 
mode of traveling during the Winter through the woods, was 
with ox team and sled and horses and sleigh, reference to this 
has been made in another place, while in Summer, riding horse 
back was common upon such occasions. The saddles of those 
times most always had a " pillion," or padded cushion afifixed 
to the rear of the seat. The rider would mount and if a part- 
ner was to bear him company she took a seat in the rear upon 
the " pillion " and away they would gallop through the woods 
and "o'er hill and dale," withthegrace and ease of the ancient 
cavaliers. Buggies were entirely unknown in those days. If 
the occasion was a public dance, upon a holiday, the young 
men would assemble three or four weeks previous and choose 
three managers, whose duty was to make all the arrangements. 
They issued the cards of invitation and no one was entitled to 
join the dance unless formally invited. These managers con- 
ducted the exercises in every respect ; secured the music, and, 
if wines or liquors were to be used, they also obtained these 
and fixed the price of admission. The dancing generally com- 
menced sometimes in the afternoon and continued until near 
morning. The landlord's duty was to furnish supper and a 
hall and to see that the teams were properly cared for. The 
friendliness and hearty good will existing among the families 
of the early settlers added greatly to the interest and enjoy- 
ment of the old fashioned pioneer dances. 

THE GREAT WOLF HUNT OF 183O. 

One of the greatest annoyances to the early settlers, and that 
which occupied his night thoughts with the gravest concern, 
was the depredations of the wolf upon the sheep fold. These 
depredations were always to be found where deer and other game 
abounded, and when impelled b}- the pangs of hunger, the 



I 



WOLVES AMONG THE SHEEP. I49 

blood}- instinct of the cowardly animal was brought out in all 
ferocity and a pack of them became a dangerous foe to man or 
beast. They usually betook themselves to the fastness of some 
great forest, where they would lay concealed until night had 
drawn her sable curtain and then they would sally forth, and 
woe unto the luckless farmer who had neglected to have his 
sheep safe in the fold — for a bloody field of carnage would meet 
his gaze the next morning — sheep with their throats torn open, 
sheep with their sides bitten through, their vitals laid bare, and 
their entrails dragging upon the ground ; some dead and some 
in the last agonies of dissolution. This particular field might 
be but a small part of the bloody work done that night, and 
the day would perhaps bring the news that the floocks for 
miles around had suffered from these same blood-thirst}' fleet- 
footed marauders. Of course, this general slaughter of the 
flocks aroused a just indignation in the breasts of the farmers, 
and, on this particular occasion (1830), it was resolved upon to 
turn out and surround them in their lair. Their retreat was 
known to be in the west woods, a tract of land lying west and 
northwest of Morton's Corners, some three miles square, extend- 
ing north and south from the Morton's Corners road that leads 
due west into Collins, to the old Genesee road three miles 
north, and thence running west on these respective roads about 
three miles, making an unbroken wilderness of about twelve 
miles in circumference. This tract embraced the Reaver Mead- 
ows and all that now known as New Michigan, which was at 
that time very densel}- timbered. A day was designated and 
word sent to the people of Concord, Collins and North Collins, 
and they did not require a second bidding, but at the time 
named, came flocking in b}' the scores. Leaders were chosen, 
the territory in question surrounded, and the siege began from 
all quarters, the objective point being the Beaver Meadow. 
The lines were formed and those who carried arms were placed 
in shooting range of each other. Horns were used as signals 
and cow bells indicated the line of march, and every inch of 
the ground was carefully patrolled, but for some cause no wolf 
scalp was secured. The onl}- man that secured any trophy 
that day was Windsor King. The noise startled a big buck 
and he undertook to run the guard, but was " caught on the 



1^0 DRIVING STOCK TO MARKET. 

fly" and killed dead by King's unerring aim. It was claimed 
by some that the wolves ran the guard on the south side and 
made good their escape into the Otto woods. Be this as it 
may, there was something at that time that gave them a terri- 
ble fright tor they have never disturbed the flocks here since. 
As to the numbers that were present at this hunt it has been 
variously estimated, but it is safe to say that there were between 
five and six hundred. The author, then twelve years of age, 
was there. 

DROVES AND DROVERS. 

It is not more than thirty-five or forty years ago, since our 
highways and thoroughfares used to teem with great herds of 
horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. These " droves," as they were 
usually termed, were mostl}' bred west of here and were 
bought up by the local and eastern dealer, and driven hun- 
dreds of miles to market, weeks being consumed on the way. 
Of those who drove from this town we remember the names 
of Augustus G. Elliott, John Van Pelt, Seth W. Godard, Geo. 
Richmond and Aimer White, &c. At times as high as two or 
three hundred head of cattle would be contained in one drove and 
would require the assistance of three or four men to take charge 
of them. Usually the proprietor would be mounted and as 
the day waned he would gallop in advance and look out for a 
stopping place for the night. The most favorable times for 
"driving" was after the haying season had passed, as the 
" rowen " or " aftermath " on the meadows, afforded the travel- 
worn stock a fresh and bountiful repast for the night. Fifteen 
and twenty miles a da)' would be usuall}' made by the cattle 
droves, while those whose droves were made up exclusively of 
horses and mules nearly double that distance would be accom- 
plished. If the drove were hogs, usuall)' a team would accom- 
pany them and feeci would sometimes be carried from one 
station to the next one ahead, but as a general rule the farmers 
along the way were abundantly able to entertain man and beast 
for one night. Sheep would be driven in herds of several 
hundred and after driving a da)' or so, they would become so 
tractable that two men and a shepherd dog would take charge 
of the largest flocks. Usually the drove would be supplied with 






HUNTING I-'OR THE LOST CTHLD. ' 151 

one " bell weather," which took the lead and the rest were cer- 
tain to follow. After the introduction of steam and the advent 
of the stock car, a great change has taken place in supplying 
the Eastern markets with stock. Hardly as many hours are 
now required under the new order of things as days were con- 
sumed under the old. 

THE LOST HOY. 

Some time in the Fall of 1828 or '29, Arey Smith, a farmer, 
lived on a farm south of the Jones place, some three miles south 
of Springville, across the Cattaraugus creek. His family con- 
sisted of a wife and a son by another woman, a bright little lad 
some ten years old. The story goes that the last that was seen 
of the boy his stepmother sent him with a basket to the log- 
ging field where his father and several men were at work. His 
basket was afterwards found on the way, but never after was a 
trace of the missing boy found. "One touch of nature makes 
the whole world kin," and when it became known that a little 
boy was missing the great public heart for many miles around 
was touched, and men came in from all directions to join in 
the search. By sunrise on the following day the child hunters 
were formed in line and the search began and extended for 
man)' miles and was continued for more than a week. Every 
conceivable spot and place where the boy might be concealed 
was closely examined. It was understood that should any 
traces of the lost one be found a signal should be given by the 
firing of a gun. One day the welcome signal was heard, and 
soon the cry of "child found" was raised, and the hunters 
rushed to headquarters ; but it was a mistake due to one of the 
searcher's over zeal, taking the tracks of a young bear for 
those of the missing child. It is said that the search was so 
thorough that all the missing cow-bells were found. The shores 
of the streams were examined for ten or fifteen miles for the 
foot-prints of the little wanderer, but without avail. In the 
course of time, everybody gave up the search as hopeless, and 
many theories were advanced concerning his disappearance. 
Some held that the little boy had been stolen by the 
Indians ; others that he had fallen a prey to the ravenous 
appetites of wild beasts; while suspicion pointed strongly to 



152 LARGE FLOCKS OF WILD PIGEONS. 

Smith or his wife or both as the ones responsible for his dis- 
appearance. Be this as it ma}-, the father and mother have 
long been dead, and the grave has set its seal forever on the 
solution of this mystery. 

PIGEONS. 

In early times every year that the beech forests produced 
their fruit, this bird flocked here in countless numbers and they 
were hailed as were the quail by the famishing Israelites in the 
wilderness. Their nesting grounds and roost were chosen in 
the fastness of the great forest, awa)' from the settlers. To- 
wards evening they would commence winging their way from 
their feeding grounds to the roost and for hours one ceaseless 
stream of birds would pour into this retreat. After dark the 
hunter \\ould repair to this ground armed with a shot gun and 
in a very short time he could secure more than he could carry 
away by a promiscuous firing into the tops of the trees. Those 
who had nets and a tame pigeon for a deco}-, secured them 
alive by the thousand. During the nesting season the old 
birds became a great pest to the settler as they were sure to 
forage upon the crops of early-sowed grain. The Indians used 
to secure them in great numbers b)- watching the nesting 
grounds and just before the young bird had learned to use its 
wings, they would camp upon these grounds and make a gen- 
eral harvest. The pigeon roost at night was a wild and weird 
field of action and excitement, especially after the hunters (I 
have known five and six different parties in the same woods at 
once) had begim to stir them up all over the nesting grounds 
by the noise and blaze of their guns. The woods were literally 
alive with them and a light would be instantly extinguished by 
the current of air set in motion by the m}-riad of wings. These 
birds would rise with the morning sun above the tops of the 
trees and wing their way for miles and miles out to the feeding 
grounds. The noise they made when leaving the roost resem- 
bled that of distant thunder or the roar of mighty waters, and 
so dense would be their flight at times that the sun for many 
minutes would be hid as beneath a cloud. At one time they 
nested on the Buttermilk; another, between Frye hill and Mor- 
ton's creek. One year upon the Smith brook, and again in 



THE BOUNTIFUL HARVEST, ETC. 1 53 

tlic north [)art of the town, west of the Eighteen mile creek. 
Tlie}- also nestetl in tlie Otto woods. 

•rnANKS(;rviNG. 

The pioneers of these towns were mostly from New Eng- 
land and came of Puritan stock, and they observed Thanks- 
giving day to a considerable extent after the manner of their 
forefathers, and although the fields did not, in every instance, 
produce in fruit and grain in such abundance as they might 
desire, still the early settler felt when the harvest moon waned 
that there was a great deal in his wilderness home to be grate- 
ful for. The seed that he had planted and sowed on his newly 
cleared grounds had not been barren of results. Health and 
strength had been vouchsafed during seed-time and harvest, 
and he could look forward to the coming winter and feel 
assured that his wx'll-garnered store was abundant and as the 
appointed day drew near when the grateful hearts join in a 
general thanksgiving to Him who causeth the out-going of the 
morning and maketh the evening rejoice, and "who appointeth 
the seed-time and the harvest," appropriate preparations were 
made for its observance. It was a season when the family 
circle and kindred were expected to meet beneath some famil\- 
roof-tree and there to partake of the bounty of the land. 

The out-door oven was made to contribute its share of good 
things in the way of cakes, puddings and the immortal pump- 
kin pie, while the great open fire-place with its back-log and 
fore-stick piled high with beech and maple not onh' sent out 
its welcome and ruddy cheer but its broad and open bosom 
was made the receptacle for various dishes that needed the 
generous heat to prepare them for the feast. Fhe iron dinner- 
pot hung from the chain or trammel on the lug-pole and boiled 
and bubbled while the tea-kettle simmered and sung in the 
corner and by its side was the earthern or Britannia tea-pot in 
readiness to dispense " the bcxerage that cheers but not ine- 
briates." 

Rut the crowning glory of all and that which occupied the 
good wife's greatest care was the roasting turkey that was sus- 
pended by a string in front of the fire and so near that in the 
course of two or three hours, by continual turning and basting. 



154 THE THAXlCSGIVlXd DIXXER. 

it was ready for the table. A dripping-pan was placed on the 
hearth beneath the turkey and a ladle or a large spoon length- 
ened by the addition of a wooden-handle, was used to dip the 
gravy from the dripping-pan and pour it over the turkey as it 
was constantly turned by the string. 

When all was in readiness, and with appetites made keen with 
waiting, around the generous board were gathered old and 
young and a bountiful dinner was enjo)'ecl. After which per- 
haps pipes and tobacco for the aged would be introduced and 
the day would be passed in social intercourse, and we young- 
sters of fifty or sixt}' years ago always felt like blessing 
the man who first invented roast turke\'s and Thanksgi\'ing 
dinners. 

The following lines, describing the accidental meeting of a 
family, although penned many years after the scenes described 
above were enacted, are eminent!}' fitting and suggesti\e of the 
old-time Thanksgiving re-unions: 

We are all here I 

Father, Mother, 

Sister, Brother, 
All who hold each other dear. 
Each chair is filled—we're all a/ home ! 
To-night let no cold stranger come ; 
It is not often thus around 
Our old familiar hearth we're found ; 
Bless, then, the meeting and the spot ; 
For once be every care forgot ; 
Let gentle Peace assert her power, 
And kind Affection rule the hour ; 

We're all — all here. 

We're not all here ! 
Some are away — the dead ones dear, 
Who thronged with us this ancient hearth, 
And gave the hour to guiltless mirth. 
Fate, with a stern, relentless hand, 
Looked in and thinned our little band ; 
Some like a night-fiash passed away, 
And some sank, lingering, day by day : 
The quiet grave-yard — some lie there — 
And cruel Ocean has its share — 

We're tiot all here. 



" we'rk ai.l— ALi, Hp^.rk." 155 

We on- all here ! 
Even they— the dead— though dead, so dear • 
Fond Memory, to her duty true, 
Brings back their faded forms to view. 
How life-like, through the mist of years, 
Each well-remembered face appears I 
We see them as in times long past. 
From each to each kind looks are cast ; 
We hear their words, their smiles behold, 
They're round us as they were of old — 

We are all here. 

We are all here ! 

Father, Mother, 

Sister, Brother, 
You that I love with love so dear. 
lliis may not long of us be said ; 
Soon must we join the gathered dead ; 
And by the hearth we now sit round. 
Some other circle will be found. 
Oh ! then, that wisdom may we know, 
Which yields a life of peace below ; 
So, in the world to follow this, 
May each repeat, in words of bliss: 

We're all — all Jiete ! 



156 CHRISTOPHER STONE AND OTHERS. 



CHAPTER XV. 
HISTORY OP CONCORD. 

The First Settlers — Land Sales — The First Deed — Early Roads — The First Set- 
tlers on Each Lot — Hotels, Mills aid Manufactories — Professional Men, 
Merchants, Traders and Mechanics— '' Fiddlers Green" — Mails, Mail 
Routes and Post-Offices— Land Owners in 1S45— Concord's Soldier 
Record — Churches — Societies — Springville Academy — Schools and 
Teachers— Miscellaneous. 

THE FIRST SETTLERS OF CONCORD. 

This honor belongs to Christopher Stone, and, although the 
author has made diligent research for records concerning the 
birth, nativity and early histor)' of the man, still his efforts 
have been in vain and from whence he came or whither he went 
is an unsolved mystery. The records of the Holland Land 
Company show that Christopher Stone, on the 2nd day of De- 
cember, 1807, articled lot 3 containing 357 acres, also on the 
same day articled lot 9 containing 245 acres, and on the follow- 
ing day, December 3d, articled lot 14 containing 185 acres, all of 
T. 6, R. 6. The greater portion of the Village of Springville is 
located on the two former lots. His cabin was on Buffalo 
street, on a lot now owned and occupied by William Joslyn, 
and stood very near the latter's residence. Stone must have 
sold the north part of lot 3 to John Albro prior to 1810, on 
which the latter built a log house and barn, for, in the Summer 
of 1 8 10, we learn that the said barn was used as a school room. 
The south part of lot 3 was sold to Rufus Eaton, and posses- 
sion was given in the Spring of 18 10. After selling out here. 
Stone did not remain but a short time. In the Summer of 
18 10, he lived up b\' the big spring and his children attended 
.■!.chool. His son, Lucius, was the first white child born in the 
town. It is conceded by all that John Albro was the next set- 
tler, and that Stone and Albro with their families, were the sole 
inhabitants that passed the Winter of 1807 in the Town of 



THE FIRST CHRISTIAN I5URIAI.. 157 

Concord. Tlic imagination of the reader will naturally turn 
back to that period in our histor\-, to these pioneer families 
and their immediate surroundings. It was fully ten miles to 
the nearest settlement and the way was rendered almost im- 
passible by the snows of Winter and the obstacles to be sur- 
mounted in journeying through an unbroken wilderness. And, 
again, will the reader's thoughts go back to the infant settle- 
ment on the following Summer, when death, the unwelcomed 
guest at all seasons and places, had invaded the home of John 
Albro, and rendered it desolate by removing his wife. The oc- 
casion of that burial in the woods must have been one of ex- 
treme solemnity, as the hardy pioneers who had come from a 
distance, gathered around that cofifined form and bore it away 
to rest beneath the deep shadows of the mighty forest. This 
was the first Christian burial in the town. In the Fall of 1808. 
the population of the new settlement was augmented by the 
families of Deacon John Russell and Samuel Cochran. The for- 
m-cr articled the whole of lot i, upon which he built a log cabin. 
This stood on the northeast corner of the lot north of Franklin 
street, near where it turns to the northwest up the hill. Samuel 
Cochran articled one hundred acres on the south part of lot 2. 
His cabin stood on the north part of his claim, at the foot of 
the hill near Miss Goddard's residence. Albro went east and 
the families of Stone, Cochran and Russell were the only inhabi- 
tants in the town in the Winter of 1808. From 1808, up to the 
declaration of war, 1812, settlers came in cjuite fast and we find 
by the records and by further investigation, that previous to the 
first of January, 181 5, about eighty-five settlers had located in 
the present limits of the Town of Concord (although some of 
them did not remain permanently) but the list on the following 
page docs not include their families. 



158 



KAMES OF THE FIRST SETTLERS IN CONCORD. 



NAMES OF PERSONS SETTLING PREVIO 

IN SPR.INGVILLE. 

Christopher Stone 
John Albro. 
Samuel Cochran. 
Joseph Yaw. 
Rufus Flaton. 



David Stickney 
David Leroy. 
Isaac Knox. 
Samuel Burgess 



EAST AND NORTHEAST OF 
SPRINGVH-LE. 

Chris. Douglas. 
Benj. Douglas. 
Asa Cary. 

Joshua Mathewson. 
Hale Mathewson. 
Xoah Culver. 
Deacon Jennings. 
James Bascom. 



Benjamin Gardner. James Henman. 
Elijah Perigo. .Doctor Rumsev. 

David Stannard. 
Jery L. Jenks. 



Wm. Wright. 
Nathan King. 
Almon Fuller, 



SOUTH OF THE VILLAGE. 
ON THE CREEK. 

David Shultus. 
George Shultus. 
William Shultus. 
Moses White. 
Frances White. 
Truman White. 
Enoch Chase. 
Abner Chase. 
Henry Hackett. 

IN THE NORTHWEST COR- 
NER OF THE TOWN. 

Isaiah Pike. 
James Pike. 
Lewis Trevitt. 
John Ures. 
Je.ssie Putnan. 
Thos. M. Barrett. 
Reuben Metcalf. 
Sylvenus Kingsley. 
Comfort Knapp. 
Arad Knapp. 



NORTH OF SPRtN(;V(LLE. 

Giles Churchill 
Luther Curtis. 
Luther Hibbard. 
John Drake. 
Jacob Drake. 
Elijah Dunham. 
Seneca Baker. 
Benj. C. Foster. 

ON TOWNSEND HILL. 

Jonath'n Townsend 
Uzial Townsend. 
Amaziah Ashman. 
Benjamin Fay. 
Solomon Field. 
James Stratton. 
Samuel Stewart. 
Thomas McGee. 

IN THE CHAFFEE NKIGH- 
RORHOOD. 

Julius Bement. 
Elihu Bement. 



us TO JAN. I, 1815. 

j IN THE COOPER NEIGH- 
BORHOOD. 

I Samuel Cooper. 

Smith Russel. 
i Cary Clemens. 
< James Brown. 

Obadiah Brown. 

Channing Trevitt. 

James Armisteatl. 
j John Clemens. 
I Isaac Lush. 

Hira Lush. 

Ezra Lush. 

Daniel Lush. 

Capt. J. Hanchett. 

NORTH PART OF TOWN ON 
EIGHTEEN MILE CREEK. 

Lyman Drake. 
Geo. Killom. 
James Thurber. 

NORTHWEST UF VILLAGE. 

John Russell. 
Gideon Parsons. 
Mr. Stevens. 

DOWN THE CREEK SOUTH- 
WEST OF SPRINCIVILLE. 

Wm. Smith. 
Elijah Pamenter. 
Luther Pratt. 

NICHOLS CORNERS. 

Sylvenus Cook. 
Nehemiah Paine. 

NORTHEASTERN PART OF 
TOWN. 

There were no set- 
tlers in this part of 
the town. 



THE EAKLV LAND r)WM:RS. 



'59 



NAMES OF PERSONS BUYING LAND FROM THE HOLLAND 
COMPANY. 

The followini; tables show the name of each person who 

boui^lit land of the Holland Comi^an)' within the limits of the 

present Town of Concord, the number of the lot, the number 

of acres purchased, ;ind the price paid : 

TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE SIX. 



NAME. 



Christopher Stone . 
Christopher Stone. 
Christopher Stone . 
(rcorge Richmond . 
Samuel Cochrane. . 

Joseph Yau 

John Russell 

Benjamin Douy;lass 
Calvin Doolittle. . . 
David Shultus. . . . 
.Vpollos Hitciicock 

Moses White 

Klihu Bement 

.Vlmon Fuller 

Isaac Knox 

Cijors^'e Shuhus . . . 
Truman White. . . . 

Moses White 

\o.ih Culver 

Samuel Burgess... 

Rufus Eaton 

Hale Mathewson. . 
(ieorge Richmond. 

(Oliver Dearth 

.\lva Plumb 

Benjamin Rhodes. 
Benjamin Rhodes. 
Luther Austin . . . . 

Alva Plumb 

.Moses Wiiite 

-Silas Rushmore. . . 
William Weeden . . 



1807. 


1807, 
1807, 


1807, 


1 80S, 


1808, 


1 80S, 


1 809. 
1809, 
I8I0, 


1810. 


I8IO, 


I8I0, 


I8I0, 


i8ro. 


I -^lo 


1 8 10, 


1810, 


1811, 


1811. 


1812. 


18 1 3. 
1813. 

1 8 14. 
1815. 
1815, 
1815. 
1 8 1 5 . 


181 5, 
1 8 16, 


18 16, 


1820. 



DAri:. 



Dec. 2.. 
Dec. 2. . 
Dec. 3.. 
Dec. 22 
June 8.. 
June 8. . 
Sept. I . 
June 3.. 
June [2 
June 8.. 
June 8. . 
June 28 
Sept. 1 1 
Sept. 28 
Oct. 16. 
Oct. 29. 
Dec. 3 1 . 
Dec. 3 1 . 
Sept.25 
Dec. 31 
July 12. 
Oct. 27. 
Nov. 12 
Dec. 7.. 
Mar. 20 
July 6.. 
Oct. 14. 
Oct. 24. 

Nov. 9 . 
Sspt. 17 
Oct. 19. 
Mar. 16 



LAinD. 



' • • 

19... 
1 14.. 

1 23 & 24 

S pt 1 2 . 

n pt 1 2 . 

1 I 

1 4 & 10.. 

1 20 

[ 22 

1 21.! ... 

1 18 

n pt 1 II 

I25 

n pt 1 8. . 

1 19 

1 16 

1 17 

s-w p 1 5 . 

w pt 1 8 . 
s-e pt 1 8 
s-e pt 1 5 
n-e pt 1 5 
sptl7.. 
w pt 1 7 . 
n pt 1 7. . 

1 12 

s pt 1 II 

cKin pt 1 3 

s-w pt 1 8 

1 15 

s-e pt 1 13 
s-wpt 1 1 3 



Acres 

357 


Price 

1 


$715 


254 


490 


185 

257 


370 
643 


100 


200 


247 
266 
523 


494 

556 

1086 


150 


375 


140 


350 


125 


312 


128 


320 


150 


375 


157 


393 


150 


375 


126 


315 


135 


337 


'57 


397 


125 


343 


1 10 
45 


300 
136 


113 

76 


339 
288 


100 


325 


100 

75 
60 


325 
262 

240 


'50 


577 


91 
loS 


341 
488 


100 
82 


450 

369 

1 



Pau) 
Down. 

$3600 
4 00 

15 00 
34 00 
10 00 

' 5 75 

I 00 

12 00 

1875 

12 GO 

16 GO 
16 GO 
19 GO 
2G GG 
19 GG 

16 GG 

17 GG 



17 GO 
17 GO 

15 GO 
17 GO 
17 GO 

9 GG 

16 GO 

16 GO 
13 00 
12 GO 

28 GO 

17 GO 
24 GO 
22 GO 
15 GO 



i6o 



NAMES OF PERSONS BUYING LAND 



* By Deed . But very few of the old settlers took deeds of their land al the time of pur- 
chase, but took instead a contract, or, as it was then called, an " article," by which they were 
allo.ved to pay for their land in six equal annual installments, after which they received a 
deed. It was the custom, however, of the Holland Company to give a second article al the 
end of the six years if any of the money remained unpaid, providing^ there was a prospect of 
its being finally paid. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE SIX. 



Namk. 



Luther Hibbard 

John Albro 

Ehjah Dunham 

Jedediah Cleveland.. . 

Gideon Parsons 

James Vaughan 

Samuel Cooper 

Benjamin Foster 

Seneca Baker 

Philip Van Horn 

John McAllister 

Luther Curtis 

*Luther Curtis 

Josiah Fay 

Jonathan Townsend . . 

Benjamin Fay 

Fred. Richmond 

William Wright 

Benjamin Sibley & 

Joshua Agard 

David Cunningham. . . 

James Miller 

Samuel Bunnell 

Calvin Warren 

Timothy Moors 

William Smith 

Calvin Warren 

Ebenezer Ferrin 

David Leroy 

David Leroy 

Orrin Sibley 

Giles Churchill 

James Downs 

Simeon Bishop, jr. .. . 

Luther Landon 

William Southworth . . 



1807, 


1808. 


1808, 


1808, 


1808, 


1809, 
1 809, 
I8I0. 


1 8 10, 


1810, 


1 8 10, 


1810, 


1810, 


1810, 


1810, 


1811, 


1812, 


1815, 


1815, 
1815, 

1815, 

1815, 

1815, 
181 I, 


1815, 
1815, 
1815, 
1816, 


i3i6, 


1816, 


1816. 


1816, 


1816, 


1816, 


1816, 



Date. 

Dec. 2. 
Jan. 14 
Jan. 14 
Aug. 2-] 
Nov. I 
Oct. I I 
Oct. I 1 
Mav 3. 
May 3. 
June 19 
Aug. I. 
Aug. 31 
Aug. 31 
Oct. I . 
Oct. I . 
Nov. 9 
May 6. 
May 9. 



May 15 
May 15 
May 23 
June 5 
Sept. 3( 
Nov. 4 
Oct. 30 
Oct. 30 
Nov. 28 
Mar. 12 
Mar. 12 
April 25 
Oct. 26. 
Aug. I . 
Oct. 23. 
Oct. 28. 
Oct. 26. 



La.M). 

n pt 1 41 
s pt 1 50 
n pt 1 50 
1 49 ... . 

157.... 

I25.... 

l33--.. 
\\ pt 1 5 I 
e pt 1 5 I 
w pt 1 58 
1 28 ..^. . 
n pt 1 42 
s pt 1 42. 

159--- 
1 60 ... . 
e pt 1 58 
w pt 1 27 
e pt 1 34 

1 63 ... . 
e pt 1 64 
w pt 1 56 
s pt I 35 

1 54 ■ • • • 
w pt 1 26 
pt I34.. 
n pt 1 62 

wpt 1 52 
n pt 1 35 
e pt 1 36 

s pt 1 55 
s pt 1 41 
1 29 ... . 
e pt 1 26 
w pt 1 47 . 
pt 1 56 . . . 



AcuES. Price 



165 
165 

341 
300 
360 

374 
252 
100 

145 
350 

273 
100 

301 
293 
145 
120 

100 

295 
266 
200 
100 
366 
100 
100 
100 

!20 
100 
100 
100 
60 
376 
245 
125 
100 



$666 

330 

' 330 

; 683 

600 

720 

i 748 

I 567 

22--, 
326 

:. 787 
682 
200 

752 
732 

, 435 
360 

325 

I 958 
734 
I 700 
i 350 
1 1 260 
300 

375 
350 
450 

375 
375 
400 

; 285 

. 846 

1102 

562 

450 



FROM THE II(M,I,AM) COMPANV. 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE SIX— Coniinuec/. 



l6l 



Namk. 

Jcdcdiah Cleveland. . . 

C}'rus Cliene\' 

ICphraim Need ham . . . 

William Chapin 

William Yaw 

John Pratt 

John Rector 

Abraham Middaugh. . 
Christopher Douglas . . 

Sillick Canfield 

Aaron Cole 

William Southworth, jr 

Nathan Goddard 

E. A. Briggs 

David Smith 

Stephen Pnitt 



Date. 



Land. 



Orrin Sible\- ! 

Reuben Thurber [ 

Ethan Fember 

Sala W. Barnes 

Prentis Stanbro. .'....] 
Henry J. Vosburg. . . . 

Calvin Smith 

Jonathan Mayo j 

Elam May 

Andrew Pember 

Sala W. Barnes 

Henr)' Ingalls 

William Wright 

William A. Calkins. . .' 

W. Smith 

Josiah Wheeler 

Constant Trevett 

Jonathan Griffith 

S\-lvester Frink 

Jabez &HoratioChapin 
Franklin Twichcll .... 

Robert Flint 

Ezra & Homer Barnes 

Hezekiah Griffith 

William Baker 

lO 



8i6 
817 
817 
817 
817 
817 
817 
817 
817 
818 
818 
819 
819 
820 
822 
823 

824 
826 
827 
827 
828 
828 
828 
828 
828 
828 
828 
828 
829 
829 
829 
828 
830 
S31 

«^3> 
831 

832 
832 
832 

8^,2 



Aug. 7 . . 
April 14 
June 5 . . 
June 16. 
July 17.. 
Aug. 5 . . 
Oct. 8. . . 
Nov. 29. 
Dec. 24. 
May. 29, 
Jan. 31. 
Feb. 26 
Nov. 5 . 
Oct. 2. . 
Oct. I . . 
May 22 

Sept. 23 
Sept. 9. 
Ma}' 8. . 
June 10 
Mar. SI. 
Mar. 24. 
Mar. 24. 
Mar. 24. 
Mar. 12. 
Mav 13. 
Oct. 15. 
Dec. 5 . 
April 21 
Oct. 10. 
Dec. 25. 
Dec. 25. 
Oct. 7.". 
Sept. 2S 
Mrv 16. 
Feb. 24. 
April 23 
Feb. 10. 
Feb. ]0. 
Dec. 3 I . 
Dec. I 7. 



Acres. Price 



w pt 1 1 8 . . 
pt I35.... 
pt 1 45 . . . . 
pt I45. ... 
n pt 1 39 . . 
pt 1 47 . . . . 
n pt 1 40. . . 
w pt 1 34 . . . 

pt I35 

n i)t 1 46. . . 

pt 1 46 

e pt 1 56. .. 

n pt 1 26 . . . 

e pt 1 68 . . . 

pt I45 

1 13,30, 31 & 

pt 1 39 . . . 

s-e pt 1 55.. 

pt 1 46 

n pt 1 56. . . 
n-w pt 1 39 . 
n-w pt I 43. . 
s-w pt 1 29 . 

pt 1 43 

pt 1 43 

e pt 1 44. . . 
n-w pt 1 64 . 

pt 1 40 

.s-w pt 1 64 . 
n-e pt 1 29 . . 

pt 1 56 , 

n-e pt I34. •! 
e pt 1 56. . .i 
n-w pt 1 60. 
n-w pt i 37 . 
pt 1 46 . . ^. . . 

pt 1 45 

s pt 1 6 1 . . . . 

pt 1 39 

n i)t 1 32 . . . 
n pt I38...' 

pt 1 37 ; 



260 
100 
100 
1 00 
100 
100 
100 

155 

78 

100 

100 

90 

50 

123 

100 

1391 

50 

50 

50 

100 

100 

94 
50 

75 
50 
50 
50 

54 
90 

50 
50 
90 
50 
60 
50 
100 

75 
164 
100 
116 

50 



800 
450 
450 

475 
475 
475 
455 
738 
390 
475 
475 
427 
226 
525 
475 

3823 

275 
225 
225 
500 
400 
376 
200 
300 
200 
200 
200 
216 
352 
225 
i 212 
I 382 
217 
240 
200 
420 
300 
664 
448 

537 
, 200 



l62 NAMES OF PERSONS HUVING LAND 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE SlX — ConUnmc/. 



Name. 



Purroy Wilson 

George D. Williams. . . 
Elijah B. Williams.. . . 

John Wilson 

Abel Merryman 

Caleb Abbott 

Frances Ferren 

William Judd 

Milan Holly 

* William Judd 

James L. Bacon 

Smith & Horatio Buys 

Richard Luddick 

Jesse Ferren 

Samuel Haines 

Bela Graves 

Silas Wheelock 

John Griffith 

William Smith, jr 

William Smith, jr 

William Griffith 

William Field 

William Olin 

*Sylvester Abbott . . . 

Arnold Cranston ' 

Joseph Cottrell I 

John Cottrell 

John Philips 

Peter Kinner 

Abram Gardinier 

Sylvester Abbott 

Calvin Smith > 

Samuel A. Jocoy 

David Campbell 

Prentis Stanbro 

Edward Cram 

Henry Akely 

David Meeker 

Henry J. Vosburg. . . . 
*Rebecca Putnam .... 

Barney Graff ] 

E. A. Briggs 



832 
832 
832 
832 

832 
832 
832 
833 
833 
833 
833 
833 
833 
833 
833 
833 
833 
833 



834 
834 
834 
835 
835 
835 

835 
836 

836 

836 

836 

836 

836 

836 

836 

836 

836 

837 

837 

837 

837 

837 

839 
841 



Date. 

P\'b. 10 . 
Feb. 24 . 
Feb. 24 . 
Feb. 24 . 
Aug. 1 1 . 
Jan. 31 . . 
Dec. 18 . 
July 20. . 
July 20. . 
July 8... 
Nov. 8. . 
Nov. 8 . . 
Nov. 8. . 
Dec. 17 . 
Dec. 18 . 
Jan. 14. . 
Feb. 8. . 
May 22.. 
May 21.. 
Jan. 8. . . 
Dec. 25 . 
Jan. 22 . . 
Dec. 30 . 
May 5... 




June 16 
Sept. 16. 
Sept. 16. 
Oct. 6.. . 
Oct. 6... 
Sept. 13. 
Dec. I . . 
Dec. 31.. 
Dec. 6. . . 
Dec. 6. . . 
Oct. 13. . 
Nov. 13. 
Jan. 6. . . 
Aug. 1 1 . 
April 12 
June 19.. 
Feb. 2.. . 
Mar. 10. 



pt 1 40 . 
pt 1 40. 
pt 1 40. . 
pt 1 40. . 
pt 1 40. . 
w pt 1 48 
s-e pt 1 29 . 
n-\v pt 1 31 
s-w pt 1 3 1 . 
w pt 1 32 
pt 1 32.. 
pt 1 32. . 
pt 1 32 . . 
pt 152.. 
w pt 1 36 
w pt 1 38 
ptl38. ... 
s-e pt 1 38. 
ptl 44. ... 
s-\v pt 1 75 
s-\v pt 1 38. 
s-w pt 1 62 
pt 1 29. . 

ptl 56.. 
pt 1 44. . 
pt 130.. 

e pt 1 30 
s e pt 1 3 1 . 
s e pt 1 62. 
n w pt 1 29 
n e pt 1 55 
n e pt 1 43 
n e pt 1 44 
s e pt 1 44 
w pt 1 44. 
pt 1 36. . . . 
n w pt 1 61 
pt 1 36. . 
pt 1 57- 
pt 1 37- 
pt 1 37- 
pt 1 53- 



50 

50 

50 

58 

100 

47 
66 

34 
50 
50 

100 
56 
60 

100 
62 

100 

3f 
qo 

45 
67 
50 

47 

90 

120 

100 

100 

50 

98 

94 
100 
96 
70 
70 
100 

59 

50 

100 

50 
50 
50 
75 



FROM rilH HOl.LAXl) COMPANY. 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE ^\\—Conli,nuJ. 



163 



Name. 


Date. 

1 84 1, Mar. 10.. 
1 84 1, Oct. 23.. 
1 841, Nov. I . . 
1837. Jan. 5...' 


Lanu. 


Acres. 


Price 


Albert Sliippy 

Edward (loddard 

Henry Dye 

Wheeler Drake 


spt I 53... 

pt 1 53---- 

pt 1 61 

w pt 1 47 . . 


90 

50 

25 

125 


451 
250 
100 



TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE SEVEN. 



Ephraim Hall 

Ahaz Allen 

Peter Pratt 

Amiah Rogers 

Geori^e Hicks 

Nathan Hicks 

Jessee F"rye 

Enoch N. Frye 

Simeon Bishop, jr . . . . 

David Bowen 

Zina Fenton 

Moses M. Frye 

Jeremiah Richardson. 
Elijah Richardson. . . 
Chandler C. Foster. . 

Day Knii^ht 

John Battles 

Simeon Holton 

Alanson Richardson. 

Price F. Kellogi,^ 

Nathaniel Knight ... 

Simeon Holton 

Elijah Richardson.. . 

Stephen Kni^^ht 

Jeremiah Richardson 

James Field 

Joshua Steele 

Enoch X. I'Vye 

Elias Van Camp 

Elijah Richardson . . . . 

J essee Frye 

Giles H. Newton 

Jeremiah Richardson 
James Tyrer 



809 
8 10 
811 
811 
815 
815 
816 
817 
816 
823 
821 
825 
815 
815 
816 
816 
815 
823 
823 
815 

<^23 
815 
816 
816 
827 
830 
831 
«32 

«34 
829 

835 
835 
'^35 
«35 



May 2 . 
Dec. 3 . 
Oct. 8.. 
Jan. 19. 
Feb. I T 
1-^eb. 1 1 
July II. 
Oct. 31 . 
Sept. I . 
July 1 1. 
Dec. 24. 
Dec. 13 
Nov. 28 
Nov. 28 
Aug. 27 
Aug. 13 
Oct. 26. 
Mar. 10 
June 1 1 
April 17 
Aug. 14 
Dec. I 5 

July 15- 
Sept. 20 
Jan. 10. 
Sept. 7. 
Aug. 19 
Feb. 21. 
Oct. 25. 
Dec. 24 
July 28. 
April 15 
May 2.. 
Sept. 2 . 



D/ 



1 56 
1 58 
1 46 
e pt 
I 47 

148 

^\' pt I 49 
pt 1 49 . . . 

1 59 

1 60 

pt 1 49 . . 
w pt 1 61 
s-e pt 1 9 1 
e pt 1 91 
pt 1 81 . 
n pt 1 8 1 
n pt 1 82 
pt 1 8 1 . 
s pt 1 81 
n pt 1 72 
pt 1 
pt 1 



pt 1 
spt 
pt 1 
pt 1 
pt 1 
pt ■ 



81 . 
90. 
90. 
I 90 
91. 

49- 
82. 

62. 



w pt 1 73 
n-e pt 1 9 
pt 1 62. 
w pt 1 89 
w pt 1 91 
pt 1 89. 



114 

79 
102 

50 

138 

175 
100 
150 
172 

159 
70 

75 
100 
100 
100 
100 
140 

50 

65 

160 

60 

120 

100 

142 

50 

50 

50 

75 

50 

55 

50 

75 
80 
60 



342 

357 
150 

517 
656 

400 
750 
688 
686 

315 
300 

350 
350 
400 
400 
490 
200 
260 
520 
240 
420 
400 
603 
200 
200 
200 
300 
200 
220 
200 
300 
320 
240 



164 NAMES or PERSONS BUYING LAND 

TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE SE\Y.^—ConCinueii. 



Name. 



Lyman Steele 

John Van Pelt. . . . 
Luther Thompson . 
Robert Trumball . . 
Stephen Kniijht .. . 



Amos Stanbro 

Jeremiah Richardson 

Charles Printjle 

Thomas Davis , 

*James S. Frye 

EHzor Stocking 

Tristram Dodge 

Austin Pratt . .^ 

Stephen Williams. . . 



John A. Williams . . . . 
Heman W. Williams. . 
Stephen Churchill . . . . 

Mason Hicks 

Simeon Holton 

Alanson P. Morton . . . 

Matthias Heath 

Milo M. Baker 

David German 

Isaac Nichols 

Isaac Nichols 

James Wheeler 

Stephen Ingersoll . . . . 
Joseph Hammond, jr. . 
George W. Richardson 

*Eleanor Curtis 

James Wheeler 

David Witherel 

Hosea P. Ostrander. . . 
William Smith 

Asahel Nye 

Ephraim Hall 

John Williams 

Otis Buttervvorth 

Jedediah Cleaveland.. 



Date. 



835 
836 
836 
836 
836 

837 
837 
837 
843 
824 

839 
831 
824 
829 

819 

843 
842 
832 
836 
838 
836 
842 
830 
829 
838 
836 

831 
836 

844 
832 
836 

837 
842 
Si I 



812 
809 
825 
816 
816 



Oct. 27. 
Sept. 3. 
Aug. 31 
Aug. 17 
Nov. 2. 

P'eb. 20 
July 8.. 
Dec. 7 . 
July 17. 
July 10. 
Feb. 28. 
Jan. 19 . 
Dec. 
Jan. 



-/ 



May 3.. 
May 30. 
Jan. 15. 
June 5. 
Aug. 12 
Feb. 7 . 
Dec. 29 
June 25 
Dec. 31. 
Dec. 29. 
Dec. 24. 
Dec. 29. 
June 2 . 
Aug. 31 
April 23 
June 29 
Dec. 29. 
Oct. II. 
Jan. 15. 
June 27 

April 9. 
May 2.. 
Nov. 26 
May 30. 
Aug. 7. 



Land. 



Acres 1 Price 



Pt 
Pt 
pt 1 
pt 1 
w pt 



1 90. 
1 87. 
1 72. 
1 82. 

79 & 

e pt 1 80 

pt 1 80 . . . 
n pt 1 7 1 . . 
w pt 1 80. 
pt 1 73... 
n-w pt 1 49 
pt 1 49 ... . 

159 

158 

1 56 & e pt 

57 

1 56 

w pt 1 6 1 . . 
n-e pt 1 72. 
pt 1 48 . . . . 
n-w pt 1 72 
n pt 1 8 1 . . 

pt 1 81 

pt 1 81 .. .. 
s pt 1 8 1 . . 
pt 1 91.... 
n-w pt 1 90 
pt 1 91.... 
n pt 1 90. . 
pt 1 72 . . . . 
n-e pt 1 91 . 
e pt 1 90 . . 
pt 1 90. ... 
n-w pt 1 82 
pt 1 81.. .. 

e pt 1 53 
s pt 1 66 
w pt 1 67 
w pt 1 67. 
s pt ] 68 . 
n pt 1 68 . 
e pt 1 86. 



& 



30 
50 
50 
30 



1 00 400 
1 00 400 
240 
100 
50 

74 

70 

172 

79 



175 
125 

75 I 431 
130 I 715 

95 I 433 

30 172 
100 615 

60 

60 

65 

45 

60 

45 
60 
60 240 

55 

70 

100 

49 
100 



158 
50 

141 
70 

100 

100 



FROM THE HOLLAND COMPANY. 
TOWNSHIP SLX. RANGt SEVEyi—Cou/i/irtec/. 



l6: 



Name. 


Date. 


Land. 


Acres. 


Price 


Stillman Andrews. . . . 


1828, Aug. 21 . 


n pt 1 66 . . . 


^o 


200 


loel Chaffee 


1828, Nov. 26. 


s pt 1 77 .. . 
Ptl 77 


FOO 


400 
200 


Veter Bost 


1831, July I... 


50 


Alanson Loveless .... 


1832, Jan. 9. .. 


e pt 1 67 . . . 


61 


244 


Ebenezer Dibble 


1832, Jan. II.. 


pt 1 77 


40 


178 


Almar White 


1833, Sept. 7.. 


pt 1 77 


65 


260 


John Van Pelt 


1836, Sept. 3.. 


pt 1 87 


.SO 


200 


John Van Pelt 


1836, July 25.. 


n pt 1 78 & 










s pt 1 87.. 


100 


400 


Kichard Dowd 


1836, Aug. 5.. 


pt 1 87 


100 


400 


Nancv Harkness 


1837, Feb. 27.. 


pt 186 


so 


200 


Charles Watson 


1837, March 15 


pt 1 78 


2S 


100 


John Williams 


1837, Sept. 21. 


s pt 1 69 . . . 


70 


282 


Edward Blodgett 


1841, Oct. 14.. 


n pt 1 69 . . . 


100 




Lansing Tooker 


1841, Sept. 15 . 


w pt 1 86 . . . 


184 


735 



TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE SEVEN. 



James Brown 

John Clemens 

George Killom 

John Stewart 

Amaziah Ashman . . . . 

Solomon Field 

Thomas M. Barrett.. . 
Sylvenus S. Kingsley. 

Ebenezer F. Pike 

Jessee Putnam, jr 

Samuel Abbott 

John H. Cuming 

Benjamin C. Pratt. . . . 
Joseph Yaw 



1809, 
1809, 
1806, 
1809, 
1809, 
1809, 
1810, 
1 8 1 o, 
1810, 
1 8 10, 
1810, 
1 8 10, 
1810, 
1 8 10. 



Oct. 16 
Oct. 16 
Sept. 3c 
Oct. 24 
Oct. 24 
Sept. 8 
Jan. 1 1 
Jan. 18 
June 7 
Jan. 10 
June 7 
Sept. 7 
April 23 
Jan. 18 



1 8 10, Aug. 2 
1 8 10, Mar. 5 
18 10, Nov. 29 



Obadiah Brown .... 
■"Thomas M. Barrett 
Comfort Knapp. . . . 

Joseph Hanchett i 181 1, Feb 20 

James Pike 18 10, June 7 

Thomas McGec. . . . 

Smith Russell 

Lyman Drake 



1 8 10, April 23 

1 8 10, May 5. 

181 1, May 27. 



w pt 1 20. . . 


167^ 


e 1/ 1 201 . < 


67 


n y, 1 24 . . . 


168 


e pt 1 4. ... 


168 


w pt 1 4. . . . 


169 


1 3 


3^7 


n-e pt 1 40.. 


93i 


1 31 


409 


1 22 


319 


w 14 1 23... 


203 


1 39 


424 


n ><138... 


172 


e pt I 21..-. 


164 


1 19 & n pt 




1 18 


492 


e>^ 1 28 . . 


191 


s-e pt 1 40 . . 


. 50 


n-e pt 1 48. . 


100 


w >^ 1 21 .. 


164 


1 30 


330 ; 


1 II 


343 . 


w pt 1 I 2 . . . 


177 


n pt 1 16. . . 


1 100 



377 
375 
378 
422 
422 
792 
280 
920 
717 
456 
954 
387 
369 

1 107 
429 

90 

250 

410 

742 

1029 

531 
300 



l66 NAMES OF PERSONS BUYING LANt) 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE SEVEK—Contin/w,/. 



Name. 



Date. 



Land. 



Richard Stevens i8ii. Au 



Timothy Stevens. 
Samuel Cooper . . 
Samuel Cooper . . 
Hall & Metcalf. . 
Israel Clark 



James Brisbane \ 

Reuben Metcalf \ 

James Willson ! 

Channing Trevett . . . . ; 

Arad Knapp ; 

Ezekiel Cook ' 

Nehemiah Paine | 

Andrew Clemens | 

David Cunningham ... 

Isaac Drake 

Wheeler Drake 

Amos Thompson 

Jacob Thompson 

Amos Thompson , 

David Stanard j 

David Stanard i 

Joel Gillet.. . ." 

Jireh Phinney 

Andrew McKlen 

Jane Thompson 

William Dye 

John McKlen 

Joseph Potter 

Justus Hinman 

John Horton 

Benjamin Fay 

Ebenezer Ferrin 

Daniel Persons 

Emery Sampson 

John S. Newell 

Jonathan Townsend.. 

Ezekiel Cook 

James Pike 

Charles C. Reynolds. . 



i8ii. 


1811, 


1811, 


1811, 


181 1, 


& I 


1811, 


1811, 


18 1 2, 


1812. 


1813, 


1815, 


1815, 


1815, 


1815. 


1815, 


1815, 


[Kl^. 


1815, 


1815, 


1815, 


1815, 


1S17, 


1 8 16, 


1817. 


1817, 


1817, 


1817. 


182 1. 


1821, 


1815, 


1815, 


i8i,S, 


1 8 16, 


1816, 


1816, 


1816. 


1817, 


1817, 


1816, 



Aug. 5 . . 
Dec. 12.. 
Dec. 12.. 
April 19. 
Feb 27 
March 6. . 

July 7... 
Dec. II.. 
Feb. 7. . . 
June 13. 
March 6. 
April 6. . 
April 6. . 
July 10. . 
May 29.. 
Oct. 26.. 
June 12. 
Dec. 6. . . 
Dec. 6. . . 
Dec. 6.. . 
Sept. 8. . 
Sept. 8. . 
Dec. s- • • 
Mar. I... 
July 16.. 
Jan. 18.. 
April 17. 
Sept. 5 . . 
July 28. . 
July 28. . 
Oct. 18. . 
July II.. 
Nov. 28. 
April 19. 
July 20. . 
Aug. 7 . . 
Dec. 31.. 
Jan. 22. . 
Mar. 7 . . 
Sept. 30. 



Acres. 1 Price 



n pt 1 I & 
pt 1 2 . . . 

pt 1 2 

n-e pt 1 12. 
s-e pt 1 12 . 
n pt 1 29. . 
s-e pt 1 48 & 
w pt 1 40 
w pt 1 27. . 
s pt i 29. . 
s pt 1 32 . . 
pt 1 18... 
n ])t 1 47 . . 
s pt 1 i^.. 
e pt 1 41 . . 
pt 1 28 . . . 
s pt 1 7 . . . 
pt 1 7 . . . . 
w pt 1 16. 
p 1 10.... 

pi 10 

w p 1 10. . 
s p 1 16... 

pi 7 

n p 1 7 . . . 
n p 1 6. . . 
spt 1 13 
pi 13... 
s p 1 8 . . 
p 1 I . . . , 
pi 15.. 
n p 1 I 5 . 
n-w pt 1 48 
s pt 1 26 
s pt 1 1 8 
e i)t 1 44 
pt 1 35- 
pt 1 33- 
n pt 1 17 
s pt 1 25 
s-w pt 1 24 
n pt 1 33.. 



TOO 
TOO 

77 

ICO 

202 

267 
200 
148 
100 
bo 

75 
120 
100 
100 

TOO 
100 
100 
114 
114 
114 
106 
100 
104 
100 
100 

100 

100 

75 

75 

100 

150 

83 
120 
200 
120 

TOO 
100 
100 
129 



FROM THE Holland co.\rpANY. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE SEVEN— Coniinue(/. 



167 



Name. 



Emery Sampson 

William Hcrrick 

Lewis Trevett 

Rebecca Lush 

Masury Giles 

Zebedee Simons 

Daniel Ingalls 

Daniel Putnam 

Jonathan Townsend . . 

James Coh'ille 

Robert Curran 

Samuel Fosdick 

Francis Koiser & Jean 

Chappy 

Elias M. Chapel 

Charles Mosier 

David Heath 

Rufus Thurbur 

Irena Drake 

Jehiel Mitchel 

Jasper Thompson. . . . 

Oliver Needham 

^Lemuel Twitchell. . . 

Samuel Lake 

George A. Stewart . . . 

Obadiah Russell 

Hosea L. Potter 

Barzillai Briggs 

Amos Stanbro 

*Reuben C. Drake . . . 

Fllam Booth 

John Brooks 

Hosea E. Potter 

Ebenezer Drake 

Zebedee Simons 

James Coh iile 

Truman V^anderlip .... 

Michael Haas, jr 

Stephen Churchill. . . . 

Phineas Scott 

Pliny Wheeler 

Laban A. Needham . . . 



D.\TE. 



816 
816 
818 
820 
820 
820 
818 
818 
822 
827 
830 
830 

833 
834 
836 
836 
824 
825 
826 
828 
818 
829 
831 
831 
834 
835 
838 

837 
838 
838 
838 
837 
837 
836 

^37 
838 

838 
838 
841 
841 



Oct. 16.. 
Sept. 19. 
Jan. 12. . 
P'eb. 21.. 
Nov. 17. 
Nov. 17. 
Sept. 8 . . 
Sept. 8. . 
Dec. 7.. . 
Dec. 19.. 
Jan. 21 . . 
Jan. 21 . . 

Oct. 16.. 
Oct. 27. . 
July 16. . 
Nov. 2. . 
April 8. . 
July II.. 
Oct. 31.. 
Dec. 25.. 
Nov. 5 . . 
Jan. 20. . 
April 27. 
Oct. 3... 
Feb. 25.. 
Oct. 14.. 
Nov. 19. 
Feb. 8... 
Nov. 22 . 
Nov. 22 . 
Nov. 27. 
April 12. 
Aug. 20. 
Dec. 21.. 
Mar. 9. . 
Oct. 10. . 
Mar. 21 . 
Dec. 13.. 
Dec. 14.. 
Nov. 7. . 
Oct. 28. . 



Land. 

e pt 1 36. 
w pt 1 28 

-S-W pt 1 2 

c pt 1 27. 

s pt 1 34. 

pt 1 34 • • 
pt I 38 
n-w pt 1 
26 

35 
n-e pt 1 24 

pt 1 24. 



38 



pt 
pt 



n pt 1 32 . 
w pt 1 36, 
w pt 1 41. 
pt 1 42 . . 
pt 1 8 . . . 
n-w pt 1 8 
n pt 1 9 . . 
pt 16... 
pt 1 6. .. 
pt 1 15.. 
s pt 1 I . . 
n pt 1 2 . . 
n pt 1 1 3 . 
n pt 1 14. 
s-w pt 1 I 5 
spt 1 5.." 
pt 1 5 . . . 
pt 1 5 . . . 
n pt 1 5 . . 
pt 1 14.. 
n-e pt 1 8 
pt 1 42 . . 
w pt 1 44. 
n pt 1 45 . 
pt 1 47 . . 
.s-w pt 1 48 
pt 1 44. . 
n-e pt 1 25 
s pt 1 6. 



Acres, 



100 

91 
153 
145 
100 
100 

59 

60 

107 

50 

25 
41 

60 
80 
56 

50 

50 

52 

100 

50 

100 

50 

60 

75 
106 

100 
38 
50 
50 

IOC 

50 
50 
70 
40 

45 
50 
50 
67 

50 

25 
71 



Price 

450 
388 
736 
688 
450 
400 
232 

234 
428 

2 I 2 
106 

174 

240 
320 
200 
200 
212 
22 1 
460 
2 12 

525 
150 
240 
300 
424 

444 
152 
200 
200 
400 
200 
200 
282 
163 
182 
200 
200 
268 
200 
275 
375 



1 68 REAL ESTATE DOCU^rE^•TS. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE SEVEN— Cofi/i/iue</. 



Name. 



Date. 



Land. IAcres. Price 



John Hcaland i 1841, Nov. i . . 

Isaac Woodward i 1841, Nov. I . . 

Thoma.s Pound | 1842, July 1 . . 

Harvey Twichell. . . . j 1841, Nov. i . . 

Mary Bement I 1841, Nov. i . . 

Phineas Peabody 1841, Sept. 10.' pt 

Zacheus Preston 1838, Dec. 26. .| pt 



e pt 1 43 . . . 
pt 1 44 . . . 
pt 1 38.... 
s-w pt 1 14. 
s-e pt 1 14. . 

34 ... . 

45 



Isaiah Pike 1836, Oct. 6. . . s-e pt 1 2^. 



63 

lOI 

107 
58 

52 

100 

50 



430 
380 
406 
520 
299 
287 
400 
200 



The following copy of a land article taken by Samuel Cooper, 
father of Varnum Cooper, a resident of Concord, will show 
something of 'the manner of dealing in and transferring real 
e.state during the first j^ears that settlements were made : 

"ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT, indented, made, con- 
cluded and fully agreed upon, this 12th day of December, in 
the }'ear of our LORD one thousand eight hundred and eleven, 
between WlLIlEL.M WiLLiNK and Jax Willlnk, VVilhel.m 
WiLLINK the younger and J.VN VVlLLIXK the younger, all of 
the City of Amsterdam, in the Republic of Batavia, b}- Jo.SEl'H 
Ellicott, their attorney, of \.\\c first part and SAMUEL Cooi'ER, 
of the County of Niagara and State of New York, of the second 
part. Whereas the said party of the second part is justly 
indebted to the said parties of the first part in the sum of two 
hundred and sixty-nine dollars and fift)- cents, New York 
currency, to be paid to said jiarties of the first part, their 
executors, administrators or assigns, in manner following, that 
is to say, the sum of twelve dollars and fifty cents immediatel)- 
upon the execution of these presents, and the remaining two 
hundred and fifty-seven dollars in six eciual \-earh' instalments 
with the interest from the date hereof, to be [)aid \early and 
every year (together with the said instalments) upon such part 
of the said last-mentioned sum as shall, at the time of such 
respective payments be due and uni)aid. The first of said 
instalments and annual pa}'ments of interest to commence on 
the 12th da}' of December, in the \ear of our LokD one thou- 
sand eight hundred and fourteen. 



ARriCt.KS 01-' ACREf^NtKXT. 169 

" Now, rili;KKl'( )Ri;, in consideration thereof, the said parties 
of the first part, for themselves, tlieir heirs, executors and 
administrators, do b)' these presents covenant, promise and 
a^i^ree. to and with the said party of the second part, his heirs, 
executors. athninistrat(M-s or assigns, and e\'er)' of them, that 
if the said part}' of the second part, his heirs, executors, 
athninistrators or assigns, or any of them, shall and do, well 
and truK- {)a}- or cause to be paid unto the said parties of the 
first part, their executors, administrators or assigns, the afore- 
said several sums of money, at the times hereinbefore men- 
tioned for payment thereof, according to the tenor and effect 
of the covenant and agreement hereinafter contained, on the 
part of the said party of the second part, that then and in such 
case, the said parties of the first part, their heirs and assigns, 
shall and will well and sufficiently grant, bargain, sell, release, 
convey, confirm and asssure to the said party of the second 
part, and to his heirs and assigns forever, or to whom he or 
the\' shall appoint or direct — 

"Arxthat certain tract of land, situate, lying and being in the 
County of Niagara, in the State of New York, being part or 
parcel of a certain township, which on a map or surve}' of 
divers tracts or townships of land of the said parties of the 
first part, made for the proprietors by JoSEl'H ElJJt'O'iT, sur- 
veyor, is distinguished b}' township No. 7 in the se\-enth range 
of said townships. And which said tract of land on a certain 
other map or surve)' of said township into lots made for the 
proprietors by the said Joseph PVlliCOTT, is distinguished b\- 
the north-east part of lot No. 12 according to the following 
plan, containing se\enty-se\'en acres, be the same more or less. 

•• PRoxiDEl) AI. WANS, that if default shall be made in the per- 
formance of the coxeiiant ne.xt hereinafter contained, on the part 
of the said party of the second part, for the punctual payment 
ot the said instalments and annual pa}'ments of interest in 
manner hereinafter mentioned, then the said covenant next 
hereinbefore contained on the part of the said parties of the 
first part shall become void and of no effect. And the said 
party of the second part, for himself, his heirs, executors 
and administrators, doth covenant, promise and agree, to and 
with the said parties of the first part, their heirs, executors. 



1^0 ARTICLES Oi^ AGREEMENT. 

administrators and assigns, that he will well and truly pay to 
the said parties of the first part, their executors, administrators 
and assigns the said remaining sum of two hundred and fifty- 
seven dollars, in six equal yearly instalments, together with the 
lawful interest to grow due thereon from the date hereof, 
yearly and every year, in manner hereinbefore mentioned, the 
first of the said instalments and annual payments of interest to 
commence on the I2th day of December, in the year of our 
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen. And the 
said parties of the first part, for themselves, their heirs, execu- 
tors and administrators, do hereby further declare and agree, 
that if the said party of the second part shall on or before the 
1 2th day of December next erect or cause to be erected, on the 
tract of land and premises hereinbefore described, or some part 
thereof, a messuage fit for the habitation of man, not less than 
eighteen feet square, and shall live and reside or cause a family 
to live and reside therein during the term of three years from 
thence next ensuing, and shall, on or before the 12th day of 
December next, clear and fence or cause to be cleared and 
fenced, not less than five acres of the said tract of land to the 
satisfaction of the said parties of the first part, that then and 
in such case they the said parties of the first part, shall and will 
relinquish and release to the said party of the second part, all 
the interest which shall have accrued upon such principal sums 
of money for the period of two years. 

"■ In testimony whereof, the parties to these presents have 
hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals the day and 
year first above written. 

Signed, sealed and delivered J 
in the presence of 

David Goodwin. ) 

WiLHELM WiLLINK, [ L. S.] 

Jan Willink, [l. s.] 

WiLHELM Willink. the Younger, | L. s. ] 

Jan Willink. the Younger, [l. s.] 

By their Attorney. 

Joseph Ellicott, [l. s. | 
Samuel Cooper, [l. s.]" 



TXT)nRSE^rE\T AMD ASStGNMENtf;. 1/1 

riic followiiii^' is the iiuloi'scmcnt and the assii^nments that 
ai)pear on the back of tlie article : 

" Receivetl. December I2th, i.Sii, of Samuel Coo[)er, twelve 
dollars and fift\' cents, bein;^ the first paj'ment within men- 
tioned. I^'or Joseph PLllicott, 

$12.50. David Goodwin. 

" F"or value received, I sign over all my right and title to the 
within article of agreement, with all the rights and privileges 
thereunto belonging to Nicholas Armstead. 

Samuel Cooper. 

" For value received, I sign over all my right and title to the 
within article of agreement, ^\'ith all the rights and privileges 
thereto belonging, to Samuel Cooper. 

Concord, May 9th, 18 16. NICHOLAS Armstead. 

" For \alue received, I sign over all my right and title to the 
within article of agreement, with all the rights and pri\-ileges 
thereunto belonging, to Stephen Russell. 

Aug. 21st, 1816. Samuel Cooper. 

" For value received, I ' sine' over all my ' wright' and title 
to within article of agreement, with all the rights ' privalege' 
' thereonto' belonging, to Sylvester Russell. 

Januar>- 14th, 1 82 I. STEPHEN RuSSELL. 

" For value received, I ' sine' over all my 'wright' and title to 
within article of agreement, with all the ' wrights' and ' pri\a- 
leges' thereunto belonging, to Tracy J. Russell. 

March 17. 1833. Sylvester Russell. 

" This may certify, that we assign all of the land on the west 
side of the road, it being the west part of the northeast part of lot 
12, R 7, T. 7, said land to be fifteen or twenty acres, to Pliin- 
eas Scott, his heirs and assigns forever, for a valuable consider- 
ation in hand paid, and give the said Scott peaceable possession 
of the same, this 13th da}' of October, 1842. 

Tracy J. Russell, 
Sylvester Russell. 
April the 28th, 1843. 

" For value received, I assign this article and all "mi" 'wright' 
and title to the w ithin contract, 

Sylvester Russell." 



172 THK FIRST DEED GIVEN FOR LAND 

COPY OF THE FIRST DEED GIVEN FOR LAND IN THE TOWN 

OF CONCORD. 

" THIS INDENTURE, made this Fifth day of March in the 
year of our Lord one thousand ei^^lit hundred and ten, bctz^een 
Wilhem WiUink, Pieter Van Eeghen, Hendrick Vollenhoven, 
Rutger Jan Schimmelpcnnick, Wilhem WilHnk the younger, 
Jan Willink, the younger, son of Jan, Jan Gabriel Van Stapf- 
horst, Cornelis Vollenhoven and Hendrik Seye, all of the City of 
Amsterdam, in the Republic of Batavia, hy Joseph Ellicott, their 
attorney, of the first Part, and Thomas M. Barrett of the County 
of Niagara and State of New York of the second Part: — WIT- 
NESSETH, that the said parties of the first part, for and in con- 
sideration of the sum of NINETY Dollars, to them in hand 
by the said party hereto of the second part, the receipt whereo- 
is hereby acknowledged, and themselves to be therewith fully 
satisfied, contented and paid, Have granted, bargained, sold, 
aliened, released, enfeoffed, conveyed, confirmed and assured, 
and by these presents Do grant, bargain, sell, alien, release, 
enfeofT, convey, confirm and assure unto the said party of the 
second part, and to his heirs and assigns forever, ALL that cer- 
tain tract of land, situated, lying and being in the County of 
Niagara in the State of New York, being part or parcel of a 
certain Township, which on a map, or survey of divers tracts or 
Townships of land of the said parties of the first part, made by 
the Proprietors by Joseph Ellicott, surveyor, is distinguished by 
Township number seven, in the seventh range of said Town- 
ships, and which said tract of land on a certain other map or 
survey of said Township into lots, made for the said Proprie- 
tors, by the said Joseph Ellicott, is distinguished by the south- 
east part of lot number fort)' in the said Township. 
BecHNNING: — 

" Bounded east by K)t number thirt\'-two, t\\ ent\'-seven chains, 
sixty-seven links; south by lot number thirt)'-nine, eighteen 
chains seven links ; west by a line parallel with the west bounds 
of said lot number 32, twenty-seven chains, sixt}'-seven links ; and 
north by a line parallel with the north bounds o{ said lot num- 
ber thirty-nine, eighteen chains seven links, containing fifty 
acres, be the same more or less, according to the plan laid down 
in the margin hereof: TOGETHER with all and singular the 



signaturp:s of tiif. iwrtiks, ktc. 173 

Appurtenances, Privileges, Advantages and Hereditaments 
whatsoever, unto the above mentioned and described i)remises 
in any wise appertaining or belonging, And the Rex'crsion and 
reversions. Remainder and remaindjrs. Rents. Issues and Profits 
thereof, and also all tli;: estate. Right, Title, Interest. Proi)ert\'. 
Claim and Demand whatsoever, as well in law as in ecjuit)', of 
the said Parties of the first Part, of. in, or to the same, and ever\- 
Part and Parcel thereof, with the Appurtenances; TO HAVK AND 
ro noi,D the above granted, bargained and described premises, 
with the Appurtenances, unto the said party (^f the second 
part, his heirs and assigns, to his and their only proper Use, 
Benefit and Behoof forexer. A\l) the said parties of the first 
i'art, for themsehes, and their and each of their respectixc 
Heirs, Executors and Administrators, do hereb}- covenant, 
promise and agree to and with the said part}' of the second 
part, his Heirs and Assigns, that the}-, the said parties of the 
first part, the above described, and hereb}' granted and bar- 
gained premises and every j^art thereof, with the Appurte- 
nances, unto the part}' of the second part, his Heirs and Assigns, 
against the said parties of the first Part, and their Heirs, and 
against all other persons whatsoever lawfully claiming, or to 
claim the same, or any part thereof, shall and will warrant, and 
b}' these presents forexer Dl'.KKND. 

" Ix Witness whereof, tlic parties to these presents have here- 
unto interehaiigeably set their Hands anel Seals the Day and 
Year first above written. 
Scaled and delivered in j 

the presence of | 

James W. Stevens. | 

William Peacock. | 

Wilhelm Willink, | L. s. | Jan Gabriel V'an Staphorst, [l.S] 

Peter Van Eehhen, | L. s. ] Cornelis Vollenhoven, [i,. s.] 

Hendrik Vollenhoven, j L. s. | Hendrik Seye, [ L. S. | 
Rutger Jan Schimmelpennick, | r.. s. | B}' their Attorney, 
Wilhem Willink, the Younger, | i.. s. ) Jose):)h P^Uicott. | l,.s.| 
Jan Willink, the Younger, Son of Jan. | [,. s.] 

KARI.V ROADS. 
The first road laid out in town was the Genesee or Cattaraugus 
road. It was laid out by the Holland Land Company. It 



174 ROAD P^ROM BUFFALO TO OLEAX. 

commences at the east side of the Holland Purchase and 
extends westward through Wyoming county and Sardinia, 
Concord and North Collins to near Lawton station. The east 
part of the road in Wyoming count)' and a portion in Sardinia 
was cut out by men employed by the Holland Compan\'. The 
rest of the way the work was done by the settlers and inhabi- 
tants. A portion of the way the lots are bounded by the out- 
side limits of the road. The intervening space being a gift 
from the company for the purpose of a road. 

In i8io, a road from Buffalo to Olean Point was laid out; 
passing through Hamburg, Boston, up the valley of the Eigh- 
teen-mile creek, through what was formerly called the Sible}' set- 
tlement, past the farm of H. M. Blackmer to East Concord ; 
thence to Richmond's, on the Cattaraugus creek ; from there 
through Yorkshire and Machias and on to Olean. The commis. 
sioners appointed to locate the road were David Eddy of East 
Hamburg, Timothy Hopkins, of Williamsvilleand Peter Vande- 
venter, of Newstead. The expense of opening this highway 
was borne in equal parts by the State and the County of 
Niagara. In earh' times it was called the State Road. The 
travel from Springville to Boston at first went up Franklin 
street, past where John A. Wilson lives and over Townsend 
hill. 

The first laid-out road from Springville to Boston passed 
over Townsend hill. It was the same road now traveled. It 
was a mail route, a four-horse Troy coach being driven o\'er it 
daily at one time. 

In early times the principal travel east and west through this 
section passed over the road leading from Arcade westward 
along the course of the Cattaraugus creek through Springx'ille 
and Zoar to Gowanda. It was a mail and stage route and a 
post ofifice was located at Zoar. 

It was as much as fifteen or twent)- years after the first set- 
tlement of Concord before the road from Springville to Mor- 
ton's corners was cut-out ; previous to this the jieople of Mor- 
ton's corners and \icinit}' reached Springville b}' w a}' of l\")wns- 
end hill. 

About 1830 the road commencing as lot 52 and ending on 
l(^t 6, passing along the main branch of the Eighteen-mile creek. 



SPKIN(;\ ll.I.K \- SARDINIA RAILROAD. I 75 

in Concord, was laid out. Vov nian\' \-(jars the principal traxel 
from Sprini(\'illc to Buffalo pas.scd over thi.s road. 

About 1852 a plank-road was constructed from Sprin^ville to 
Hamburg. It was built in the public highway and extended 
along the valley of the Eighteen-mile creek through Concord 
and Boston. It was kept in repair ten or twelve years when it 
ceased to be a toll-road. It connected at Hamburg with a 
plank-road leading into Buffalo. 

S1'RIN(;\I1.I.K \- SARDINIA R. R. 
This railroad compan)' was organized May 6th, 1878. The 
capital stock was fift)' thousand dollars. Amount of stock sub- 
scribed was thirty thousand two hundred dollars, 

The length of road from Springville, N. Y., to Sardinia 
Junction, N. V., was eleven and -^^^j^ miles ; weight of rail per 
yard, twenty-five pounds , gauge of track, three feet. 

The cost of the road and ec}uipment was sixty-one thousand 
eight hundred and thirteen dollars and ninety-fi\'e cents. This 
road makes connection w ith the Buffalo, New York & Phila- 
delphia R. R. at Sardinia Junction. Two passenger trains are 
run daily, and, as appears from the State Engineer's report on 
railroads for the year 1880, which is the latest report published, 
that the capital stock subscribed was $30,400 ; and that the 
amount paid in was $30,087.24; and the funded debt was 
$25,000, and the unfunded debt was $6,73035, and the names 
and directors of the corporation were C. J. Shuttleworth', Spring- 
ville, Bertrand Chafer, Springville, Alonzo L. Vaughn, Spring- 
ville, James Hopkins, Sardinia, Charles Long, Sardinia, New- 
ell Hosmer, Sardinia and Franklin B. Locke, Buffalo. 

The officers were Bertrand Chafer, President, James Hopkins, 
Vice-President, L. M. Cummings, Secretary, Charles J. Shuttle- 
worth, Treasurer. 

ROCHESTER i<c PITTSBURGH R. R. 
The construction of the Buffalo branch of the Rochester & 
Pittsburgh R. R., has given a great impetus to the prosperity 
of Concord, more especially to Springville. After a prelimi- 
nary survey of routes the company adopted Jan. 7, 1882, the 
route now in use. The route was surveyed by C. E. Botsford, 
of Springville. 



176 



NAMES OF FIRST SETTLERS. 



Work was commenced at West Valley, Cattaraugus Count}-, 
in June. 1882 The first locomotive over the road entered 
Springville May i8th, and track-laying was completed June 9th. 
at the bridge across Cattaraugus creek, over which the first 
locomotive passed on that day. This bridge or viaduct is an 
imposing structure. It is 150 feet in height, 575 feet in length, 
2,777 tons of stone, 280 tons of iron and 90 tons of wood were 
used in its construction, making a total of 3,147 tons. The 
total co.st was $90,000. 

The names of one or more of the first settlers, on each of the 
several lots in Concord. 



Lot I John Russel. 

2 Samuel Cochran. 

3 Christopher Stone. 

4 Asa Cary. 
" 5 Noah Culver. 

7 Charles Chaffee. 

8 Isaac Knox. 

9 Benjamin Gardner. 
" 10 Benjamin Douglas. 
" II Julius & Elihu Bennett 
" M William Weed en. 



TOWNSHIP SIX, ran(;e six. 

Lot 14 Eaton Bensley. 
" 16 Francis White. 
" 17 Truman White. 
" 18 Moses White. 
" [9 George Shultus. 
" 20 Enoch Chase. 
" 21 William Shultus. 
" 22 David Shultus. 
" 23 Christopher Douglass. 
" 24 Abner Chase & Henry 
Hackett. 



Lot 25 Almon Fuller. 
TOWNSHIP seven, RAN(iE SIX. 



Lot 



5 
26 

^7 
28 

29 
30 
53 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 



William Vaughan. 
Nathan King. 
Mr. Willard. 
Henry Gardinier. 
William Wright. 
John & Joseph Cotrell. 
Capt. Charles Wells. 
William Wright. 
Archibald Griffith. 
Dustin & Saw}"er. 
William Baker. 
George Killom. 
Robert G. Flint. 



Lot 40 Sala W.& Homer Barnes. 
" 41 Giles Churchill & Seele\- 

Squires. 
" 42 Luther Curtis & John 

Gould. 
" 43 Calvin Smith. 
" 44 Elam May. 
" 45 Plphram Needham 

William Chapin. 
" 46 Aaron Cole. 
" 47 Luther Landon &W1 

er Drake. 
" 48 Caleb Abbott. 



61' 



NAMES OF FIRST SFTTLF.RS. 



// 



TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE SIX— (V'///?y///,v/. 



Lot 49 William Smith. 
" 50 Elijah Dunham, 
•' 51 IkMijamin C. Foster & 

Seneca Baker. 
" 52 Ebene/er l^Y-rrin. 
" 53 Albert Shipp)- M- Star\- 

Kin^". 
'' 54 Kint^sle)- Martin. 
" 55 Orrin Siblew 
" 56 William Southworth & 
lames Miller. 



Lot 57 Gideon Parsons. 
" 58 Benjamin Wheeler. 
" 59 Benjamin Fay & J. Strat- 

ton. 
" 60 Uzial Towiisend & F. A. 
Brigo-s. 

" 61 Whitman Stone. 

" 62 William Field. 

" 63 J. Agard, B. Sibley .Sr A. 

Sibley. 
" 64 Da\'id Cunningham. 



Lot I 



8 
9 

TO 
I I 

12 

LS 

•5 
16 

17 
18 

19 
20 



TOWNSHIP SEVEN 

Richard Stevens. L 

Timothy Stevens. 
Solomon Field. 
Amaziah Ashman & Jona- 
than Townsend. 
Reuben Drake. 
Oliver Needham & Steph- 
en Needman. 
John Brooks Cs: I'Llam 
Booth . 

William D>e. 
Mr. Michel']. 
Amos Thompson. 
Thomas McGee. 
Smith Russell. 
Andrew McLen. 
Joseph Potter. 
L\'man Drake. 
Samuel W. Al<4"er. 
Channing Trevett. 
Samuel Cooper. 
James I^rown & John 
Clemens. 

Joseph 1 lanchett. 
I 



, RANGE SEVEN. 

ot 22 Lsaiah Pike. 

'^ 2T) Jesse Putnam. 

" 24 George Killom. 

" 27 Samuel Eaton. 

"' 2'i Ichabed Brown. 

" 29 Reuben Metcalf. 

" 30 James Pike, Ezekiel Ad- 
ams & T. Heacock. 

" 31 John L^res. 

" 33 Sylvenus Cook. 

" 34 Zebedec Simons. 

"35 Samuel Sampson. 

" 36 Emer}' Sampson. 

'' T,"/ Truman Vandcrlip «.^' Ja- 
cob Rice. 

" 38 Daniel Putnam. 

•' 39 Samuel Abbott. 

'' 40 Thomas M. Barrett. 

" 41 Nehemiah Paine. 

" 42 David Heath. 

•' 43 John Healand. 

" 44 Daniel Persons. 

" 45 Henr\- Stearns & Zacheus 
Preston. 



178 THE HOTELS OF SI'RINC;VILLE. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE SEVEK— Con finurt/. 
Lot 46 Mr. Huff, William Hor- Knapp. 

ton & Daniel Horton. Lot 48 John Horton, Truman 
" 47 John Reecher & Arad Horton & C. Knapp. 

TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE SEVEN. 

Lot 46 Peter Pratt. Lot /2 Luther Thompson. 

'* 47 George Hicks. " 73 Lewis Cox. 

" 48 Nathan Hicks. " j/ Simeon Holton, 

" 49 Jesse Frye & Enoch N. " 78 Chas. Watson. 

Frye. " 80 Stephen Knight. 

" 66 John Holdridge. " 81 Simeon Holton, Day, 

" 56-67 William Smith. Knight & C. C. Foster. 

" 57 Elijah Palmerter. " 82 John Battles. 

" 58 Austin Pratt. " 86 Abiel Gardner. 

" 68 John Williams. " 87 Dickey Doud. 

" 71 Thomas Richardson. " 90 Simeon Holton. 
Lot 91 Jeremiah Richardson. 

HOTELS. MILLS AND MANUFACTORIES. 

HOTELS AND HOTEL-KEEPERS IN CONCORD. 

The first hotel in town, a small, double log house on Frank- 
lin street, near the opera house, was opened by David Stickney. 
in 1 8 10. There is a tradition that here the name of " taking a 
horn " first originated. The house was supplied with liciuor 
and a bar, but not a glass to meet the wants of the thirst}'. 
Stickney improvised one out of the horn of an ox, hence " tak- 
ing a horn" of whiskey, in those days, was literalh' true. 

Second Hotel — By John Albro, in a log house on the east 
side of Buffalo street, on the north confines of the corporation, 
just south of the forks on Sharp Street and Townsend Hill 
roads; opened about 181 1. 

Third Hotel — Amaziah Ashman, in a log house on Town- 
send hill; opened about 1812. 

Fourth Hotel — In a log house on Morton's Corners, by John 
Battles. He was a soldier of the Revolution and a pensioner. 
Opened in 1817. 

Fifth Hotel — Framed building on Franklin street, opposite 
the park. Built b}- David Stannard in 1817 or 1818 ; kept, first 



Jl 



nil", ii()Tf:i,s ok si>ri.\(;vii,i.e. 179 

b\- Harry Scars, tlicn h)- a Mr. Wright, as^ain b\- Harr)- Scars, 
t(i be succeeded b\' Seth Allen, tlien b\- l)a\'i(l Hensle\' and 
James F. Crandall, and lastly by Mr. Bentley. 

Sixth Hotel — By Jonathan Townsend, on Townscnd hill ; first 
in a frame buildinL;', in 1S19, tlien in a brick building;-, in 1822. 

Seventh Hotel — Isaiah Pike commenced on the Pike home- 
stead in 1821, and kept for sixteen years. 

Flighth Hotel — 15\- Samuel Cociirane, on Main street, Sprin^;-- 
\'ille, in a frame building on the (Cochrane homestead, wliere 
V. K. Davis now is; opened in 1822. 

Ninth Hotel — The (Md Springville Hotel on Main street, 
where the Leland House now stands; built in 1824, by Rufus 
C. Eaton, and kept b}' him for a time ; he was succeeded b\' 
Jonson Bensley, Richard Wadsworth and others. 

At one time, Daniel Peck ran a hotel at Morton's Corners. 
I'or many }x'ars the Morton Brothers entertained the traveling 
public. In 1843, they erected a very creditable two-stor\- 
frame building, with a suitable hall, that is in a good state of 
preservation at the present. 

Another hotel was conducted on Townsend hill, first b\- a 
Mr. Currier, to be succeeded by Mr. Mitchel. 

Henry Ingalls conducted a hotel for a while in the north 
part of the town in the valle\'. 

The American Hotel was built b\- Phelps Hatch, in 1843 and 
'44. He conducted it for a few years, then leased it to James 
F. Crandall, then Smith and Beebe purchased the property and 
for man\- x'ears the\' were the landlords. Afterwards, the 
property was rented and run b\' Gaston D. Smith ; soon after 
the property j^assed into the hands of Theodore Smith; in 
i860, he sold to E. S. Pierce, who conducted the house until 
1863, when he sold to Clinton Hammond, who occupied it one 
\'ear and then sold it back to E. S. Pierce, who, in turn, after 
running it two \'ears, in 1866, sold it again to Hammond: 
Davis & lladlc)' ran it a short time. In 1874, A. E. Torre\' 
bought the j)ropert\' and for a time he remained the proprietor; 
then he associated himself with his brother, A. R. Torrey, \\ho 
after a time bought the propert\- and conducted it until the 
Spring of 1880. when he sold to the present jiroprietor, Peter 
Nenno. 



I So HO'l'ELS AND SAW MILLS. 

Phineas Scott kept a liotcl on Townsend Hill for sex'eral 
years. Jedediah Starks and a Mr. Parker kept a hotel on the 
V^osburg place, a mile and a half east of Springville. Fox- 
hotel was first opened by Carl 'Ludeman, to be succeeded by L. 
Rrenckle. Fred P'ox bought the hotel, and after conducting it 
a few years he sold to Andrew Oyer, who sold after a time to 
his brother Augustus, who kept the house a while, and then 
sold to Clinton Hammond, who soon after sold to Fred Fox. 
This was in 1874; in 1883, Fox sold out to Theodore Trew, 
who now conducts the house. 

The Farmers' Hotel was first opened by George Kopp, then 
Phillip Herbold, then Louis Fiegel, then William Biegel, Phil- 
lip Newbeck, John Haut, Martin Bury, Michael Miller, Peter 
Nenno, Jr., Charles Miller, and, lastly, by Henry Saltzer. 

Delevan House — Fred Miller, Chester Priggs, Albert C. 
Michael, George. A. Richmond, Crawford & Green, Crawford 
& Norton, and, lastly, by Webster Norton. 

SAW MILLS. 

The Eaton mill was built about 18 13. It stood on the west 
bank of Spring brook, a short distance north of Franklin street. 

Channing Trevitt put up the frame for a saw mill at Wheeler 
Hollow in 18 1 3. He died that Fall and the mill was not com- 
pleted until a year or so after, by Capt. James Tyrer. 

The Bloomfield mill in Springville, was built in or about 1816. 

The Bensle}' mill at the mouth of Spring brook was built in 
1816 or 1817. 

The Phillips saw mill was commenced in 1 8 16 or 18 17 b)- 
Nicholas Armstead, who sold out to Asa Phillips, who com- 
pleted the mill in 1818. This mill was on the Smith brook just 
below the cross road at the John Martin farm. 

Robert Auger built a saw mill on Spring brook in the south 
part of the village of Springville in 1822. This mill stood near 
the tannery of Jay Borden. Auger had an oil mill also. 

Joseph McMillan built a saw mill in 1828 ; it stood on the race 
just back of Victor Collard's wagon shop on Mechanic street. 

Lemuel Twichell built a saw mill on the east branch of the 
Fighteen-mile creek, in the north part of the town, in or about 
1827. 



SAW MI 1,1. l-ROI-RIKIORS. I Si 

l)anicl ami Isani Williams commcncctl the erection of a mill 
on the Smith brook, near its mouth in 1825 or US26. They 
were both taken sick soon after with tyi^hus fe\er and died. 
The mill was not finished until .some time after, but b\- whom 
the writer is ignorant. 

John and Masur\- Ciiles built a mill three-fourths of a mile 
south of Morton's corners, in 1824. 

W'm. Potter built a mill on the east branch of the I'"Jghteen- 
mile creek, at i'\)wler\ ille, in 1829. 

Homer Barnes built a mill at \\'ater\ille, on the BufTalo 
creek, about 1830. This mill stood on the same site of the 
Vance mill to-day. 

Henj. Crump built a mill that stood further down the stream 

A short distance above the Vance site, Paris A. Spray;ue 
built a mill. 

Treat Brothers built a mill on the same stream. This mill 
stood on the Treat farm. 

Still farther up the stream Lewis Wheelock built a mill on 
the Wheelock farm. 

Lewis janes built a mill on the PLiL^hteen-mile creek, on lot 16. 

Sellick Canfield built a mill on the P^ighteen-mile creek, on 
lot 6, in 1845. 

Theodore Potter built a mill on the same site, in 1857. Orrin 
Baker re-modeled this mill some time after and put in a steam 
entwine. 

Mr. Clark owns a steam-mill at P'owlerville. 

At quite an earh' day a saw-mill was erected at Woodsward 
Hollow. This mill or a mill that stood on the same site, was 
burned down two or three years ago. Philo Woodsward built 
a steam-mill there several years ago, which is in active opera- 
tion at the present time. 

Many years ago a water-mill was erected in Spooner Hol- 
low, b\' Simeon I lolton, on the Smith brook. This site was 
abandoned some years ago. 

A saw mill was built by Sellew &: Popple on the east branch 
of the Darby Brook. This mill is now owned by N. Bolander, 
Jr. & Bro. 

A mill was built at the mouth of this brook some time in 
1865 or 1866. The frame was put up by Daniel Pierce, and 



1 82 SAW MILLS AND GRIST MILLS. 

then passed into the hands of Jacob Rush. This mill is in 
good repair, having been rebuilt, and is owned b}' James O. 
Coon. 

Three or four }'ears ago a mill was erected b}' D. \\' . Bensley 
on the Smith brook above Spooner Hollow. 

Charles J. Shuttleworth built a mill on the Wells brook, sev- 
eral years ago. This mill is located half a mile south of the 
Liberty Pole corners, and is in acti\e operation at the pres- 
ent time. He also built a mill near his foundry and machine shop. 

Gaylord and Watkins in 865 erected a steam mill one-fourth 
of a mile east of Gaylord's Corners, ^\'hich is in actixx- operation 
to-day. 

About fifty )-ears ago a small mill was built on a little stream 
since known as the Dry Brook. This mill was built b}' the 
citizens of Townsend Hill for their own convenience, and stood 
on the southeast corner of the old Fay farm. 

Lewis Trevitt bought the frame of the old Phillips mill and 
moved it on to the little brook that runs just south of his place. 

GRIST MILLS. 

First — Benjamin Gardner built a grist mill in Springville in 
1814. It was the first grist mill built in Concord, and was 
located about t^\•enty-f^ve rods south of Main street, on Spring 
brook and opposite the bend in Mill street. 

Second — Jonathan Townsend built the second grist mill in 
1 8 16, on the south part of lot eighteen, township seven, range 
seven, now known as Wheeler Hollow. 

Third — Rufus Eaton built the third grist mill in Springville, 
about 18 1 8. It stood on the race just back of the Leland 
House barn, on Mechanic street. 

Fourth — About 1832 Barnes & Wilson built a grist mill on 
lot thirty-nine. 

Fifth — About 1830 a grist mill, or corn mill, was built three- 
fourths of a mile south of Morton's Corners, by Simeon Holtoii. 

Sixth — In 1835 Manley Colton built the mill on Main street. 

Seventh — E. W. Cook built a mill on the site of the old 
(iardner mill. 

Eighth — W. G. Ransom changed the Cook woolen factory 
into a grist mill. It commenced business in February, 1877. 



r)IS'l'f[J-KRIES AND WOOLEN FA("^()K^■. 1S3 

DISTILLERIES. 

J.'ii-st — Frederick Richmond built the fust distillery iiear 
where Franklin street crosses Sprin<;- brook. He made whisky 
out of potatoes as well as corn. It was burned down after a 
few x'ears. 

Second — Silas Rushniore built and run a distiller)- on the 
east side of SpriuLj- Hrook a short distance north of (ieorgx- 
C'randall's house. 

Third — AuL;ustus d. h'dliotl had a distiller}- on the .Shuttle- 
worth lot east of the railroad antl south of I'^'anklin street. 

Fourth — George Shultus had a distiller}- down near the Cat- 
taraugus creek. 

l^'ifth — Townsend & 'r}-rer had a distiller}- in Wheeler Hollow. 

Si.xth — There was a ilistiller}- on lot forty-nine, township 
seven, range six, on the farm now owned by Fred Clark. 

Seventh — John Van Pelt had a distillery back of A. F. Rust's 
grocer}' between Main street and the creek. 

Eighth — David Williams had a distillery on the Cattarau- 
gus, do\\-n towards Fr}-es. 

wool, EN FAOTORV, CARDINC AND CLOTH DKESSTNO. 

The first \\oolen factor}- comprising carding, spinning and 
cloth-dressing, was built b}- a company of towns' people, con- 
sisting of Maj. Samuel Bradley, Deacon John Russell, Silas 
Rushman and George Shultes. The date of the erection of 
this building can not be ascertained, but it was at an early day. 
Its location was on the west side of Buffalo .street, about equally 
distant from W. G. Ransome's flouring mill and the residence 
of Sanford Mayo. This building was quite large for the 
times, and w as two stories high. The lower story was divided 
into suites of roonis for residences, and the upper story was ar- 
ranged for factor}- purposes, the basement was used for color- 
ing and other purposes requiring heating apparatus. .\ con- 
siderable time elapsed before the building was finished and sup- 
plied with machinery, and during this interval the upper part 
was used for school, church and Sunday school purposes. The 
first Sunda}- scht)ol was organized by Deacon John Ru.ssell and 
Major Samuel Bradle}'. Religious meetings were also held 
here for some time and a common school was taught in this 



1 84 WOOI,EN FACTORY AND TAXXKRIES. 

buiklin^-. Subsctiucntl}- the upper part of the buildini;- was 
furnishccl with machincr\- for manufacturing woolen cloth, 
wool carding was done near at hand with a full mill attached 
to water power. Machinery for spinning and weaving was pro- 
pelled b)' hand, this manufactory was operated for several 
years. David Seymour and a Mr. Silsbee were the bosses for 
a time and Isaac White — a brother of Francis White, now of 
Springville — was one of the spinners. Other buildings were 
erected, utilizing the water power now owned by G. W. Ran- 
som, and at a subsequent date the flourishing mill now owned 
by him, built and operated as a woolen factor)-, where all the 
machinery was run by water power, and at the present time 
wool carding is done by Mr. Harvey Spaulding in the basement 
of the Ransom mill. This propert}' comprising the factory 
buildings, water power, including the old grist mill, was pur- 
chased by Elbert W. Cook and owned and occupied b}' him 
for many years. 

TANNERIES AND TANNERS. 

Mr. Bascomb did the first tanning in Concord, on the Dodge 
place, about one and one-half miles east of Springville. 

Second — The first tannery in Springville was built by Jacob 
and Silas Rushmore in 1817, on the lot fronting on Main street, 
lying between Elk and Pearl streets, and known as the Mc- 
Aleese lot. Lexinus Cornwell owned and operated it afterwards. 

Third — The second tannery was built about 1823 or '24, by 
Hoveland & Towsley. It stood on the Shuttleworth lot, east 
of the mill race, and between Franklin and Main streets. After- 
wards Augustus (j. Elliott owned and operated this tannery; 
also Joseph D. Hoyt, and Hoyt & McEwen. 

Fourth — About 1830, Willard and Josiah Algar, built and 
afterward run a tajiner\- on Lot 18. T. 7. R. 7, in Wheeler 
Hollow. 

i^^ifth — .About 1832, a tannery x\as built in the north part of 
the town at Fowlerville by Towsle\- and Tuttle. 

About 1836, Joseph McMillan and Wm. Watkins built a tan- 
ners- on the east side of .Spring brook, about thirt)- rods north 
of iM-anklin street. Mr. McMillen died in 1846, but Mr. Wat- 
kins carried on the leather and shoe business many years. 



TA X X I". K I l':S AX D ASH 1". R I KS — I , A W \' K RS . I S 5 

111 1861, rcrcL;i'inc Maton niotlclctl t)\'cr the woolen factoi-y that 
stootl down the creek near the corporation hne. into a tanner)'. 
After about a \'ear he sokl to Sampson & Wilcox. In 1866 .S. 
II. McKwen bought in, and remained ten months. Wilcox 
died, and Sampson & Sexerance ran the business some years. 
In 1873, Ja}' Borden bous^ht the tanner}-. It burned uj) in 
1877, and the present tannery was built. 

ASHERIES. 

First — Samuel Lake built an asher\- on h'ranklin street on 
the north side and near the creek. 

Second — A. G. Fllliott built an asher\- north of I-~ranklin 
street and near where S. R. Smith's barn stands. 

Third — John Van Pelt had an ashery on Franklin street, 
south side of creek, about where Orvil Smith's barn stantls. 

I'oiu'th — Moses & Asa .Saunders had an asher\- on land now- 
overflowed by the north-west part of Shuttleworth's pond. 

h'ifth — Hallady & Shepherd run an ashery on the east side 
of the pond near Pearl street. 

.Sixth — At one time there was an ashery at Morton's Corners, 
near where the cheese factor)- stands. 

PROFESSIONAL MEN, MERCHANTS, TRADERS 
AND MPXHANICS. 

LAWYERS. 
Earl)- Pettifogj^ers — Dax'id Stickney, " Jack" \'aw, Nehemiah 
Waters, Wales Emmons. 

First — The first attorney and counselor, Thomas T. Sherwood, 
came to this town about 1823 or '24, staid a short time and 
removed to Buffalo, and practiced there man\- )'ears, where he 
died. 

Second — rile second law)-er was Elisha Mack, who remained 
here twent)- years or more when he removx'd to Illinois, where 
he died. 

Third — Wells Brooks practiced here fifteen or twent)- years 
then removed to Buffalo. 

Fourth — C. C. Severance has practiced here over fifty years. 

I*"ifth — Morris Fosdick practiced here many years and died 
in Springville. 



1 86 LAWYERS AND PHYSICIANS. 

Peter V. S. Wendover staid a short time and went back to 
Columbia county. 

Merrill & Treadwell staid a short time and went away. 

Wales Emmons went to Wisconsin and died there. 

Miner Strope went to Chatauqua count)'. 

Sydenham S. Clark died in Springville. 

Seth W. Godard died in Springville. 

Alonzo Tanner lives in Buffalo. 

A. W. Stanbro lives in Buffalo. 

Hosea Heath lives in Hamburg. 

L. Le Clear lives in Buffalo. 

Augustus Hanchett died in Michigan. 

PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE LIVED AND PRACTICED IN CONCORD. 

Giles Churchill doctored some in early times. 

Dr. Rumsey was a young man and in a year or two died here. 

Drs. Woodward and Reynolds were young men and remained 
but a short time. 

Dr. Daniel Ingals remained several years and then went 
away and has since died 

Dr. Varne}' Ingalls practiced several years and died here. 

Dr. Carlos Emmons died in Spring\'ille alter a residence here 
of over fifty years. 

Dr. John Allen died recenth' on Long Island, at an advanced 
age. 

Dr. Alden S. Sprague removed to Buffalo and died there. 

Dr. H. H. Hubbard removed to Wisconsin and died there. 

Dr. Alexander Hubbard removed to Wisconsin and died 
there. 

Dr. D. V. Folts removed to Boston. Mass., anci lives there. 

Dr. Morrell, Dr. B. A. Battle and Dr. Simeon Pool, went away. 

Dr. E. C Pool died in Springville, after practicing sometime. 

Dr. Wm. Van Pelt resides at Williamsville, this county. 

Dr. John ("i. House removed to Independence, Iowa, and 
died there. 

Dr. Charles House died here; Dr. Daniel Nash died here. 

Dr. U. C. Lynde lives in Buffalo: Dr. W. Gillett died here. 

Dr. Lyman Packard lives in Michigan. 

Dr- George Abbott lives in Hamburg, 



I 



J'lIVSICIANS, MERCHANTS, 'rRADHRS. i;'rc. 1 87 

])\\ W . S. I ones dic'il in California. 

Dr. Joseph Sibic)- died in Colden. 

Dr. Win. W'atkins lives in Orei^on. 

Dr. Wnison remained one year. 

Dr. Ru---. Dr. Crawford, Dr. Nichol, Dr. K-er)-, Dr. llib- 
bard. Dr. Manninn', Dr. .S])err\-, Dr. SoNerit^n and Dr. Brewer, 
went aua\'. 

Dr. Lane, Dr Habcock and Dr. Buckingham lived at Mor- 
tons Corners. 

MERCHANTS AND TRADERS IN CONCORD, IN DRY GOODS, 
GROCERIES, HARDWARE, BOOTS, SHOES. CLOTHING, .S:< . 

About 1 814 David Stannard and Jerr\' Jenks came from Boston 
to Spriny;\ille (or "Fiddler's (ireen"), and commenced trading- on 
a small scale ; about the same time Frederick Richmond started 
in the same business on a still smaller scale. .Some authcjri- 
ties claim that Richmond started first, while others are quite 
as sanguine that ".Stannard & Jenks" were the pioneers. 
Their business was carried on in a log building east of the 
park, and afterwards they moved to a building that stood be- 
tween the Methodist and Baptist churches on Buffalo street. 

Rufus C. Faton was the next trader, he occupied a building 
back of the opera house, near the pond. 

In i<S2i, Samuel Lake built a small store on the corner o{ 
Main and Buffalo streets, where the American hotel now 
stands. This was the first store on Main street. Two or three 
\-ears after he built the store now occupied b}' R. W. Tanner 
and mox'ed into it. 

Varney Ingalls traded on Franklin street, whei'e the k'ree 
liaptist church stands at the present time. 

August G. FUiott, in 1826, commenced business in a store on 
the Peter Weismantel lot on l^ranklin street, near the race. 

In 1828, William Smith, Jr., built a small store on the corner 
of Main and Buffalo streets, where the First National bank 
now stands and traded a short time. 

Rufus C. Faton «^ Otis Butterworth formed a partnership 
and commenced trading in i830on Mechanic street, to be soon 
after followeil b\' Moses and Asa Sanders, Jolm \'an I'elt, 
Plin\- and Theodore Smith and Manly Colton. In 1S34, Henry 
Bigelow sold goods here. 



l8(S NAMES OF MERCHANTS AND TRADERS. 

M. L. Hadi^el}' came to Spring\'ille in 1835 and was enij;ai;cd 
in the mercantile business many \'ears. These have been suc- 
ceeded by the foUowing" : 

EHsha Mack, S. & E. C. Pool, O. C. Morton, Badgely & God- 
dard, Rufus C. Eaton, Butterworth & Fox, Smith & Richmond, 
C. Osgood, McCall, Long, Spencer & Nash, Eaton & Blake, 
Spencer & Blake, J. G. Blake. Abbott Frye, Robbins & Cronk- 
hite, Levi Wells, E. N. Brooks, l^lemings & Baily, Jewett & 
Cochran, Gardner Brand, Hallida}^ & Shephard, George Drul- 
lard, Asahel Field, J. H. Ashman, John F. Sibley, Edwin 
Wrig-ht, Edward Godard, D. C. Bloomfield, Philetus Allen, 
Chester Spencer, Charles Hcnise, Joseph Tanner, John Hedges 
&; Son, Vosburg & Son, Clinton Hammond, Daniel Nash, Lake 
& Tabor, Taber Brothers, A. R. Taber, Richmond & Griswold, 
Richmond & Holman, Richmond & McMillen, Richmond & 
Shaw, Cyrus (jriswold, James F. Crandall, G. W. Canfield, 
Frank Thurber, Stanbro Brothers, George R. Bensley, Jacob 
Widing, J. Chaffee & Son, Kilburn & Parmenter, Frederick 
Clarke. William Weber, Agard & Co.. O. S. \\:ard. G. W. 
Spaulding, C. J. Lov\e, C. J. Lowe & Co., Horace Spencer, 
Thomas Spencer, Thomas Prowler, Mrs. Prowler, C. C. Smith, 
Jr.. I'errin Sampson, Graves & Shaw, Walter P'ox, Tanner & 
Bensley, Nichols & Gardinier, Eaton &: Hall, M. L. Hall, \V. 
H. P'reeman, Holland & Prior, P^rank Clark, J. O. Churchill, 
Rust Brothers, John Ballon, PY-rrin & Guardinier, I^'errin is: 
Jones, Joseph Capron, Judson Wiltsee, Reed & Stanbro, John 
Reed, Reed & Holman, Holman & Mayo, Smith & Chandler, 
Mr. Weinberg, Albro & Freeman. R. J. Albro. 

BLACKSMITHS. 

Elijah Brigo,Abel Holman, Lothrop Beebe, Reuben Holman, 
Elijah Richardson, Jonathan 'Pownsend, Suel Townsend, Joel 
Holman, Hiram McMillen. Mr. Hawkins, Esdel F. Wright, 
C. G. P. T. Goss, William Hull, Stoel Collins, Mr. Bunnel, 
(William K. Blasdell, Henry Blasdell and William Holmes were 
edge-tool makers, Mr. Curtis was a sc)'the maker, and Mr. Bur- 
nam and Constant 'Previtt were auger makers), John Robinson, 
Levi Ballou, Ebenezer Darling, George Shultus, Jr., Albert Oyer, 
George Kopp, Stoel Collins, Jr., E. Burlinbach, Sylvester P^itch, 



lU.ACKSMI rilS. WAl.ONMAKKKS, I! IC I Sq 

C'aKin Tuincr. llcnr}- Tease, (^rson Tease. Charles Iloldeii, 
]ohn McAleese, Harrison Cobleii^ii, Thoii Cook, Mr. (luin. 
A. Trest(Mi. Henr\' F\-ke, Charles Conrad, Mike Tender^rass, 
Mr. Towers. Nathan Ihiniphry, John Hull, Sjiencer Fay, John 
Morrison, Le\ant Stanbro, Mike Carmody, F^u<i^h McAleese, 
Nicholas Weaver, Victor Rider, John Miller, (ieor^e Neff, 
Henry Benthusen, Richard Blaisdell, Kdwin Smith, Charley 
T' raiser, William Morrison, John Twichell. i^eter Shontz, 

WAGONMAKERS. 

Joel White, I-'rederic White. Tat ,McCaul\-. Mr. Bristol. 
Martin .Vspland. lulson Terkins, Thilo and Edward Herini^^ton, 
[oel Cobleij^h, Hiram Cobleigh, Henr\- Watson, Elea/.er 
W'eeden, Jehiel Tast, William McMillen (a brother of Hiram 
made the first buij^y made in Springville), Mr. Swain, P. Trube, 
T>ed Rider, Morris Freeman, William Woodbur\', B. A. Fay, 
M. Cornwall, J. T\dler, Nick Brass. 

HARNESSMAKERS. 

O. D. Tibbitts, Robert Bidleman, Johnson Bensley , L. B. 
Towsley. William Darrow, H. T. Wadsworth, Abner Chase, 
^Vindsor Chase, Geor<j^e Kin<^man, Ray Green, Miles Hayes, C. 
Van\'alkenburi;h, John and Huel Blakelw J. D. Blakely, Frank 
Ga}'lord, C. R. Wadsworth, Thilip Newback, Alonzo Blake, Clark 
T'erren. A. W. Blackmar, Henr}' Bay, James Thomas, Charles 
BallcHi. H. N. Shreider. S\l\ester Bamhart, William Josl\-n. 
James Blake, T'rederick Williams. 

SHOEMAKERS. 
Ira Eddy, Jacob Rushmore, Levinus Cornwall, Stephen Al- 
bro, Towsley and Tuttle, Jacob Frank, Kingsbury and Hove" 
land, George C. Graham. C. C. McClure, John Loomis, Noah 
Townsend, Enoch Sinclair, Ik-njamin VanName, John Reed, 
T. L. Tyler, Nathan Shaw, Christian HutTstader. Mr. Bibbins, 
L. IC. B. McClure, William Watkins, Terrin Sampson, Peter 
Huffstader, R. l-^. Iluffstader, Samuel Wheeler, Seth \Mieeler. 
John McEwen, William l^ierce, George McClure, Seth \\\ 
Godard. Julius McClure, C. C. McClure, Jr., Henr}- Welling, 
William Stone, H. (). Tuckerman, John Groin, H. H. Harris, 
Tryon Smith, Benjamin Bartlett, Philander E. M}-ers, Abner 



190 siiof:makers, hit-rhkrs, tailors, etc. 

Pettitt, (jorham Newcome, William Brown, S. B. La)'t()n, C. 
C. Smith, Henry McEwen, Amanzo Rcecl, Henry Wilcox, Mr. 
Jones, Mr. Cady, Austin Graham. E. N. Er\'e, Mr. Gedne\', 
Chi'i'^topher Beardsley Wiltsee. 

BUTCHERS. 
Amo.s Melvin, Pamenter & Kilburn, Freman Baily, Barmen- 
ter & Andrews, Edwin Wright, Hamper & Sweet, William 
Beagle, Damon Dodge, Dodge & Pamenter, Clinton Hammond, 
Hedges & Crandall, Windsor King & Son, J. D. Blakely, 
Thomas Davis, Jacob Widrig, Widrid & Palmer, Palmer & 
Smith, Calvin Smith, Jr., Philetas Widrig, Norman Crandall. 
Mayo & Cox, A. J. Blakely, Nicholas & Foster, William 
Schlacter, Nicholas Rassel, Spencer Widrig, Matthew Pitts, 
J. Morrison, Ezra Vasburg, George Hibeck, Horton & Wandall. 

TAILORS. 
Mr. Thompson, Mr. Botsford, Thomas Nicholson, Jeremiah 
Schallen, David Bensley, Mrs. Mahlem, tailoress, Sylves- 
ter B. Peck, Samuel Shaw, B. B. Mason, L. B. Hibbard, C. 
Vandenburgh, P. Fitzgerald. Jonathan Bloomfield, Constant 
Graves, Eugene Ciraves, John Dodge, Daman Dodge, E. L. 
. Norris, T. B. Norris, Mr. McCormick, Henr}- Jerns, Peter Hein, 
T. G. Murphy, Hiram Beardsle)'. 

CARPENTERS AND JOINERS. 
Charles W'ells. Eliakim Rhodes, Charles C. WT-lls. William 
Chapin, Whitman Stone, Car}- Clemens, Ben Eaton, Orren 
Lewis, James P^lemming, Stillman Andrews, Joseph D. Evans, 
Abial J. Vary, Thomas Var\-, Robert (i. Flint, (ieorge Mat- 
thewson, Frederick Matthewson, Ephraim T. Briggs, William 
Field, Camden C. Lake, Volney l-Jelden, J. (1. Blake. William 
McMillin, Marcus McMillin. Dexter Rhodes. Cyrus Rhodes. 
James Curtis. Ste])hen Hooker, Marvin I^^cld. Charles Field. 
Manl)- iMeld. Abijah Sible\-, Levi W\'lls, Wesley Demon, 
. Era.stus Lake, Mike J^rass, 'I"rac\- J. Russell. Asa R. Trevitt, 
James Drury, Edward Churchill, Ambrose Upson, L}'man 
Shepard, Comfort Knapp, Chester Loveridge. (iifford Pierce, 
Joshua Steele, Alva Dutton, Hiram Donalson, (). D. Curtis, E. 
Briggs, Chester Holt, joiner and cabinet makers : Benjamin 
Knight and Caleb Knight. 



'I'lNSMrrns. Mii.iAVRicins, m.\( iiinists. ktc. 191 

TIXSMITHS. 
II()(l<;c Brothers. l'criL;i'in Eaton. Judson I^aton. J^cnjaniin 
l'\ Joslin, Thomas Spencer, David Bloomfield. J. Chaffee & 
Son, Ferren & (iuarchnier, h'errin & Jones. \\\ I). Jones, I). W. 
Hensle)', \\ . 1). Jones. Albert Pierce. 

MILLWRIGHTS. 

Jar\-is BlooniCield. Janies T)'rcr, L. M. Kellos^i:^. Mr. Good- 
sell, Geori^-e Walker. Benjamin V. Joslin. L. (i. Vnvd. James 
Titus, Morris Williams. 

MACHINISTS. 

Mr. Marshall. C". J. Shuttleworth, Homer Bloomfield, Wal- 
lace McMaster, Theodore Baker, Milton Yount,^ 

GUNSMITHS. 

H. M. Waite, Alva King, Wm. French George E. Crandall, 
Nathan Shaw, A. (loodell, Welcome Sprague, Langdon Steele. 

JEWELERS. 

Abial Var\-, (iec^rge E. Crandall, Cieorge (iliddon, William 
Nash. William \\Y>ber, (). S. Ward, James Weber, Weber ,S: 
Holland, H. P. Spaulding. 

COOPERS. 

Icabod ]-5ro\vn, Samuel Cooper, Lewis Childs, John Peabody, 
Sylvester Peabody, Emery Sampson, Alanson Wheeler, Isaac 
Childs, Mr. Titus, Gates Brothers, James Fay, vMford .Shi])py, 
Mr. Pratt, Chester Wheeler. 

CABINETMAKERS. 

Wales Emmons. ()tis Butterw orth, Wales Butterworth, Wal- 
ter Wadworth, Mr. Holt, M. L. Arnold, P. G. Eaton, Daniel 
Shaw, Shaw & Brothers, William Sherman, E. Rundall, Major 
Wells. William Barclay, Mr. Rider, M. W. Douglass, S. B. 
Gaylord, Joel Norton, Robert Shultus, Philip Herbold, Her 
bold & Prior. L. D. Chandler, Hiram Thomas. 

CHAIRMAKERS. 

Lemuel Twichel, Richard Wads^\■orth, l^enjamin Nelson, 
Jonathan Nelson. Mr. Hill, Mr. Ryder, Mr. Gates. James 
Bovles. 



192 BUSINESS MEN IN CONCORD AT PRESENT. 

Among' the business and professional citizens of Concord in 
I<S<S3, are the following: 

CLERGYMEN. 
Rev. \V. A. Robinson, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church ; 
Rev. Mr. Williams, Pastor of the Methodist Church; Rev. A. 
F. Bryant, Pastor of the Free Baptist Church of Springville 
and Fast Concord ; Rev. Mr. (3wen, Pastor of the Baptist 
Church ; Rev. Mr. Fromholzer, Pastor of the Catholic Church ; 
Rev. Mr. Baker, Pastor of the P'ree Baptist Church of Morton's 
corners; Rev. Mr. Jackson, Pastor of the M. E. Church at 
Morton's corners and Rev. Mr. Weiderman, Pastor of the 
Lutheran Church at Morton's corners. 

LAWYERS. 

Hon. C. C. Se\'erance. W. H. Tichnor, PVank Chase, A. F.. 
Scott, D. J. Wilcox, Lowell M. Cummings and Scott Cum- 
mings. 

PHYSICIANS. 

Dr. George G. Stanbro, Dr. W. H. Jackson, Dr. W. E. Long, 
Dr. M. M. Sperry and Dr. L C. Blakeley, Nichols' corners ; Dr. 
T. Calkins, Woodwards Hollow. 

HOTELS. 
Leland House, li. S. Pierce, Proprietor; Poorest Hotel, T. K. 
Davis, Proprietor ; P^armers' Hotel, Theodore Trew, Proprietor; 
American Hotel, Peter Neno. Proprietor ; Delavan House, 
Webster Norton, Proprietor; Miller's Hotel, Henry Saltzer, 
Proprietor. 

BANKS. 

P^irst National Bank of Springxille — Cash capital paid in, 
$50,000. Wm. O. Leland, President; H. G. Leland, Vice-Pres- 
ident ; E. O. Leland. Cashier. Directors — Hon. C. C. Se\'er- 
rance. Almond D. Conger, Joseph Demmon, Wm. O. Leland. 
Geo. W. Oyer, Wm. Z. Lincoln, F. O. Leland. Morris L. Hall. 
H. G. Leland. 

Farmers' Bank of Springville — Capital stock, $30,000. .S. R. 
Smith, IVesident ; B. Chafee, Vice-President; P". (). Smith, 
Cashier. Directors — S. R . Smith, B. Chafee, J. 1). Larribee, 
A. D. Jones. 



KKriicisis, mii.i,ini;ks, \c. iq.i 

MANUFACITRIIKS, M ERCII AN'IS AND IR ADKSMKN, 

r. Ilci"l)i)l(.l, niainifacturcr ami dcak-r in rurniluic ami uiukr- 
takcr. 

L. 1). Chaiullcr, (-iealL-r in turnilurc and undertaker. 

C. J. Sluittlcw'orth. furnace, machine shop, saw-nnll and 
builder. 

W. G. Rawson. mill owner and farmer. 

lUnl Chafee. mill owner and farmer. 

E. L. Hoopes, miller and dealer in floor and ^ccd. 

S. R. Smith, manufacturer and farmer. 

JEWELERS AND WATCH MAKERS. 

George E. and Nel.son Crandall, M. P. Spauldiny and E. If. 

En<^cl. 

MERCHANTS AND TRADERS. 

S. H. and X. K. Thomson, Bcebe and M\-ers, dr\- L;oods, 
•groceries and L;eneral store; C. AI. Hadley. J. D. Hlakele\-, R. 
\V. Tanner, A. F. Rust, E. A. Scott, groceries and pro\isions; 
J. O. Churchill, groceries and provisions and dealer in dr\- 
goods; William Briggs and J. S Tarbox, general store in Mor- 
ton's Corners, Maltb)' and Parmenter general store in Wocxl- 
uard's Hollow ; B\'ron Walters, general store in East Concord. 

DRUGGISTS, .tc. 
Frank Prior, L. B. Nichols and E. C. Smith, drugs, medicines, 
paints and oils. 

HARDWARE AND TINWARE. 

.Mien and Weber, A. D. Jones, 13. W. Jones, and J. Wheeler, 

BOOT AND SHOE DEALERS. 

.\. L. Ilolman and J. W. Reed. 

BOOT AND SHOE MANUFACTURES. 

W. Stone, J. W. Reed, Antliony Lei.ser. A. L. Molman, C. C. 
AlcClure and George McClure. 

CLOTHIERS AND TAILORS. 

Harris Cohen, Peter Hein and I Ienr\' Jerns -Tailor. 

MILLINERS. 

Mrs. O. Smith, Mrs. L. M. Cummings, Mrs. George Myers, 
fancy .store. Miss Clara WHieeler and Mrs. L. U. Hcmstreet. 

12 



194 I'AIX'J'KRS. I'klN'IKKS AND 1!I .\( KSM ITl IS. 

DRESS-MAKERS. 
Airs. S. Sweet. Mrs. I'erkins. Mrs. H. Palmer. Mrs. R. U. 
Ticbnor, Mrs. (Xstrander, Mrs. A. E. Torrey. 

PAINTERS. 

Thomas H. Prior. James Prior. Marshal Kingsley. Peter H. 
Prior, Levi Prior. P^red Childs, Robert Yates. Ryron Bristol. 
David Hernden, Lemuel Parker, William P>ye, Nicholas Dcet, 
PVank Span Id iiiL;', John Pratt, Lyman Covel. Morris Harnett. 

MASONS, 

S. Swertz, M. Colin, Charles Colin, J^'rank Thurber & Sons. 
Dell l^inney, Mr. Ouigle)', Gideon Matthewson, Mr. Doane. 

PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS. 

\V. \V. Blakeley, job printer and proprietor of Jounuxl and 
Herald, Melvin & Myers, job printers and proprietors of Local 
Ncivs, Nelson Thurber, printer. Charley Briel. printer, William 
Lowe, printer, William P>\'e, printer. 

TANNERS. 

Jay Borden, proprietor of Sprin<;ville Tanner}-. I'atrick Flan- 
igan and Mr. Philips, tanners. 

WOOD AND COAL. 

V . O. Smith, coal and wood dealer. 

BUTCHERS AND DEALERS IN MEATS. 

Nicholas Rassel, Spencer Widri<^r and Cook Brothers. 

WAGON-MAKERS. 

Victor Collard, Matthew Metzler and Mr. Hassett. I'eter 
Collard. 

BLACKSMITHS. 

Frank Weismantel. Peter Weismantel. Samuel Wheeler. Jr.. 
Jacob Wcnzel, Charles Thurber, William hVase. llenry Krepjis. 
John h'ink and Cie(.)ry;e Beaumont. 

HARNESS-MAKERS AND CARRIAGE-TRIMMERS. 

C. R. Wadsworth. Clark Fcrrin, S. PL Barnhart. .\. Thillen. 
llenry Bay. 



i'i;i;i.ic iMii.DiN'cs, iiAi.Ls, I ii . 195 

DIINTISTS, 
Carlos W'aiicaiul A. I,. X'au^hn. 

daguerri:()tvim;rs. 

S. I',. SpauldiiiL;- ami Miss Ann 11. Pierce. 
LIVKRV-STAHLE KEEPERS. 
E. S. iS: J. Pierce and K. 1). Henient. 

RE.STATRANT. 
M. I). Scoby. 

WOOL CARDING. 
! Iar\-e)' Spauklin^-. 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND HALLS. 

( )l)era Iliuise, I'resb)'tei'ian, Methodist. l''ree l)a])tist. Baptist 
and Catholic churches, Ciriffith Institute. Masonic Hall and the 
E. A. U.llall. I'"ree Ba])tist. Methodist and Lutheran churches 
at Morton's Corners, and h'ree Baptist chui'ch at Ivist Concord. 

MILLWRIGHTS. 

1.. M. KelloL;\L;. Jesse i""r)'e. James B. Titus, Benjamin Josl)'n 
and Morris Williams. 

MACHINISTS. 

C. J. Sluittleworth and Wallace McMaster. 

CABINET MAKERS AND SASH, DOOR AND BLIND MAKERS. 

John Demuth. Anson J. MeminLj;, Campbell Hu^eland Lewis 
(loodbread. 

BARBERS. 

K. 1). Bement, (jeori^e Identic}- ami Herbert P'errin. 

CARPENTERS AND JOINERS. 

Thomas Lincoln. William McMillen, Joseph Flcmin<^, Wil- 
liam IMackmar, Benjamin Joslyn, Lbenezer S. Cady, J. L. Steele, 
Ransom Davis, Morris Williams. William Josh-n. ]). O. Bab- 
cock, Carlos Co.x, .\. J. Moon. I'eter Zimmer. James Titus, 
I'Vank Spauklin^-. (ieort;e 11 Clark, Kutloli^h Rust, Ward F'crrcn, 
Waldo Morton. William Widriti^, lliram Laffcrty, James Rey- 
nolds, David (iritfith, (jeorL;e Wood, Theron (ireen. Albert 
Davis, Cypher Haas, (ieori^e Norton. Met. Lincoln. Charles 



\()6 " fii)1)1,i;k's crkkn." 

Laffcrty. Artluir Churchill, Alfred Churchill, Will Stanbrci. 
O. D. Curtis. Will Griffith, Mr. Shaw. Perry Scott. Tom Wil- 
liams. Mr. Grace. Lee Rider. Gottlieb Krantz. James Cranston. 
Mr. Huyck. Edward Beaver. 

"FIDDLER'S GREEN.' 

It has been a query, even among those to the " Manor born.' 
iL'/ic/i or by ivhoiii this name of " Fiddler's Green " was first 
<^iven. But it has now become a pretty well established fact, from 
the testimon)- of persons now living, and who lived here at thai 
time, that the name was applied as early as 1815 or 1816. And 
it is also equally as well ascertained by the testimony of the 
same old settlers that the person who first applied the name 
was Uavid Stickney, who then kept a log tavern w here the 
Opera House now stands, and adjoining the "Green. " 

The plot of ground where the park now is, in early times was 
larger, smoother and much more beautiful than it is at present 
and was at first called "The Green." The theory that there 
were several fiddlers living adjoining or near there at the time 
the name was given is not sustained by evidence. It is true 
that at one time there were several fiddlers living in the vicinity, 
but it was many }-ears after it had received its title : but the 
following are well established facts: — 

First — That David Leroy came here about 1 812. 

Second — That he was a famous and inveterate fiddler. 

Third — That he lived a few rods north of the present park, 
and adjoining the " Green." 

Fourth — That his house was the favorite resort of other fiddlers 
who frecjuently came some distance to practice with and learn of 
him, and that the sound of his fiddle almost nightly floated out 
upon the evening air, and all the villagers listened to its rich 
melody. From these facts we have become satisfied after due 
investigation, that from David Leroy anci the music of his and 
other fiddles at his house, the " Green " by which he lived took 
the name of " Fiddler's (ireen," and that there were )io other 
Jieidlcrs living tJiere at that time. 

From this the little village took the same na//u\iind for man\' 
years it was know n as " Fiddlers (ireen " from New England 
to the 1^'ar West. Fifty and sixty years ago the name Spring- 
ville was seldom applied to the village, and it was only on 



MAM. KOi'lKS .Wn I'osi 1)1 KICKS. I97 

special (occasions ami when (inc wished to be \ery ])recise in his 
language that the full name " Fiddler's Green " was used, but 
among the surrounding farming communit\- the name almost 
universally applied was the "Green." If you went to a neigh- 
bour's house and enquired of the wife where her husband was, 
the answer would be he has gone to the " Green." If }-ou 
called at another house and asked the children if their father 
was at home, the answer might be no, he has gone to the 
"Green." And even to-day the name of the "Green " remains 
indelibly stamped upon the minds of sivut of our \enerable 
men and women whose first and earliest recollections of the 
place was the little hamlet that nestled in the midst of nature's 
richest verdure around that spot, and this impression remains 
to-day on their minds, and they speak of it as the " Green " and 
call it by no other name. 

In early times the " Green " was used as a parade ground b}' 
the military companies that trained in Springville. Sometimes 
caravans and other traveling shows exhibited there. Some- 
times exciting games of base ball were played there. In the 
memorable political campaign of 1840 a log cabin was erected 
on the south-west corner of the " Green," and a large political 
mas.s-meeting was held there on that Fourth of Jul)-. In 1880, 
at the Semi-Centennial celebration of the opening of the Spring- 
\ille Academy, the large compau}' present on that occasion 
took dinner from tables erected on the " Green." 

MAILS, MAIL ROUTES AND POST OFFICES. 

The first post-offices established in this county were at Buf- 
falo and Clarence. There were no post-offices or mail-routes 
in the south towns before the war of 181 2 -15. 

The earliest method adopted b}- the settlers for communi- 
cating with their friends east was by watching their oppor- 
tunity and sending letters by some one who might ha\e occasion 
to return to the section of countr\- the\- came from. And their 
friends east would send letters whenever they knew of an\' 
person coming from that part of the country- here, and such 
person sometimes brought a dozen or more letters and they 
would be distributed to the owners who sometimes lived man\- 
miles apart. .\t one time a man by the name of Wm. Earl 



iqS I'os tmastkrs ai" si'ki\(;\ ll,I,l•".. 

\\as employed b\- the settlers to l^o to Buffalo once a week to 
cany the mail and brin;4 that of the settlers and distribute it to 
whom it belonged. At first the country extendin^^ for t\vent\- 
five miles north and south and thirty-fi\'e east and west, was 
all included in the one town of Willink, and a letter addressed 
to a person in Willink mi^ht ne\er reach its destination, there- 
fore the\' were addressed to persons in the township and ranj^e 
in which the}' lived. In this w a\- the\' coidd be distributed 
w ith measurable accurac}'. 

In the Spring" of 1820, a new mail-route was established, 
running from Buffalo to Olean, with three new offices in this 
county: one at Hamburg, formerly called Smith's mills; one 
at Boston, formerh* known as Torrey's corners, and one at 
Springville, Ralph Shepard was the first post-master at Ham- 
Inirg, Krastus Torr\- at Boston, and Rufus C. Eaton at Spring- 
cille, who held the office nine \'ears. Since that time the 
post-masters at Sj)ringville ha\ e been — 

In i828,Klisha Mack, under Andrew Jackson, two terms, 
Martin Van Buren, one. 

In 1840, Samuel Lake, under Harrison aiui p.art of T\-ler's 
administration. 

In 1842, Dr. Hubbard, under part of Tyler's and [)art of 
Polk's. 

In 1846, Major Blasdell, under Polk's administration. 

In 1848, Morgan L. Bacigiey, under 'ra}-lor and h'illmore. 

In 1852, Camden C Lake, under Pierce. 

In T856. Camden C. Lake, under Buchanan. 

In i860, Perrin Sampson, under Lincoln. 

In T864, Perrin Sampson, under Lincoln and part of John- 
son's. 

In 1866, Luther Killom, under Johnson. 

In 1868, Carlos Emmons, under Grant. 

In 1872, Carlos Emmons, under part of Grants 2d term. 

In 1872, T. B. Norris, under part of Grant's 2tl term. 

In 1876, T. B. Norris, under Hayes. 

In 1880, T. B. Norris, under (iarfield, who i.. post-master ;it 
the present time. 

Aliout fift)' )-ears ago a post-office was establisiu'd 011 Tow ns- 
end Mill, with .Ama/.iah Ashman as postmaste'i". At the jjresent 



ro.M MISSION ol II! K II RSI I'oS I'M AS TKK. 199 

time there are four post-offices in the town of Concord — Sprini;- 
ville, Morton's Corners. Wooclward's Hollow and Mast Concord. 
•At first tlu- mail was carried o\-er Tow nsend llill to Boston 
and on to Jkiffalo ; then it was carried down the east branch of 
Ei<4'hteen-mile creek to Boston, then to Buffalo. And it has 
been carried past I-last Concortl ami tlirouLi'h Coklen to Buffalo. 
It is now carried on the cars from SprinoviHe to Sardinia and 
to Buffalo ; and also through Boston to Buffalo. 

In early times there was a mail from the Kast carried through 
Springville, Zoar, and on West. Afterwards there was a mail 
from Pike through Springville, Morton's Corners, Collin's 
Center, and on West. At the present time there is a mail 
route from Collin's Center, througli Morton's Corners, Wood- 
ward's Hollow, New Oregon, &c. There is a mail route from 
Springville to Cattaraugus Station. There is also a mail route 
from Springxille t(> Ashford Station. 

COMMISSION OF THE FIRST POST-MASTER IN SPRINGVILLE. 

'^Ri'tuni /. A/n]<^\\\ Jr., Posf-i/instrr (jciirrol of the ( 'nitctf S/a/cs of 

America. 
To ALL who shall see these presents, greeting: 

" Kxow VE, that confiding in the Integrit}-. Abilit\- and 
Punctuality of Rufus C. Katon, P^scp, I do appoint him a Post- 
master, and authorize him to execute the duties of that Officu 
at Springville, Niagara Count)', and State of New \'ork. 
according to the laws of the United States, and such Regula- 
tions conformable thereto as he shall receive from me. 

To HOLD the said office of Post-master, with all the Powers. 
Privileges and Flmoluments to the same belonging, during the 
pleasure of the I'ost-master (ieneral of the L^nited States for 
the time being. 

In TESITMONN' whereof, 1 have hereunto set m\- hantl and 
caused the Seal of my Office to be affixed at Washington Cit\ , 
the thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thou- 
sand eight lumdred and twent}-, and of the indej)endence of the 
United States the fort>'-fourtli. 

Registered 19th day of Jul)-, 1820. R. J. Mek.S. 

Tiios. Aruuckle, Clerk. 



200 NAMKS ()]•■ OWM'.RS OK 1-AKMS 1\ 1S43. 

/\ list of tlie owners of farms and farvninL;- lands in the town 

of Concord in 1S45 : 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE SIX. 
LOTS. 

25. Calvin Blake, L. C. X'ani^han, lames V^aui^han, Epenetus 

Vaughan. 

26. W. W. Cornwell, Asa W'ells, J. X. Yates, H. Freeman, 

J. Mayo. 

27. John Gardinier, J. Bloodgood, W'm. Smith, Archibald 

Griffith. 
2(S. Jared Davis, John Vaughn, Wm. Smith. 
29. H. J. Vosburg, Abram Gardinier, \Vm. Olin, G. Newcomb. 
:^o. Wm. Foot, 'Levi Finch, James Wood, Joseph Coteral, John 

Coteral. 

31. James Wood, R. Foote, R. Matthewson, John Philips. 

32. R. F^oote, Sam. Hains, Mrs. Beaver, R. Matthewson. 

33 Asa Wells, Healy ?^reeman, Charles Wells, Mr. Kilburn. 

34. James Bloodgood, J. N. Vates, Vincent Cole, Weston 

Waite, Moses Griswold. 

35. Archibald Griffith, M. \Wample, S. Gardner, J. Ma}'o, 

C. Smith. J. Wilson. 

36. J. & A. South, Wm. Smith, E. Cram, L. Killom, J. Ila\-nes, 

L. Needham. 

37. H. Stanbro, Wm. J^aker, Henr}- Vosburg, 1^. Graff. C. 

Vaughan, David Clark, Levi Finch. 

38. J. Griffith, Louis Wheelock, H. Griffith, R. Drake, Bela 

Graves, C. Killom. 

39. R. Foote, John Treat, P. A. Sprague, S. P. Field, Bela 

Graves. 

40. Abner Wilson, B. Crump, P. A. Sprague. 

41. Josiah Graves, Ashle)' Holland, Gardner Stanbro, Seic)- 

Squires. 

42. Seley Scjuires, J. C. Cranston, Justin Miner, Hiram Mayo, 
, D. Sweet, J. McMillen. 

4V L. Davis. E. Mayo, James Curtis, J. Mayo, P. Stanbro, 

C. Smith. 
44. 7\. Cranston, Wm Smith, Jr., Wm. Smith, S. A. Jocey, 1'. 

Stanbro, C. Stanbro. 
15. W'm. Smith, Wm. Smith, jr., Patrick Hogan, Ej^jhraim 

Neeilham. 



KAKIA' FARM oWMlKS IN l( »\\ \ ()!■ ( ■().\( OKI i. 20 1 

46. Philip l\)ttcr, P. (^s<,H)od, Josiah CanfR-Id, Mr. Flint. C. A. 

Wilson. 

47. Wheeler Drake, (non-resident). 

48. Samuel Abbott, Alonzo Cross. 

49. Mrs. Reynolds, Varne\' Installs. 

50 K. E. Williams. Daniel Tice. Peter ]^radle\-. Zimri Inj^alls, 
Caleb Ingalls. 

51. James Flemings, Ephraim T. Briggs. Amos Stanbro. 

52. Philip Ferrin. Nathan Godard. l^Mijamin South, Lsaac Knox. 

53. Albert Shippy. Ephraim A. Hriggs, Star}- King, C. Need- 

ham, E. Godard. 

54. K. Martin, Jr., Mr. Mason. A. Martin. J. Agard. Orrin 

Sibley. 

55. Orrin Sible\-. S\-lvester Abbott, Harrison Calkins. 

56. Henry Smith. Wm Calkins. C. Abbott, S. Abbott. D. 

Lewis. 

57. Carlos Emmons, V. Ingalls, Allan Drake, Alanson Wheeler. 

58. J. House, Orley Perkins, Benjamin WHieeler, Sen. 

59. Benjamin Fay, Ebenezer Blake. 

60. Noah Townsend, Constant Tre\'ett, Philip Ferrin, Mr. Ste- 

phetison. 

61. Orrin Baker, Jonathan Canfield, Orvil Canfield. 

62. Wm. Field, Almon Perkins, Joshua Agard, H. E. Potter. 

63. Benjamin Sibley, Joshua Agard. Abijah Sibley. 

64. Moses Leonard, Oliver Dutton, O. Wells, J. P)artle\-, Mr. 

Curran, Mr. Calkins, E. Twichell. 

TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE SEVEN. 
LOTS. 

46. Mrs. Prudence Williams. 

47. Mrs. Prudence Williams. 

48. Roswell Alcott. 

49. Jesse Frye, Enoch N. Fr)e. 

56. Henry Weber. 

57. Non Resident. 

58. Michael Smith. 

59. Michael Smith. 

60. John Wells. 

61. David Williams. 

62. E. N. JM-ye, L. P. Coxe. 



202 i:arlv concord farmers. 

60. Luther Austin, V. 11. Can-, John Ilovcland. 

67. Henry Weber, II. S. Post. 

68. John Wilhanis, Le\i Pahiier. 

69. John Williams. 

70. Non Resident. 

71. Thomas Richardson. 

/2. Abram Hammond, Luther Thompson, Mr. Newman, S. G. 
Churchill, J. G. Stor\-. 

JT,. Thomas Daxis, Mr. Trumball, S. A. Morton. 

JJ. Elisha Eaton, Joel Chaffee, Charles Chaffee. 

/^. Charles Watson. 

79. Mrs. Knii^ht. 

So. Mrs. Knii^ht. Amos Stanbro, Geory;e Thompson, Charles 
Trindle. 

81. A. P. Morton, A. K. ( )strander, Ambrose J(_)hnson, Widow- 
German, Milo Paker. 

^2. A. P. Morton, Pomro\- Johnson, Jose[)h A^^ard Ostrander, 
Mr. Harxe}'. 

86. Samuel Churchill. 

i>/. Pelei^ Cranston, AL-. \'an Hurau. 

88. J. Agard, W. Agard, S. Agard. L. (jerman. 

89. Horace Ga\'lord, Amos Stanbro, Washington T\-rer. Charles 

Prindle. 

90. Isaac Nichols, (jeorge \\'oodbur\-, James Wheeler, P. C. 

Holt, Mrs. Tyrer-Ostrander. 

91. Jeremiah Richardson, James Wlieeler, Widow Richardson. 
Parts of lots 61, 62, 71, 79, 80, i>j ;ind /^, and lot 70 were 

wild or unoccu[)ied land. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE SEVEN. 
LOTS. 

1. Carlos Lmmons. \'. Ingals. 

2. V. Ingals, Mrs. L )veridge, S. Wheeler, Mr. Ilutchins. 

3. Mr. Hutchins. 

4. P. Scott, A. /Vshman. Mr. Hutchins, Mr. Ste\enson, Mr. 

Canfield. 

5. R. C. Drake, lUam Booth, Parle\- Marten. 

6. Sillick Canfield, A. Gra\\ C)li\er Needham, Laban A. Need- 

ham. 



•ni.i.i'.ks (»K nil' son. i\ 1S45. 203 

7. Ilosca I'otttr. i.. II. Twichcll. II. lii^als, A. (icnsnian, Mr. 

I lorton. 

S. William l)>-c. Ira Wooclwanl. Whcclcr iJrakc. 

9. Jonas Pcrhani. 

\o. r. Cook. V. liiL;als, John I'^'cnch. 

11. V. Scott, Widow Scott, .\. LoNcridL^a-. 

12. r. Scott, J. Shears. 

13. ThacklLMis I licock, Abial BloclL;"ctt. 

14. T. II. and II. Potter, Charles Xeedham, A. C. Adam-;, 

Widow Bement. 

15. T. li. Potter, William Twichell, Samuel Tuichell, Joseph 

Potter, Ira Drake, H. Drake. 

16. William Potter, Widcnv Drake, Wheeler Drake, G. W. 

Thurber, H. Drake-BridLi'inan. 
I 7. W. H>-de, S. W. Alger. 
iS. W. Hyde. Klder Carr, James Tyrer, O. Spaulding, A. Hall. 

B. Trevitt, S. Stevens. 
\(j. J. M. Spauldinu-, B. Alby. 

20. A. Hall, Hicock and Trevitt, E. Sampson, Jeremiah Louk. 

21. Benjamin Trex'ett, Benjamin Trevitt, Jr., Hiram C. i re\ itt, 

William Adams, E. Adams. 

22. Eron Woodward, Isaiah Pike, William Adams. 
2:,. S. Trevett, I. Pike, D. Janes, P. Thurber, H. Burt. 

24. R. Curren, J. Fosdick, E. Ellis. S. Trexett. 

25. L)-man Joslyn, Mr. Josl\-n. 

26. S. Stexens. 

2J. r. M. Brings, E. Eush, Daniel Persons, James Colwell. 

28. S. Cooper, H. C. Trevett, B. Fisher. l\. Sampson. 

29. J-5enjamin Trevett, lienjamin Trexett, Jr., Trex ett & l^illou. 

30. Ezekiel Adams, A. C Adams. 

31. H. Babcock, Mr. Brush, J. Haxxkins. R. Hawkins, Al})honso 

Cro.ss, L. Trevett. 

32. D. Janes, P. Roach, Joseph Roach. W. Burt, P^-ancis Tat- 

too, John Goffinett, Francis Wiser. 
^T). Calvin Johnson, John Nichols, A. Nichols, J. Steele, Ezekiel 

Goodell. 
34. E. Simons, Z. Simons, John Martin, John PealxKlx , Phiu- 

eas Peai)od)'. 



204 HUSBANDMEN OK CONCf)RI) IN 1845. 

35. Peril! Sampson, Emery Sampson, William Sampson, T. D. 

Tiffany, P. Payne, S. Briggs. 

36. Emer)' Sampson, LeGrand Douglass, Haw & Douglass. 

37. J. Rice, A. Becker, — F"rancisco. 

38. Joseph Hawkins, Levi Knap, P2. Adams, Mr. Blakeslc}-. 

39. Benjamin Dole, Alph(^nso Cross. 

40. Mrs. Barrett, G. M}'er, H. Perkins, H. Rathburn, George 

Barrett, F. fiammond. 

41. A. Nichols, M. J. Steele, William Fessenden. Eli/.er Stock- 

ing, L}'man Steele, Charles Mosier. 

42. Luke Simons, Z. Simons, William Fisher, Nehemiah Heath, 

Joseph Tabor. 

43. J. L. Douglass, D. Rice, Jarcd Tiffany. 

44. J. L. Douglass, Waters & Rice. E. Sampson, Jarcd Tiffany. 

J. Colvin. 

45. William Beckwith. Ra\- Beckwith. Mr. Stearns, (iilbert 

Sweet. 

46. Chockly Lynde. Ira Stebbins, Mr. Lj-nde, William Horton, 

L. Barrett. 

47. John Becker, George Myers, Zenas Perkins, P. Hucklebury. 

M. Hucklebury. 
4S. H. Jefferson. D. Horton, B. Rathburn. F. Hammond. 

TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE SIX. 
LOTS. 

1. Eaton Bensley, John Russell, Joseph Harkness. 

2. Samuel Cochran, Mrs. Yaw, D. Evans. 

3. George Holland, Sylvester Eaton, W. Watkins. Wells 

Brooks, William McMillen. 

4. J. Van Pelt, James Hinman. Charles Wells. \'. Ingalls, 

Christopher Green. 

5. 1^. Nelson, E. Matthewson. G. W. Kingman, Parker & 

Barton. 
7. Ahner White, William Weeden. Charles Chaffee, Joel 

Chaffee, J. Russell, E. Bensley. 
S. Bloomfield, Shepherd. White. Shultus. William Weeden. S. 

Cochran. 
9. E. Mack, William l^allou, J. Rushmore, I'Ltlmonds I'\ White. 
10. J. Van Pelt, Selem Sears, Isaac Palmei-. 



coNcoRi) S()I.iiii;ks RiicokD. 205 

11. II. S. I'osl, Julius Hcmcnt, Ihirvcy Aiulrcws. Luther 

Austin. 

12. Jarvis Bk)onificlcl. 

13. (iilcs Churchill, Jacob Rushniorc, Luther Austin. 

14. I'^. W. Cook. 

15. E. W. Cook, Mr. Stearns. 

16. David Wiley, Mr. Stearns. 

17. Ebcnezer Dibble, P'rancis White, Mr. luhiiunds. 

18. Mrs. Otis, William Ballou. 

19. William Smith. 

20. James Kini^sle)-. 

21. L. R. Shultus. 

22. David .Shultus. 

23. David Shultus. Abel llolman. Mr. Kini;man. 

24. Abel Holman. 

2^. Nathaniel Howen. Mr. Dodi^e, Parker & l^arton. 

CONCORD SOLDIERS" RECORD. 

'I\) that (irand Arm\' which preserved the L^nion, Concord 
contributed her full share of volunteers, a larg'e percentage of 
whom were either killed or died in the service. When future 
generations lift the \eil from b)-i;"one years in their search for 
fitting themes of eulogy, let their finest tributes fall upon the 
heads of the soldier boys of Concord. 

More than half of those who entered the service went out in 
two companies — Company A of the 100th N. Y. .S. \\, and 
Company E of the 1 r6tli N. Y. S. V. 

Company A of the lOOtli was recruited b}' Capt. Daniel D. 
Nash, of Springville, and was the first offering toward the for- 
mation of the "Eagle Hrigade." being raised b)' (ieneral 
Scroggs, of Buffalo. Of their service in the field we need not 
speak, as its history has already been written b\' an able pen. 
Company E of the 1 i6th was organized by Drs. U. C. Lynde 
and Cicorgc G. Stanbro, of Springville, in 1862. Dr. George G. 
Stanbro was commissioned as its captain. The\- reported for 
duty in August, 1862, at Eort Porter, Buffalo. Earl\- in 1863 
they were sent to Louisiana, where, after particij^ating in a 
series of hard fought battles, the regiment was ordered to Vir- 
ginia. But a history of the 1 i6th has also been written and 



2o6 II 1 1; r.KAVK s( )I.1)Ii:ks ok coxcoRn. 

wc need not tuilher refer to it. ( )f those wlio were members 
I if the various other reL;'iiiients. their records are ecjuallx' deserx- 
iiiL,^ of a phice on the ilhistrious scroll of the nation's lionoretl — 
soldier heroes. 

The following;" list of the soldiers includes some who enlistetl 
in other places but whose homes were really in Concord : 

■ Died in the service ; the person's name will also be found in a list of the dead. 

n\K HUXDRKDIH RK(;i M KNI' ^'E^\ \()KK \()1.U.\ rKllR^. ( i >.M- 

I'AW A. 

Major Daniel D. Nash, h'rancis L. Arnold, 

Capt. Wm. L. Mayo, Nathan J. Arnold. 

Serg. Carlos H. Richmond. (ieorge Arnold, 

Scrg. Thos. W. Small, Thos. Dillon, 

Scrg. Byron Bristol. Hiram M. Fisk. 

*Corp. Charles B. Kellogg. "Jacob l^^-iednicUi. 

Corp. Thos. M. Allen, Ed. (i. (iibson, 
■'•'Corp. Charles H. Flanders. Henr)- S. (joodman. 

Corp. |. S. Bibbens, Nicholas (ieorgen, 

Emerson Gates, James L. Gaylord. 

Daniel Hicks, "Uriah F. Hill. 

Marion Eincoln, John Roller, 

■■^Roswcll Merrifield. Ebenczer Spooner, 

Nicholas Streit, Frank Smith, 

Wm. H. Sill, Daniel H. Stebbon. 

"Thos. C. Sweet, Sylvester Wiser, 

"Geo. Bishop, -'^'hillip Wiser, 
"Clark C. Dickerman. 

OXli IIUXDREI) AXl) SIXTKE.Xril KKGIMEXT, NKW ^•()RK \()L- 
UNTEERS, COMPAX'Y F. 

Capt. (ieorge .S. Stanbro. Rollin J. Albro, 

Capt. Charles S. Crary, George Annaerter, 

Lieut. Clinton Hammond. "'Peter Brooks. 

Scrg. John Ci. Dayton. Morris Barnett. 

*Corp. Samuel A. Mayo, Martin Bui)-, 

Corp. Anthou)' Reiser, Edward Bement, 

William A. hV-rrin, Marshall K. Davis. 

Stephen E. .S[)aulding, Jacob Earner, 

Benjamin S. Goddard. Alonzo Hilliker, 



rill'. \f)i.iN ri-.i:k s(ti.i)ii:K>. 



20: 



I'l'edcrick I li >\\'i'laiul. 
■■'Marl<s 1 ,ouk, 
"•■'Jolin 1 1. Mayo, 
Julian 1 1. KIkhIcs, 
"••■John 1 1 . Tluirher, 
Carlos Waitc, 
Cornelius (iraft. 
Scrq;. James 1^. Webber, 
Uriah C. L)'nde, Surgeon. 
Jacob Chiefferle, 
"•^■Daniel Wriehl, 



Julius A. MeClure. 
Theron Alatthewson, 
Cornelius ( )strancler, 
llenr\- W. Shultus, 
h'ranklin C. Shultus, 
•■'I^'abian Warner, 
Lorenzo Johnson, 
Marion Johnson, 
Joseph S. W'.irner, 
■■'■John W. rwichell, 
■■'Hiram H . Tvrer. 



Theotlore B. Norris. 



.MIS(i;i.l,ANE()L^S LIST. 

"Eugene Walker- 44th Re^., Inf. Co. A,(i'eoi)le's Rllsworlh. ) 
■"Irvini,r l^ike — 44th Re^., Inf.. Co. A, (l'eo[)le's Mllsworth.) 
■•■'Jerome Myer.s — 44th ReL;., Inf., Co. .\, ( l'eo|)le's T'Jlsw orth.) 
"•■"ilenr)- C. Hammond — 44th Ke^., Inf., Co. A, (People's I^lls- 

worth.) 
Tyler H. Stearns 44th KeL;.. Inf., Co. A, ( l'eoi)le"s Kllsworth.) 
Lan.son A. Stanbro — i 16th N. Y. V., Co. C. 
Alonzo v. Killom — 1 i6th X. Y. V., Co. K. 
William Woodward— 64th X. Y. V., Co. A. 
(ieort^e Smead — 64th X. Y. V., Co. A. 
Elmore Hement — 2d Rey;. California Ca\'., Co. (i. 
Frank I'. S])auldin<,^ — 36th Re-. X. Y. \'., Co. A. 
Col. H. V. .Spauldin^- — 7th Rey;. U. S. colored troo[)s. 
James McRea— ist Ret;-. 111. Li^ht Artiller\-, Batter\- I. 
Nathan Humphrey — 1st l^atalion, N. Y. sharj) shooters, 8th Co. 
.\lonzo I^ooth — 97th N. Y. \. iConklin Rifles), Co. K., drafted. 
Corp. John P. L'nderhill lolh X. Y. Caw 
Capt. William II. Warner--4th .\rk. Cav., Co. V. 
Serg. Humphrey Drake — i i6th N. Y. Cav., Co. H. 
■^'Leroy Coo[)er — 187th X. Y. V. 
Henry Himes. 

Elnathan (Griffith— 1 16th X. Y. V., Co. K. 
EuL^ene I', h'.llis. 
William Henry Sprai^iie. 
William Vannatta— 64th X. Y. V. 



208 LIST ()1- Till-. KII.LKI). 

"'^FJias Vannatta — 64th N. Y. V. 

I'rcston Richardson. 

Tctcr Prior — 147th, Co. D. 

Job Woodward. 

Martin Miller— 21 st N. Y. V. 

W. B. Jcwett— 2ist N. Y. V. 

William Black— 45th, Co. I. 

AmericLis Lincoln — 147th, Co. I). 

*Jame.s Darling. 

*Joseph Y. Gardinier — 2d Minn. Cav. 

Serg. George W. Pierce — 187th N. Y. V., Co. E. 

*Jacob F. Goodbread— i.^7th N. Y. V., Co. 15. 

*Thoma.s Page. 

*Philip Mentz—iooth N. Y. V., Co. A. 

*Chauncey Joslin — 64th N. Y. V., Co. A. 

^Alfred Shippy. 

LIST OF THOSE WHO WERE EITHER KILLED OR DIED IN THE 

SERVICE. 

Corp. Charles B. Kellogg — killed in Virginia. 
Corp. Charles F. Flanders — killed in the attack on Fort Wag- 
ner, July 18, 1883. 
Roswell Merrifield — killed June 28, 1892, at Bottom Bridge. 
Thomas C. Sweet — killed June 28, 1862, at Bottom Bridge. 
Jacob P'riedman — killed. 

Uriah F. Hill — died at Andersonville prison. 
Phillip Wiser — killed May 26, 1862, at Seven Pines. 
Corp. Samuel A. Mayo — died Aug. 8, 1862. 
Mark Louks— killed at Port Hudson, June 14, 1863. 
John H. Mayo — died of wounds received, Aug. 11, 1863. 
John H. Thurber — lost at sea, July 10, 1864. 
F'abian Warner — died at Baton Rouge, July 26, 1863. 
Eugene Walker — killed at second battle of Bull Run. 
Irving Pike — died in the service. 
Jerome Myers — killed at Malvern Hill. 

Henry C. Hammond — killed at second battle of Bull Run. 
Leroy Cooper — died in the hospital at Washington, in 1864. 
Elias Vannatta — shot. 

James Darling — died in Andcrsonxille prison. 
Joseph Y. Gardinier — died at St. Louis, P^eb. 7. 1862. 



■niK i'RKsii\ri:Ri.\N chircii oi' si'ri.\(;\ii,lk. 209 

lacob V. Goodbrcad — starved to death in Andersonville prison. 
Daniel Wright — died of wound. May 17, 1863, in Louisiana. 
Peter Brooks — died Aug. 13, 1863, in Louisiana. 
John W. Twichell — died Sept. 22, 1863, at Cairo, Illinois. 
Hiram H. Tyrer — died May 9, 1864, at New Orleans, 
(ieorge Bishop — died of wounds received at Bull Run. 
Thomas Page — died Sept. 27, 1863, of wounds received at 

Chickamauga. 
Philip "Mentz — died on Morris Island. 
Chaunce\' Joslin — died of camp fcxer, at Versailles. N. Y., 

Jan. 12, 1863. 
Alfred Shipey — died in the hospital. . 
Clark C. Dickerman — died July 18, 1863, at Fort Wagner. 

Owing to the destruction of valuable records, the above rec- 
ord is imperfect and contains omissions and doubtless errors 
which are seemingh' unavoidable. 

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SPRINGVILLE. 

The Presbyterian Church of Springville was first organized 
as a Congregational Church Nov. 2nd, 1816, by Rev. John 
Spencer, consisting of but nine members of whom John Russell 
was chosen its first deacon and was ever after looked up to by 
the church as its father and truest friend. Rev. John Spencer 
was a character that deserves more than a passing notice. He 
was a missionary sent out by the home board to labor on the 
Holland Purchase. His labors and toils were abundant in this 
county but more particularly in Cattaraugus and Chatauqua 
counties. He was wonderfully full of vivacit)', a rare wit and 
a genial companion. In all the anecdotes related of him, and 
they are very man>', I have never heard of but one instance of 
his failing to ha\e a read\' response. He was once walking 
through the streets of Fredonia leading his old gray mare, 
which as ever seemed inclined to hang back. Passing a tailor 
shoj) where a couple of tailors sat sewing b)- the open window, 
one called out to him, " Friend, are you traveling far?" He 
answers " No." " Ah, I thought if you were, I would advise 
\-ou to swap off \'our old horse for a bob-sled and get some- 
thing you could draw easier." He stopped, took off his hat 

and bowed, saying, " Gentlemen, I have not a word to fit the 

13 



2IO TWENTV-ONE MEMBERS IN 1820. 

occasion," and passed on enjoyin<^ the joke hugely, which he 
often repeated. Deacon Russell once said with his eyes humid 
with emotion, " That anecdote always brings good old father 
Spencer with his old gray mare visibly before me." Father 
Spencer was always ready for every good word and work, a 
great worker, sowing the seed unsparingly, and was very suc- 
cessful in securing an abundant har\est. So kind, loving and 
spiritual that he, under God, succeeded in drawing together 
and organizing more churches, it is said, than any other man 
that ever labored in these three counties. He was pastor of a 
great number of churches at the same time and for many years. 
The place where this little band met to worship and encourage 
one another's hearts to stem the tide of worldly influences was 
the old school-house standing in the rear of the Presbyterian 
Church which was burned down about fift}'-five years ago. 
There they met every Sabbath, whether they had a preacher 
to lead them or not. If they had they rejoiced, if not 
they felt the command was " worship God." Some brother 
read a hymn and the)' all joined in the hoh- song with 
grateful hearts. No doubt there would have been some 
harsh, grating discords had the song of this little band fell on 
the ears of some of the fashionable quartettes of the present 
time (w'hose artistic displays seem more in keeping with the 
gymnastics of the day than as a part of religious service). But 
the business of this little band here in the w ilderness was to 
worship and please God, and the}- needed none to lead them 
save the Spirit in this most delightful and impressive part of 
Christian worship. The h}'mn sung, another brother prayed 
and then some minister in heaven preached to them b)' his ser- 
mon being read to them here on earth. Thus they continued 
about five years, when a Mr. Fitch, a son of Dr. Fitch, of W^il- 
liams college, was sent to them. The first subscription ever 
drawn up in the Town of Concord for the support of the Gos- 
pel was for his benefit in the}-ear 1820. The numbers of mem- 
bership had now increased from the original nine to twenty-one. 
as follows: John Russell, John Ewers, George W. Robinson, 
Hannah Ewers, Silas H. Clexeland, Ruth Morrill, Anna Robin- 
son, Sergeant Morrill, Thomas McGee, Hannah Green, Cath- 
rina Cochran, Betse\' h'rye, Asa Phillips, Rhoda Phillips, Cath- 



THK FIRST RKVIVAl, I\ SPRIN( ;VII,I,F.. 211 

rina Knox, L\'dia Russell. John M. Richards, I^Hzabcth Austin, 
William Hcrrick and Mary Hcnick. Mr. Fitch remained but 
one year, and was succeeded in 1821 or 1822 by l^'ather Ingalls, 
who remained four or five years, preachin^^ one-half the time 
here and receivins;' his missionar\- aid for a part of his supi)ort. 
Under his ministry the church and community was blessed with 
its first revival, and this was a i^eneral one throuLjhout the com- 
munity, and here man}' of the first prominent settlers took a 
stand for Christ. The fruits of this revival went in part to 
start the other churches. The Methodists had organized a class 
about 1820. The Baptists organized a society from the fruits 
of this revival in 1824 and a church several years later. The 
Methodists were so ^strengthened by this revival that the)- com- 
menced building a church edifice in 1827. The house was 
enclosed, except glazing, and remained so for some \'ears. 
Through the kindness of the Methodists, the Congregational 
church was permitted to meet in their house occasionally. 
There they worshiped on slab seats laid on blocks of wood, 
their worship being in no way incommoded thereby, but as a 
board from the windows, or places for the windows, had to be 
removed to let in light iov the singers ; use was found for the 
old bandana handkerchiefs to cover the heads of the worship- 
ers. All the religious meetings held statedly in the place 
up to this time were held b)- this little band, others oiil\- 
having occasional meetings, while they met every Sabbath. 

The next minister who labored with this church was Kliphalet 
Spencer, of Middlebury academ\-. who commenced his 
labors in the Winter of 1828-9. ^ ^''^ number since the revival 
had increased to fifty-one. Mr. Spencer's labors were not suc- 
cessful, as the Masonic excitement was then at its height and 
absorbed the public mind. Mr. Spencer being a Mason found 
it impossible to do much good in a community where so many 
were incensed against the institution. The walls of the academy 
were now up and the church met w ithin them at anotlier time in 
the ball chamber of the Johnson Bensley Hotel, later known as 
the Sjjringville House. They worshiped here for sometime un- 
der the ministrations of Re\'. S. H. Gridley, since known as Dr. 
(iridley. He was from Clinton, Oneida count\% and preached 
his first sermon to this church — a man of talent and ardent 



212 THE CHIRCH DKHKATKI > IN 1 832. 

piety. He was the first man who exer preached in this phice 
all the time. He left in 1830, the church still weak but united 
and happy and was succeeded by Father \\ ilcox, an aged man. 
who labored a few months without any special engagement, 
and left in 1S31. At this time the erection of the old house of 
worship was commenced, under very embarassed circumstances, 
but few to put their shoulder to the wheel and the land-debts 
resting very heavily upon them In June. 1832. this meeting- 
house was finished The dedication took place on the 6th day 
of June. The ministry present to assist were Revs. Abial Parme- 
lee and T. S. Harris The church had now conveniences and 
comforts, of which it had known nothing in its previous exist- 
ence. It had Avorshiped in the old log school-house, the unfin- 
ished walls of the academy, the old factory where Deacon Rus- 
sell furnished dinner or lunch for all who came, in the ball- 
chamber, in the unfinished Methodist edifice, sitting on slabs of 
the roughest material, and never were privileges prized higher 
than these. Xow the\- had a comfortable and commodious 
house of worship and the celebrated union-meeting of the Bap- 
tist and Congregational churches was entered into by previous 
arrangement. Following this dedication the ministers were 
Parmelee and Harris. Congregationalists; Loomis and Med- 
calfe. Baptists. This meeting continued for several weeks ; as 
the result, twenty-one were added to the church on profession 
and fourteen by letter, increasing the number to seventy. Par- 
melee remained five years, closing his labors here in Januarj', 
1839. Number of communicants had increased one hundred 
and fifty-three. He was succeeded by Re\ . A. P. Hawley, who 
became the first pastor of the church : was installed Jan. 30, 

1839. '^ \ery ardent attachment soon sprung up between 
pastor and people with promise of good results. But Mr. Haw- 
ley was laid aside from the pulpit by the fall of a tree in the 
winter of 1840, from which he ne\"er recovered, and in August, 

1840. the pulpit was again declared vacant. 

The church has now reached a point within the recollection 
of most of our citizens and we will onh' give the names of 
pastors and other facts in a condensed manner. Rev. Z. Edd\- 
commenced his labors in the winter of 1840 and '41. and closed 
in October. 1844. Number of communicants reported at the 



I UK MKIHODIST CHURCH OF S1'KIN(.\ Il.LH. 213 

next meeting of Prt'sb\tcr\- was ^22. March. '45, a call was 
jjiven to Hiram Eddy, who became the third pastor of the 
church and durin<^ his stay the church built the church edifice 
in which it nowworships. The pastoral relation wasdissolved in 
June, 1850. The pulpit has since been supplied by ministers and 
pastors in the following order: Rev. Benj. F. Millan, i year; 
Rev. Isaac E. Curr}-, 3 years; Rev. Robert L. Conklin. 1 year; 
Rev. Claudius B. Lord, 3 years : Re\ . Nathan Allen, 5 \'ears ; 
Rev. J. T. Manning. 3 years: Rev. John A. Wells, 11 years. 
Under his pastorate the church members increased fifty per 
cent., and the house of worship was re-modeled at an expense 
of over $6,000. Rev. \V. A. Robinson is the present pastor. 

METHODI5T EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SPRIXGVILLE. 

From the best information that can be obtained, it appears 
that as early as 1814 and 1815. Methodist meetings were held 
by a Methodist preacher named " Jenkins," at the house of 
Ezekiel Smith, in the town of Sardinia (then Concord), on 
Lord's hill, eight miles east of Springville. Subsequentlv 
Methodist meetings were held at George Richmond's, thre^' 
miles east of Springville. About the year 1820. a Methodist 
church was organized at the school house of Liberty pole cor- 
ners, one mile east of Springville, by a Methodist preacher 
known as Father Hall. So far as can now be ascertained, the 
members of the church thus organized were James Hinman 
and Phebe Hinman, his wife : Charles C. Wells and Susan 
Wells, his wife ; Samuel Shaw and Phebe Shaw, his wife. No 
other names of members can be ascertained. In the year 1823, 
this conference district was know n as the Erie district, Gleazen 
Fillmore, Presiding Elder, and the circuit was known as Boston 
circuit. Andrew Peck and John Copeland were the cir- 
cuit preachers connected with the charge, and meetings were 
held by them alternately once in two weeks. At a later date, 
meetings were held at a school house in Springville, that stood 
just west of where the Presbyterian church now stands. In the 
year 1825, this was known as the BufTalo district, Loring Grant. 
Presiding Elder, under whose leadership a church edifice was 
erected. Orrin Lewis was the builder. The church edifice 
thus built stood on the north side of the public square, and was 



214 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN SPRINGVILLE. 

used as a place of worship by the Methodists until 1863, when 
the present church edifice was completed, which was built under 
the supervision of the Rev. S. Y. Hammond, the preacher then 
in charge. The edifice is built of brick and of modern .style 
and finish, located upon a lot of ample size, with a commodious 
parsonage of appropriate style, in close proximity. A fair 
estimate of the value of the property could not fall short of 
$10,000. The present membership, at this date of 1883, is 110. 
Sunday school teachers and children, seventy-five. The present 
Board of Trustees are: Stephen E. Tefft, W. H. Pingey, Byron 
Wells. B. A. Lowe, H. G. Leland, L. M. Cumming.s, Frank 
Thurber, Newcomb Churchill, William McMillen. Rev. Will- 
iams, present pastor. 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN SPRINGVILLE. 

In January, 1827, the first Baptist church in Springville was 
organized. The articles of faith now held by the church were 
adopted, and Rufus C. Eaton was chosen Deacon. At the time 
of its organization the church was composed of eighteen mem-' 
bers, eight males and ten females. Their names were as 
follows : Zebulon Stratton, Levinus Cornwell, R. C. Eaton, 
Almon Fuller, Sylvester Eaton, W. W. Cornwell, Chauncey 
Pond, Elisha Eaton, Thankful White, Betsey P\iller, Sally 
Weeden, Sally Eddy, Eunice House, Juda Rhodes, Waitee 
Richmond, Eliza H. Eaton, Susannah Pond, Louisa Cornwell. 

About this time Elder Eliab Going was solicited to visit 
Springville, to preach and baptise a few persons. In January, 
1828, the church numbered thirty-five members, and Whitman 
Metcalf became its nominal ]:)astor, intending to preach one- 
fourth of the time. 

In 1832, Elder Loomis preached to the church. 

In June, 1833, Elder David Searle became pastor of the 
church. 

On the 14th of December, Daniel Parsons was chosen Deacon. 

In 1834, a new meeting house was built and dedicated Janu- 
ary 27, 1835, the dedicatory sermon being preached b)' IClder 
Elisha Tucker, of Buffalo. 

On the 27th of March, 1836, Elder Searle, who had labored 
successfully as pastor for three years, was dismissed witli a 



NAMES OF I'ASrORS. 21 5 

letter of commendation, and soon after, the Rev. W. T. Crane 
became pastor of the church and remained one year. 

In the Spring- of 1S37, Rev. G. W. Warren assumed the jias- 
toral charge of the church. June i/th, Lansing Waugh was 
hcensed to preacli. In August, 140 communicants were pres- 
ent. In November, R. D. Campbell was inxited to improve his 
gifts of preaching (and was afterward licensed), and Thomas 
Pierce was chosen Deacon. 

In December, the following resolution was adopted by the 
church, viz : 

"' Rcsoh'cd, That we will not admit to fellowship any indi- 
vidual who will not abstain from the use of ardent spirits, 
except as a medicine." 

In August, 1838, Elder Searle united with the church and 
became its pastor the second time. He continued to labor in 
that capacity till 1841. In 1841, Rev. Newell Smith became 
the pastor of the church. In September, 1842, he asked for a 
dismission. In October, Harry A. Sears w as licensed to preach. 
Twenty-seven had been baptised and twent\-five received by 
letter. 

In October, 1842, Fllder Anson Tucker became pastor of the 
church. On the iithof August, 1844, 'i*-' preached his fare- 
well sermon, having been dismissed at his request. In the Fall, 
A. H. Danforth, a student from Hamilton, preached during 
vacation. His brother, H. M. Danforth, was invited to preach, 
but he remained but a short time. Elder E. G. Hatch supplied 
the church a few months. Elder Orsamus Ta)'ntor, from the 
Free Will Baptist, united with this church at this time and was 
licen.sed to preach. Edwin Saunders and Alvin T. Cole were 
licensed also. 

In September, 1845, 1"^*-'^'- ^^- W. Mills accepted an invitation 
to the pa.storal office which he occupied till the year 1849, '^"^ 
then supplied the desk till 1850. While Elder Mills remained 
pastor, twenty-seven were baptised and thirty-five received by 
letter. The church which had graduall}- increased since its 
organization in 1827, now seems to have arrived at the height 
of its numerical force, reporting to the association held at 
Arcade in 1850 the aggregate number of 266. 

On the 24th of Februarv. 1850, Rev. Whitman Metcalf 



2l6 FREE BAPTIST CHURCH SOCIETY. 

became Pastor. On the 1st of May, 1853, twenty were bap- 
tized. After four years' labor Elder Metcalf offered his resig- 
nation which was reluctanth' accepted. 

On June 24, 1855, Rev. John Smitzer became Pastor. 
While he remained thirty-eight were baptized and added to 
the church. 

In April, 1857, Rev. John Pitman became Pastor and remained 
two )'ears. 

In January, i860, Rev. Clinton Colgrove became Pastor of 
the church and continued to preach to the church till the P'all 
of 1861. 

In the Spring of 1862 the Rev. H. H. Phelps became Pastor. 
He continued two years and was succeeded in July 1864, by 
Rev. Ira W. Simpson, who had entered on the fourth year of 
his pastorate when he died. 

In June, 1868, an agreement was made with Professor Rogers, 
of Griffith Institute, to supph' the desk for three monthes. 

In April, 1868, Rev. Charles Wilkinson commenced his labors 
as Pastor, and continued a year and a half, and was succeeded 
by Rev. E. L. Benedict Nov. i, 1869. 

In 1873, Rev. William Look became Pastor. He was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. B. E. Hillman in 1876. 

Rev. E. T. Fox commenced his labors in 1879. 

The Rev. Mr. Owen, the present Pastor, commenced his labors 
in 1882. 

Since 1854, the church has declined in numbers, more, per- 
haps, from emigration than any other cause, the youth and 
the older members of many families seeking homes in the 
West. 

In the year 1871 the church edifice was repaired and enlarged. 
L. M. Kellogg & Son had the job, and Thomas Lincoln was 
the master builder, as he also was of the old church. The new 
edifice was dedicated on the 28th of November, 1871. 

FREE BAPTIST CHURCH SOCIETY OF SPRINGVILLE, 

About fifty years ago the P'ree Will Baptist denomination 
held regular meetings at Springville. They had no church 
edifice and met in the Methodist church and the school-house. 
The first local pastor was Rev. H. Whitcher, a young man who 



ROMAN-fAlIIOUr CIIUKCH ()1- Sl'KI \( i\ I I.LK. 21/ 

attciulctl school at the Acadeni)- and prcachctl to his congrega- 
tion on the Sabbath. He remained about two years and after- 
wards became prominent!}' connected with an F.W. H. Seminar\- 
in Oneida County. 

After several )'ears it would seem meetings were discontin- 
ued, and no society existed in Springville, organizations being 
maintained at East and West Concord. 

On the 26th of May. 1867, the present church society was 
organized in Springville. The following were the principal 
original members : — Mr. and Mrs. Albro, Mr. and Mrs. Leigh- 
ton, Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Gaylord, Mrs. Weeden, Mrs. Stanbro 
and Miss Alice McClure. 

On the iith of June, 1868, a permanent organization was 
effected by the election of the following board of trustees : — 
Emmons Jones, Emery D. Albro, Stephen R. Smith, Walter 
A. Fox and Horatio A. Barker. S. R. Smith was elected 
treasurer and H. A. Barker clerk. At a meeting of the board 
June 15, a plan for building a church, drawn by Mr. Porter, 
architect, of Buffalo, was adopted, and July 29th the contract 
for building the church was let to S. R. Smith for eight 
thousand dollars. Calvin Smith, Emery D. Albro, Emmons 
Jones and S. R. Smith each subscribed one thousand dollars 
toward the construction of the church. The church was dedi- 
cated March 12th, 1870, Rev. G. H. Ball, of Buffalo, preached 
the dedicatory sermon. Rew B. C. Van Duzee was first pastor, 
he was succeeded by Rev. Charles Cook who remained until 
1875, then Rev. B. F. Herrick ofificiated one year, followed by 
Mr. Van Duzee. who preached one year, when Rew A. J. Hr}-- 
ant who remains up to the present writing. 

ST, ALOYSIUS ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCH OF SPRINGVILLE, 

The church property was purchased of George Holland Oct. 
22, 1856, formerly owned and occupied by the F^irst Pre.sby- 
terian church of Springville. The Board of Trustees consists 
of five persons, the Bishop and Vicar-General being ex-ojficio 
Trustees, and also the Pastor, who appoints annually two lay- 
men as Trustees ; the two laymen now acting as Trustees are 
Victor Collard and Peter Saelzler. FVom 1853 to May 15, 
1869, this was onl\- a missionar}- station: Ma\' 15 irf6Q a per- 



2l8 FREE BAPTIST CHURCH OF EAST -CONC* )RI >. 

manent Pastor was appointed and a residence built. April 14, 
1878 ground was broken for the new church edifice, which was 
built during that season ; Thomas Lincoln was the architect and 
builder. The church was dedicated Sept. 18, 1879. The church 
edifice has a seating capacity of four hundred, has a bell weigh- 
ing 506 pounds, the main building being \o6j4 feet in length, 
having an audience n^om of 70x40 feet; in the rear, unparti- 
tioned is a sanctuary 30x22 feet ; the cost of the church prop- 
erty was about $8,000; number of church members, about four 
hundred ; the present Pastor is Rey. F. X. Fromholzer. 

FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SPRINGVILLE 

The P^irst Universalist Church Society of Springville was 
organized in 1846. Rev. L George, Abram Dyrgert, I. B. Childs 
and Jonathan Mayo, were the first trustees. 

The following constituted the principal original male mem- 
bers of the society : 

Abram Dyrgert, Lewis Childs, L B, Childs, Benj. Wheeler, 
Chester Spencer, Sewell Hakes, Baltus Goodemote, Philip 
Goodemote, Michael C. Huffstader, Jonathan Mayo, Rev. L 
George, C. C. McClure, Perrin Sampson, William Ballou, John 
Ballou, Jonathan Briggs, Jacob Badgley, O. D. Curtis and Dr. 
L. C. Pool. ^ . 

The church was built in 1 847. Re\\ L George the first pastor, 
preached the dedicatory sermon. Rev. L George was suc- 
ceeded as pastor by Rev. C H. Dutton, he by Rev. T. J. Whit- 
comb, and he by the Rev. J. B. Saxe, the last one who preached 
regularly to the society. 

In 1879 the church edifice was sold to Messrs. Horris Hall 
and L B. Childs, who re-modeled it into the present Opera 
House. The avails of the sale were given into the keeping of 
the New York State Convention of Universalists, as a fund to 
be used for the benefit of the denomination. 

FREE BAPTIST CHURCH OF EAST CONCORD. 

The societ)' was organized about sixty years ago by Elder 
Richard Car)-, of Boston. For a number of years meetings 
were held at the Block school house ; afterwards at the Sharp 
street school house. The present church edifice at East Con- 
cord was built in 1S52, previous to which Elder Cary preached 



KKKK ISAl'TIST CIll'KCIl OK WKSl lONCORD. 2ig 

;it intervals for many years; Elders Folsom, VVhitcher. Bab- 
cock and Plumb also preached. Of the original members, Mrs. 
Achsie Townsend, of Townsentl Hill, is the oiiK- survivin<,^ one. 
Giles Churchill, Prentis Stanbro, Sen., Prentis Stanbro, Jr., E. 
Steele, Woodruff Van Dusan. George L. Stanbro and Sterling- 
Titus have been the deacons of the church from its organiza- 
tion to the present time, in the order as stated above. 

The following are the names of the ministers who ha\e 
preached to the society since the building of the church in 
1852: B. H. Damon, Elder Plyn, Ashly Ensign, B. H. Damon. 
Elder Barker, Elder Van Duzee, Elder Stuart, Elder Starr. 
Charles Cook, Elder Van Duzee, B. F. Herrick and A. F. Bry- 
ant. The present membership is about one hundred. 

WEST CONCORD FREE BAPTIST CHURCH. 

About 1818 a few churchmen organized a Free-VVill Baptist 
Society at West Concord. Among the early members were 
Jeremiah Richardson and wife. Elijah Richardson and wife. 
Stephen Knight and wife, Simeon Holton and wife, Elijah, 
Polly and Caroline Richardson. 

The first meetings were held in the school-house, at Nichols' 
corners. Elder Richard Gary was the first minister to preach 
to the society and of^ciated as pastor for many years. Stephen 
Knight, Elder Rindalls, Elder Plumb, Jonathan Canfield and 
Elder Andrus were among the early ministers. 

The church edifice was built about 1 845. The dedicatory 
services were conducted by Elder Andrus. Jeremiah Rich- 
ardson was among those who were most efficient in building 
the church. 

WEST CONCORD M. E. CHURCH. 

In 1819 a Methodist Society was organized in West Con- 
cord. Among the original members were Lewis Nichols and 
wife, Abijah Nichols and wife, Isaac Nichols and wife, David 
and Betsey Nichols, Lewis Nichols, Jr., Mrs. Hira Lush and Mrs. 
Vernam Cooper. The first meetings were held in an old log 
school house. 

Elder Buell was the first to preach to the societ)'. Other 
earh' ministers were Elder Parker, John Copeland, Elder Wiley, 
Elder Bingham. Inkier Castleton and Re\-. Joseph Hines 



22C THE SPKIXCVILLE ACADEMY. 

The church edifice was built about 1868. It was dedicated 
by Rev. B. I. Ives, at that time chaplain of Auburn State prison. 

While Rev. Thomas Castleton was preaching to the church, 
a spirited revival took place, which resulted in many converts 
joining the church. 

THE SPRINGVILLE ACADEMY. 

OUTIJXE HIST()R^". 

The original subscription for raising means to build the 
Springville Academy, was dated Dec. 14th, 1825, and among 
other provisions contained the following: 

" 3d. We hereby agree to pay to the trustees to be appointed 
by us as above stated, the several sums set opposite our names, 
as follows : One-third in grain or materials for building on the 
first of March next, one-third in salable young stock on the first 
of September next, and the other third in cash, half of which 
is to be paid the first of June ne.xt, and the other half on the 
first of Jan., 1827, all to be estimated at cash price." 

It was a serious matter for the people of Springville and 
vicinity to undertake at that early day to build an Academy. 
The country was new and the people were poor, and when we 
look back and consider the circumstances in which they were 
[)laccd, we must admire and commend the wisdom and the 
energy and perseverance with which they conceived and carried 
out the difficult undertaking. In 1825 there was no great city 
and no good markets within hundreds of miles of this place, and 
people could get but xcxy little money for their products, 
because there was ver}' little money in the country ; but it is 
evident that if these old pioneers had but little money, they 
had what is sometimes better than money — they had "sand." 

COPY OF THE ORKilNAl. SUBSCRIPTION LIST. 

Names Shares $15 v'ames Shares $15 Names Shares S15 

^^^^^- each. -^ame^. ^^^.[^ iNames. ^^^^_ 

Samuel Lake 5 Luther .\ustin i Wm. Vaughn i 

Henry Sears 4 Geo. Shultz 3 Archibald (irififith 2 

Carlos Emmons 2 Wm. Shultz 2 Jeremiah Wilcox, half in 

W. F. G. Lake 2 John Goodemotc 2 May next and half in 

Frederick White 2 C. C. Wells i Feb., 1S27 4 

Rufus C. Eaton 4 Samuel Cochran 4 Wm. Rouse i 

Rufus Eaton 3 Jacob Rushmore 2 Isaac Palmer i 

Liger & Herrick -: 3 Derius Palmer, by consent. 1 Otis Butterworth. Jr i 

Lcvinus Cornwell 2 Robert .-Vngur i lohn Drake i 



ORKilXAI. SUHSCRIl'TION LIST 



221 



Joseph McMillan 4 

John Russell 3 

Otis D. Tibits 2 

R. G . Murray i 

David Furjiuson i 

Varney In^^als 3 

Wales EmniDns 2 

Christopher Douf^las i 

Jeremiah bcallin i 

David Seymour i 

Abel Holman 2 

Jedediah Starks 2 

Lewis ('hilds i 

Isaac Bennett i 

John Williams .. i 

George R. Willard t 

Johnson Bensley i 

Eaton Bensley i 

Sylvester Eaton 3 

Truman White, on consid ■ 
cration that lumber is re 

ceived 2 

Jarvis Bloomticld . 3 

Stephen Albro, Jr i 

John Albro 4 

Giles Churchill 2 

Elisha Russell, to be paid in 

brick, at cash price 2 

Seth Allen 2 

Asa Wells i 

Thomas Johnson 2 



Alanson Lovelace i 

Elikum Rhodes i 

David Shultz, to be paid in 

cattle 2 

Augustus G. Elliott i 

Silas Rushmore 2 

Harvev Stephenson i 

Lothrop Beebe i 

Jairus Reynolds, to be paid 

in stone and labor i 

Phineas Scott 1 

Samuel Lake i 

Selah Squires i 

Alden S. Sprajjue 2 

Tousley & Tuttle 4 

Wm. Wedon i 

Eaton Bensley i 

Justus Scott I 

Charles Chaffee 1 

Jacob Drake i 

Samuel Cochran i 

S . S . Ellsworth 2 

Elisha Mack i 

B. B. Mason i 

Chauncy Lee i 

M. L. Arnold i 

Samuel Stewart, 3 

Abial Gardner, to be paid 

in brick, at cash price. ... 2 

Nathan King i 

Charles Wells 2 



Joseph Jackson i 

David Bensley i 

Stukely Starks i 

Geo. C. Grayham i 

Isaac Knox 2 

John Holdridge i 

Truman Bensley i 

The following were subscri- 
bed in 1830, or subsequently : 

Carlos Emmons 2 

Samuel Lake 2 

Brooks & Wendover 

Elbert W. Cook 

Samuel J. Church 

Sylvester B. PecK 

Eaton & Butterworth 

Manly Colton 

Elbert W. Cook 

Kingsbury & Hoveland.. . 

Carlos Emmons 

Jarvis Bloomfield 

Pliny Smith, Jr 

Joseph Harkness 

Morgan L. Badgley 

Geo. Shultus 

Ebenezer Dibble 

Amaziah Ashman 

Samuel Cochran 



STRIXCVILLK AtADE.Nn' 

was incorporated by an act of the Ley;islature, March 19, 1827, 
being the second academy incorporated on the HoHand Pur- 
chase, Fredonia Academ)- having been incorporated in 1824. 

The walls of the Acadeni}' were put up in 1827. 

The first term of school held in the Springville Academy 
commenced in the fall of. 1830. Hiram H. Barne}' was the 
Principal and Miss Mary Elliot the Preceptress. 

No record of the names of students could be found, but 
according to the best recollection of several who attended at 
that time, the following named persons were students, the whole 
or a part of the first year : 



Cephus R Leiand, 
Marshall Leiand, 
Sarah Leiand, 
Marion Leiand, 
Hannah Henman, 
Patience Starks, 
Julia Rhodes, 
Emily Rhodes, 
Lewis Hewitt. 



Jacob White. 
Dolphin Stevenson, 
Chester Calkins, 
^hlrvin .Swain, 
Sarah Clark. 
Amy Huntly. 
Hiram Bloomtield, 
John Jackson, 
Eliza Sampson. 



Charles Sherman, 
Sarah Ann Wells. 
Rebecca Brooks. 
William .McMillan, 
Deljs E. Sillman, 
Henry Radcliff, 
Andrew Stevens, 
Louisa Richm->nd, 
Roderick White, 



Smith and McKay, of 

Manstield, 
Miranda Bowen, 
Timothy Lockwood, 
Wells Brooks, 
Sard is Wilco.x, 
H. Lockwood, 
Asa Piiillips, 
Samuel Bradley, 



222 



THE '' GRIFFITH INSTITUTE, 



Harriet Swift, 
Theodore Potter, 
John Churchill, 
Adaline Murray, 
Caroline Cochran, 
Orson Cochran, 
Joseph Cochran, 
Byron Cochran, 
Sarah Ann Bensley, 
Harriet White, 
Frederick Alerrell, 
Miss Merrell, 
Martha Johnson, 
Morris Fosdick , 
Harriet Barney, 



Caroline Gregory, 
Alonzo Gregory, of 

Ellicottville, 
Wales Butterworth, 
AppletonButterworth, 
Mary Eaton, 
Nelson Hopkins, 
William Dibble. 
Sarah Dibble, 
Helen McMillan, 
Selem Sears, 
Otis Morton, 
Mary Morton, 
Anna Moulton, 
Betsy Brooks, 



Washington Shultu? 
Lucy Shultus, 
Julia Ann Shultus, 
Elias Steele, 
Roderick Simonds, 
Harriet Evans, 
Asaph Potter, 
Oliver Canfield, 
Orville Canfield, 
Samuel Abbott, 
Chauncy Abbott, 
Stephen Chafee, 
Utley and sister. 
Hunt of Eden, 
Roach of Buffalo, 



Eliza Bradley, 
Calex Calkins, 
Almina Whitcomb, 
John Lockwood, 
A. A. Arm stead, 
A. Pool, 
Paul Nobles, 
Franklin Spencer, 
Calvin R. Davy, 
Cyrenius Simmons, 
Mr. Wright, 
IVIr. Tiffany, 
Mr. Conklin, 
Mr. Ailen. 



Mr. Barney was succeeded by Lorenzo Parsons, as Perceptor^ 
in 1833 ; he was follow^ed in 1839, by Edwin E. Williams, he 
by A. C. Huestis. 1841 to 1843 ^ E. C. Hall in 1844. October, 
1845, \Vm. Mosheir. January, 1847, J. W. Earle came. He was 
followed by Moses Lane in 1850. Ezekiel Cutler and Eden 
Sprout taught next, each for a }'ear, in 1853 and 1854. In 1855, 
Wm. S. Aumuck took charge. In the latter part of 1858, Rev- 
David Copeland became Principal and continued to occupy the 
position till 1865 ; he was followed b)' Charles R. Pomeroy, 
and he by W. W. Mclntyre, and he by W. H. Rogers, in 1867. 
A. R. Weightman was employed in 1870 and W. H. Rogers 
again in 1872. J. W. O'Brien was the next principal, and he 
was followed by Samuel W. Eddy in 1875. 

The teachers of the female department of the Academy 
have been : 



Miss Starkweather, Miss Warner, 
.Miss Versalla Barber, Miss Case, 

Miss Marten, 
Miss Emma Clark, 
Mrs. Pomroy, 
Mrs. E. B. Rogers, 



Miss Mary Elliot. Miss Decker, 

Miss Sayles. Sarah Houstis, 

Miss Chamberlin, Lucretia Murray, Mrs. Aumock, 

Miss North, Silena N. Johnson, Miss Field, 

Miss Whitlock, Miss Hannah McClure, Miss Emmons. 

Harriet N. Murry, Mrs. Carpenter, .Miss Copeland, 

Miss O'Brien, Miss Libbie Mayo. 

In 1867 the name of the Academy was changed to the 
" Griffith Institute," in consideration of the liberal donation 
given to the institution by Archibald Griffith, of the town of 
Concord. 

Mr. Griffith afterwards bequeathed o\'er ten thousand dol- 
lars to the institution as a permanent fund, to be used mainly 
for the free education of orphans and indigent children ot the 
town of Concord. 



SKMI-CKNTKXMAl. (EI.KIJRATIOX. 223 

In tlic fall of 1875, school districts Nos. 6 and 8 were united 
and formed union school district No. I, of the town of Concord. 

In (876, the l^oard of Education of Union School district 
No. I, adoi)ted the "(iriffith Institute" as the academic de- 
partment thereof, with the consent of the trustees of said 
institute ; and the ofifices of the said Hoard of Trustees were 
then declared \acant, as provided by statute. 

The schools were united and ha\'e since been conducted as 
one school with four departments, academic, senior, interme- 
diate and primary. There are four teachers in the academic 
department, and fwc teachers in the other departments. 

Samuel W. Edd)' wasthe first principal, and Miss F. M. Sher- 
man, the first preceptress; G. W. Ellis was the next principal, 
and Miss Sherman the preceptress; Prof. E. \V. Griffith is now 
principal, and Mrs. E. W. Griffith preceptress. 

Many students of this institution have attained honorable 
positions in societ}'. Some have been promoted to high official 
positions in this and other states. Asher P. Nichols, Comp- 
troller, State of New York ; Addison Gibbs, Governor of Ore- 
gon ; Ualeson Smith, United States Senator, Oregon : Renj. 
V. Rice, United States Senator, Arkansas; Romanzo Bunn, 
Judge of the United States District Court, southern district, 
Wisconsin; A. E.Carr, Brigadier General, United States army; 
Henry V\ane Armen, M. C, Cattaraugus and Chatauqua counties ; 
Albert Haight, Judge Supreme Court, N. Y. ; Timothy T. 
Lockwood, E.x-mayor of Buffalo ; Stephen Lockwood, Ex- 
judge of Erie County; Allen D. Scott, Ex-senator and Judge 
Cattaraugus county ; C. P. Vedder, Ex-state Senator and State 
Assessor; Charles H. Reed, District Attorney, Cook county, 
Illinois, besides a large number not mentioned here. 

THE SEMI-CENTENXIAI, CELEBRATION OF THE OPENING OF 
THE SPKINOVILLE ACADEM\ . 

The Semi-Centennial Celebration of the opening of the 
Spring\'ille Academ}' — (iriffith Institute — was held at Spring- 
ville, on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. i and 2, 1880. 

Mr. E. Briggs first .suggested the idea of the celebration, and 
circulated a paper for signatures, calling a public meeting to 
consider the matter and take the necessary steps, and make the 
proper arrangements, which meeting, when assembled, promptly 



224 EXERCISES OF THE FIRST DAY. 

voted that such a celebration should be held and appointed a 
President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, and an 
executive committee. The executive committee was empow- 
ered by said meeting to appoint all other committees and 
to make all necessary arrangements for the celebration. The 
officers were : 

President of the Day, - - Hon. C. C. SEVERANCE. 
Vice-President, ... - W. G. RANSOM, 
Secretary, - - - - A. R. Taber, 
Treasurer, - - - - H. G. Leland, 

executive committee. 

Erasmus Briggs, - . Chainnan, 
William McMillan, Henrv M. Blackmar. 

George W. Weldon, Russel J. Vaughn. 

Charles C. Stanbro, Byron Cochran. 

George, G. Stanbro, Chain/iau of Coimnittee of Iweitatiou. 
C. J. Shuttle worth, '* " Reception Committee. 

M. L. Hall, " " Supper Conimittee. 

Frank Prior, " " Finance Committee. 

The executive committee authorized and empowered its chair- 
man to proceed and make all such arrangements as he should 
deem necessary and proper for the occasion which with the sanc- 
tion of said committee given from time to time, he proceeded to 
do, which duties occupied his time and attention constantl}', for 
many weeks. 

Mr. Taber also spent several weeks and faithfully performed 
the laborious duties of the ofifice of Secretary. General invi- 
tation was given and special invitations were sent to nearl}' all 
the States and Territories and Canada, wherever it could be 
ascertained a former student resided. The good people of 
Springvillc and of th(p Town of Concord contributed all the 
means necessary to make the celebration a success. When the 
appointed time arrived, a large number of students and citizens 
of this town and of other towns in this and adjoining counties 
assembled — many old students coming hundreds of miles to 
witness and take part in the proceedings. A rostrum was 
erected in front of the academy and adjoining Franklin street, 
and seats were provided and arranged for the accommodation 



KXKRCISKS OF rHK SIXOND DAN'. 225 

of those present under the shade of the trees on the academy 
Ljrounds. At two o'clock on the afternocMi of the first day, the 
large concourse assembled, led by Lay's silver cornet band from 
the Cattaraugus reservation, proceeded to the place prepared 
for the exercises. 

After a prayer by the Rev. I. George, of l^'redonia, the Presi- 
of the Day, Hon. C. C Severance, congratulated the citizens 
and the institution on the great number which had responded 
to the call. In behalf of the citizens he then welcomed these 
students home again to the institution " in wliose classic halls 
they had received instruction." Several letters had been 
received from those who, though, imited, were unable to be 
present, which were now read by \V. H. Ticknor, Esq. 

Two beautiful poems were received from Mrs. James Sweet, 
of Nebraska City, and Mrs. Clark M. Carr, of Galesburg, 111., 
and were read by Miss Sule M. Holland. 

The Speakers for the afternoon were Samuel Lake, Esq., 
Erasmus Briggs, who gave a brief outline history of the Acad- 
emy, and David H. Cochran, President of the Collegiate and 
Polytechnic Listitute, Brooklyn, N. Y. At the conclusion of 
Dr. Cochran's address, the great throng, headed by the band, 
proceeded to the park. Here they partook of a bountiful sup- 
per prepared and served up by the ladies of the Town of Concord. 

Wednesday evening the speakers were \V. G. Ransom, of 
Springville, Ex-Judge Stephen Lockwood, of Buffalo; Judge 
Haight, of Buffalo, Professor (i. W . Flllis. of Spring\ille, and 
Dr. Van Pelt, of Williamsville. ■ 

On Thursday afternoon at I o'clock a procession of students 
was formed in the park and divided into sections of fi\-e }'ears, 
each section bearing a banner on which was inscribed the date 
of their student life in the Academy. Headed b\- the band, 
they marched down Franklin street to Main, and up Main to 
Academy street, and bringing up at last in front of their hon- 
ored Alma Mater. 

Thursday afternoon the speakers were: Judge A. D. .Scott, 
of Flllicottville ; Rev. L George, of Fredonia; Charles H. Reed, 
Esq., of Chicago; Samuel Lake, Esq., Alonzo Tanner, Esq., of 
Buffalo; Col. Clark E. Carr, of Galesburg, 111.; Colonel Cook, 
of Havana, N. Y., and Cyrus Rice. Esq., of Sardinia. 



?26 



FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY SFRINGVILLE ACADEMY 



The speakers Thursday evening \\'ere Rev. A. F. Colburn, 
Hon. Dolphin, Stephenson, of Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y.; T. 
S. Bunting, Esq., of Hamburg; select reading by Miss KateW. 
Bensley, of Chicago ; (ieorge W. Spaulding, Esq., of Concord, 
and Hosea Heath, Esq., of Hamburg, who was the last speaker. 

A vote of thanks was then tendered to Mr. Briggs, who ear- 
nestly labored to make the celebration a success, and also to 
Mr. Tabor, who faithfully performed the duties of the office of 
Secretary. All these united in singing '^Old Hundred " and 
" Auld Lang Syne," after which Rev. A. F. Colburn pronounced 
the benediction. 

Thus concluded, to the entire satisfaction of students, citi- 
zens and visitors, the greatest and b}' far the best celebration 
Springville has ever witnessed. 

The weather being warm and pleasant, the academ\' grounds 
were lit up by a large number of Chinese lanterns, and the 
exercises in the e\'ening, as well as in the da}' time, were held 
there. 

During the exercises the audience was entertained from time 
to time with excellent vocal music furnished by a select choir 
composed of the following persons: R. E. Hufstader and 
daughter, W. W. Blakely, S. Fl. Spaulding 
Miss Lucy Sherman, Mrs. Bordon, Mrs. H. 
D. Jones. 

A list of the names of those who attended the l^lftieth Anni- 
versary of the Springville Academy placed under their Princi- 
pals, and their present residences given. When the State is 
not e"iven New York is to be understood : 



Mrs. A. H. Pierce, 
G. Leland, Mrs. A. 



BARNEY. 

Jacob White, Yorkshire Center. 

Richard C. Johnson, Sardinia. 

Charles Sherman, Springville. 

Amos Dow, East Randolph. 

John C. Jackson, Ashford. 

Charles Arnold. Arcade. 

Theodore H. Porter, Springville. 

George Marsh, Sardinia. 

Mary A. Sampson Bingham, Elkador, Iowa. 

Anna Moulton Chafee, Springville. 

Julia Rhodes Lincoln, Springville. 

Emily Rhodes Britton, East Concord. 

Mary Whitney Sherman, Springville. 

Elmina Whitcomb Draper, Toledo, O. 

HAKNEV AND TARSONS. 

Dr. William Van Pelt, Williamsville. 



Caleb Calkins, Peterboro. 

Hon. Dolphin Stephenson, Phelps. 

Samuel M Abbott, M. D., East Hamburg. 

Col. Chauncey H. Abbott, East Hamburg. 

John Churchill, Springville. 

George Williams, Yorkshire. 

Laban A. Needham, Concord. 

Orson Cochran, Otto. 

Peregrine G. Eaton, Springville. 

Wil iam Ives, Buffalo. 

Mrs. Altczeria Arnold Clark, Ashford. 

PARSONS. 

Cyrus Rice, Sardinia. 

James Otis, Sardinia. 

Calvin D. Melven, Cadiz. 

Henry T. Wadsvvorth, Springville. 

Samuel W. Pratt, North Collins. 



FIKTlKril AXMVKRSARN Sl'Rl N( A I I.l.K ACADKMV. 22/ 



Eugene (Graves, Franklinville. 
S. K. S. II. Nott, M. IX, Hambur^r. 
Henry Simons, Sardinia. 
Oliver P. Buffum, ("olden. 
David C . Kingslcy, Sprinsjvillc. 
Charles M . Wilder, Chicago, III. 
Eunice Salisbury Notl, Hamburff. 
Eliza Chafee Cole, East Hamburg. 
Lydia Sherman McMillan, Springville. 
Sarah L. Wilder, Van X'alkenburg, Hough- 
ton Creek. 

I'.AKSO.NS ANIl \VILLI.i\MS. 

Salmon L. Johnson, Cattaraugus. 
Charles Beebe, Sandusky. 
Delia A. Sprague Prindle, Fredonia. 
Minerva A. Miner Mayo, Springville. 

l'.\RSONS, \VU.LI.\MS AND HIESTIS. 

David C. Bloom field, Sherman, Chautauqua 
county. 

I'.ARSONS, HIKSTIS AND HAI.L. 

Mary Bailey Weast, Waukegan, III. 

EDWIX E. WILLIAMS. 

Hubbard T. White, Jamestown. 

I'Vancis AVhite, Springville. 

Isaac Wilcox, Xorth Collins. 

S. H. Nott, Holland. 

Jeremiah F. Jackman, Marilla. 

Rev. Isaac (reorge, Fredonia. 

A. Judson W'iltse, Yorkshire Center. 

Alon/.o Tanner, Buffalo. 

V. R. Carey, Uoston. 

Erasmus Briggs, Springville. 

Aurelia Cary Davis, Boston. 

Louise Jones Wadsworth, Springville 

Maria Rice Finder, Lima, Livingston Co. 

Sarah G. Bond George, Portersville, Cal. 

Emily S. Clark Frost, North Evans. 

Aurora A. Nelson Kingman, Springville. 

WILLL-ViMS AND HIESTIS. 

Almon Nichols, Morton's Corners. 

WILLIAMS, HUESTIS, HALL AND MOSHER. 

David H. Cochran, Ph. D., LL. D., Brooklyn. 
Martin Wiltse, Yorkshire. 

WILLIAMS, HALL A.\D HARI.E. 

David S. Ingalls, Buffalo. 

HlESllS. 

Josiah Emery, .\urora. 

F. Kidder Davis, Y^orkshire. 

Hon. Arunah Ward, Ellicottvillc. 

HIESTIS AND HALL. 

Heman Andrews, Springville. 

HUE.sriS, HALL, MOSHER AND EARLE. 

W. G. Ransom, Springville. 

HUESTIS, HALL AND EARLE. 

J. Andrew Studley, East Ashford. 

HUESTIS AND E.\RLE. 

Julia A. French Andrews, Springville. 



E. (.. HALL. 

Sarah K. Brockway Earle, South Wales. 

HAIL, MOSHEK, EARLE AND LANE. 

Ivlizabcth J. Melvin Rogers, Holland City, 
Mich. 

HALL AND EAKLE. 

Emily J. Lewis Whittemore, Marshtield. 

MOSIIER, EAKLE .\ND LANE. 

Phebe W. Starkweather Eaton, Springville. 

HALL, EAKLE, LANE, SPKOl T AND AIMOCK. 

Sylvia P. Joslin, Springville. 

J. \\ . K.\KLE. 

William H. Churchill, Maywood, 111. 
Edward W. Stanclift, North Collins. 
Clark C. Sibley, East Concord. 
Philander II. Parker, Arcade. 
Henry M. Blackmar, Springville. 
Miss Mary Davidson, Buffalo. 
Esther Cornwell House, Spi-ingville. 
Harriet A. Pierce Low, Springville. 
Gertrude E. Van Volkenburg Summer. 

Springville. 
Louise S. Marsh George, Yorkshire. 

E.^KLE .\ND LANE. 

Hon. Allen D. Scott, Ellicottville. 

Heman W. Rugg, Olean. 

Col. Clark E. Carr, Galesburg, 111. 

Hon. Charles Harvey Reed, Chicago. 

Seth A. Abbott, Abbott's Corners. 

Frederick Eaton, Olean. 

Rev. Alanson M. Richardson, Cowlesville. 

Augusta I. Chafee Clark, Utica. 

App. P. Scott, Allison, Otto. 

Rosina S. Blake Rowley, Springville. 

Helen A. Pierce Kellogg, East Pike. 

EARLE, LANE .\ND CUTLER. 

Maria Davidson Frye, Collins Center. 

EARLE, LANE, CUTLER .^ND SI'ROUT. 

Ann H. Peirce, Springville. 
Laurette N. Lake Taber, Springville. 

EAKI.K, LANK, Cl^TI.KR, SI'ROU T AND AUMOCK. 

George P. Kellogg, East Pike. 

MOSES LANE. 

AbraT< Bartholomew, Buffalo. 
Erastus L. Harris, Collins Center. 
Daniel Spaulding, Concord. 
Richard Frank Powers, Hamburg. 
Heniy H. Wibirt, New York City. 
Samuel E. Mritton, Lewiston. 
Hosea S. Heath, Esq., Hamburg. 
William S. Newton, Hamburg. 
.Mary J. Beach Chase, Boston. 
Mary Ann McLin Barnett, Buffalo. 
Caroline A. Rice Schutt, Sardinia. 
Phoebe J. Deuel Newton, Hamburg. 
Mary Miner Brooks, Olean. 
Marion Dutton Chilcott, Ea.st Hamburg. 
.Amelia Huntley Lewis, Glenwood. 
Susan O. Fowler Chandler. Springville. 



228 FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY SPRINC.VILLE ACADEMY. 



Maryette Adams Mason, Marilla. 

Ann Lincoln, Springville. 

Edna J. Beebe, Arcade. 

Melinda L. Newton, Holman, Hamburg. 

Sophia S. Newton Eaton, Springville. 

l..\NE, Cl'TLER AND SF'ROUT. 

Asa R. Taber, Springville. 

L.\N'E, CUTLER AND .\L'MOCK. 

Rev. John Corydon Steele, Attica. 
Russel J. Vaughan, Springville. 

I.ANE AND AUMOCK. 

"Byron A. Churchill, West Falls. 

Susan A. Smith Backus, North East, Pa. 

I.ANE AND COPELAND. 

Lydia A. Post Powers, Abbot's Corners. 

EDEN SI'KOUT. 

Alexander Hale, North Collins. 

SPROl'T AND AUMOCK. 

Loren D. Smith, Sardinia. 
Benjamin S. Godard, Philadelphia, Pa. 
Charles E. Boisford, Springville. 
Laban W. Smith, Springville. 
Sara Vail Kerr, CoUius Center. 

SPROUT, AUMOCK AND COI'ELAND. 

Theodoie B. Norris, Springville. 
Adeline L. Scobey Warner, Springville. 

W. S. .\UMOCK. 

Frank M. Stryker, Castile, Wyoming county . 
Seward Sears, Sardinia. 
Bryant J Davis, East Concord. 
Lucinda Reynolds Hopkins, Sardinia, 
Mary L. Johnson Crosby, Sardinia 



David D. Smith, Yorkshire. 
Garrett W. Stryker, Castile 
John C. Bump, Buffalo. 

Charles M. Newton, Hamburg'. 

Harrison L. Newton, Hamburg. 

Clark C. Dart, Hamburg. 

Bishop Cantield, Vandalia, Cattaraugus coun- 
ty- 
Albert Fuller, Ashford, Springville P. O. 

Marion Lincoln, Springville. 

Morris C. Freeman, Springville. 

Se.xtus E. Smith, Union Mills, Indiana. 

Joseph B. Stryker, Strykersville. 

Frank A. Howell, Yorkshire Center. 

Hon. Albert Haight, Buffalo. 

Martin E. Williams, Bradford, Pa. 

Cornelius Ostrander, Springville. 

Ray H. Canfield, Concord. 

S. N. Blakely, Glen wood. 

Marshall D. Scobey, Sandusky. 

Walter W. Blakeley, Springville. 

Ellen Jewett Godard, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Louise Graves Bersee, Millington, Tuscola 
county, Mich. 

Alice M. Post Payne, Titusville, Pa. 

Elizabeth L. Mayo Foster, Collins Center. 

Alice Wells Vanatta, Springville. 

Betsey Squires Vedder, Ellicottville. 

Mary Jane Reed Stryker, Strykersville. 

Emma P. Hall Crane, New Canaan, Conn. 

Louise Williams Kenyon, West Falls. 

Alice D. Marsh Emerson, Springville. 

Ella Goodemote Greene, Springville. 

Mary Bensley Price, Chicago, Illinois. 

Eliza Hammond Hall, Bennington. 



M. Louise Dayton CHUman, West Vorkshire.^^^.^ ^^ ^^.^^ ^j^,^.^^^^ Springville 



Altheria Squires Treat, East Concord 
Mary Curtis Churchill, Springville. 
Eliza McLin, Springville. 
Addie Greene Park, Fredonia. 
Mary A. Pingrey Smith, Springville. 
Mercy L. Newton, Hamburg. 

AUMOCK AND COPEl.ANP. 

Henry F. Norris, Pike, Wyoming county 
William H. Warner, Springville. 
Chester E. Norris, Rushford. 
Chester C. Pingrey, Yorkshire Center. 



Fanny M. Sherman, Springville. 

Diana King, Springville 

Mercy Canueld. Colden. 

Eupheme E. Ayars Freeman, Springville. 

Ann Johnson Ellis, Sardinia. 

Ermina Colwell YanSlyke, Dunlap, Iowa. 

Adella Thomas Scobey, Sandusky. 

COPEl.AND, POMEROV, ROGERS AND WK.HTMAN 

Asa L. Twichell, Springville. 

COI'ELAND, POMEROV, MCINTVRE AND ROGERS. 

Lucy Twichell Bensley, Springville. 

PELAND AND MCINTVRE. 



Harlan P. Spaulding, Springville. 

DelosD. Crocker, North Branch Station, Minn. ^^^^^^ ^^ Hoiman.VnngviVle. 

Maria L. Bowen, Yorkshire. 

Carrie Squires Smith, Union Mills, Ind. 

Addie McMillan McMaster, Springville. 

Elvira Beebe Whitney, East Ashford. 

DAVID COPELAND. 

Millard S. Avery, North Collins. 
Jonathan H. Smith, Clarksburg. 
Chester C. McClure. Jr., Buffalo. 
Daniel R. Newton, Bradford, Pa. 
Addison M. Smith, Arcade. 
Frank A. Smith, .Arcade. 



COPEl.AND, MCINTVRE AM) ROGERS. 

Rev. A. F. Colburn, Springville. 

COPE1..AN1) AND KOCiERS. 

Emmons D. Tefft, East Otto. 
Daniel R. Newton, Hamburg. 

C. R. POMEKOV. 

Wm. H. Sherman, East Ashford. 
Ellen A. Tefft Dunbar, East Otto. 
pomerov, mcintvre, rogeks, wight.man and 
o'hkien. 
Charles Willis House, Holland 



KII' riF.ril AX\IVKKS.\I<\ STRINGVILLE ACADKMV. 229 



MCIN1 VKK. 

Libbic Hammond, East Otto. 

Mt IN'I'NKE AND KIH'.KKS. 

Klmer O. Leland, Springville. 
J. Waldo Norton, Springvillc, 
Addison G. Mattlievvson, Springvillc. 
Philura L. Clark Bartholomew, Springvillo. 
Sarah A. Sibley Baker, East Concord. 

MCINTVRE, KOGEKS AND WIOHTMAN. 

Alfred A. Churchill, Springville. 

.MCINTVRE, KOGEKS, \VK;HT.M^N AND o'llKlKN. 

Charles H. Albro, Springville. 

' \V. H. KDCEKS. 

Seymour Rider, Sardinia. 
H. A. Wightman, Eden Center. 
. Herman VV'ightman, Clarksburg. 
S. Clark Munger, Gowanda. 
Charles C. Jewett, Spr.ngville. 
Warren Worden, Yorkshire Center. 
Charles E. Allen, Gowanda. 
Elgin B. Cary Boston, Erie Co. 
Owen L. Moss, Collins. 

Clara Nichols Millington, Winfield, Kansas. 
Helen Nichols Hatch, Morton's Corners. 
Ella Chandler Shaffner, East Ashford. 
Ida M. Rice Olmsted, Yorkshire 
Ida Wilson Severance, Springville. 
Horlense Lafferty Greene, Springville. 
Libbie Churchill Clark, Morton's Corners. 
Ella Brown, Manwaring, Elton. 
Alice Stebbins Spaulding, Otto. 
Fanny Norris Norton, Springville. 
Hattie Sherman Nichols, Morton's Corners. 
Mary J. Velzy, Machias. 
Lucy Ide'.ia Burroughs, Collins, 
Ilia M. Wright, Springville. 
Mattie O. Wilco.x, Portersville, Tulare Co., 

Cal. 
Elsie M. Cornwall, South Wales. 
Ina Woodbury, Hambuig. 

ROGERS AND WKiH IMAN. 

Perry B. Co.\, EUicottville. 

Oliver Hammond, East Otto. 

Javan Clark, Morton's Corners. 

Jay Drake, Springville. 

Augusta Potter Leland, Springville. 

Laura E. .Morton, Morton's Corners. 

Clara F Lord, Sardinia. 

Alice Vedder Tefft, Ashford, Springville P, O. 

Jennie A. Wilcox Whcelock, Springville. 

Walter J. Allen, Springville. 

ROGERS, WIGIIT.MAN AND O'UHIE.N. 

Emma Bond House, Ashford, Springville P.O. 
Kate W. Bensley, Chicago, 111. 
Ell A. Churchi.l, Springville. 

ROGERS AND o'liRIE.N . 

■ Cora C. Stanbro, Springville. 
Mary A. Van Valkenburg, Springville. 



Byron S. Tefft, East Otto, 
John V. Cole, Springville, 

R(k;EKS, WIGHIMAN, o'liKIEN AND KDDV. 

James F. X'aughan, Ashford, Springville P. O. 
Leonard H. Utley, East Otto. 
Willis L. Wecden, Springvilie. 
Charles D. Bigelow, Gowanda. 
Frank E. Lowe. Springville. 

ROGERS, o'ilKlEN AND KDD\ , 

Edwin A. Scott, Hamburg. 

ROGERS AND ICDDN . 

Man' L. Murray, Glenwood. 
Lucy C. Sherman, Springville. 

ROGERS, EDDY AND ELLIS. 

.Abbey C. Norris, Springville. 

ROGERS, WIGHTMAN, o'bKIEN, EDDY AND ELLIS. 

Clarence O. Clark, Springville. 

A. K. WIGHT.MAN. 

Clark E. Churchill, Arcade. 

Charles A. Twichell, Springville. 

Delavan B Reed, Sardinia. 

Franklin Hovvland, Machias. 

Ida A. Cutting Hakes, Springville. 

Luella Bond Smith, Ashford, Springville 1', O . 

Sella Wightman, 

\vk;ht.man and o'ukikn. 
Karlc R. Vaughan, Lancaster. 

WKiHT.-MAN, f)'BK'IEN AND EDDV. 

Rhinda M. Churchill, West Falls. 

J. \Y. o'liKIEN. 

Herbert M. Horton, .•\rcade. 

Frank E. Oyer, Springville. 

Ida I. Pike, Boston. 

Clara Goodemote, Springville. 

Emily Holland Cole, East Ashford. 

Jennie Rosier House, Holland. 

Emma Reynolds Lincoln. East Otto. 

o'hkie.n .\nd edd\ . 
Ward B. Wiitsie, Yorkshire. 
Ernest F. Kruse, Springville. 
George E. Reynolds, Collins Center. 
Edward M. Shaffner, East Ashford. 
W. C. Kruse, Ashford. 
George A. Pierce, Springville. 
Herbert D. Cole, East Ashford. 
Mary E. Holt, Glenwood._ 
Jennie V. Pool Bigelow, Gowanda, 
Chloe R. Bates Pepperdine, Cattaraugus. 
Sarah L. Eaton Allen, Springville. 

o'nUIEN, EDDY ASD ELLIS. 

A. Ulenna Hess, Elk City, Pa. 
Myrtie G. Wells, Springville. 
Anna F. Tanner, Springville. 
Mary H. Bradley, Springville. 
Elizabeth H. Shuttleworth, Springville, 
Ralph W. Lowe, Springville. 
Mary H. Lowe, Springville. 
Florence A. Harrison, East Otto. 



;30 



TEACHERS INSTITUTES. 



>;. W. EDUY. 

Fred, A . Parmenter, Buffalo. 

Elmer C. Sherman, Springville. 

Paul Canfield, Boston. 

Milton M. Trivett, Woodward's Hollow. 

Miriam I. Craig, Colden. 

Eva E. Multer, Ashford. 

Mary Ticknor, Gowanda. 

Lillie V. Cole Demmon, Ashford. 

EDDY AND ELLIS. 

S. G. Wightman, Clarksburg. 

Sewell A. Brooks, Colden 

Mark N. Brooks, Colden. 

Carroll G. Morton, Morton's Corners. 

Wendell J. Morton, Morton's Corners. 

John J. k\'hittemore, Buffalo. 

Elbert R. Sherman, Dansville, Liv. County. 

Walter A. Clark, Springville. 

Ella E. Bufifam, Colden. 

Sarah M. Titus, Sardinia. 

Mary L. Kellogg, Springville. 

William A. Staffin, Collins Center. 

Thomas A. Fay, Springville. 

Albert L. Harrison, East Otto. 

CiEuKGE \V. ELLIS. 

Lucius I. Clark, Springville. 



George A. Persons, East Aurora. 
Luther D. Cary, Boston. 
Edward D. Wightman, Clarksburg. 
James Ellis, East .Aurora. 
Henry T. Frank, .\shford. 
William J. Bigelow, Ashford. 
John W. Pratt, Collins Center. 
Frank S. Larabee, Springville. 
Lottie L. White, Springville. 
Ida A. Beverly, Collins Center. 
Estelle Earle, South Wales. 
Lillie O. Smith, Springville. 
Cora B. Backus, North East, Pa. 
Lizzie Murphy, West Valley. 
Mary Wells, Springville. 
L. Lulu Hadley, Ypsilanti, Mich. 
Matie B. Churchill, Springville, 
Nancy M. Cary, Boston. 
Mabel A. McDuffee, Springville. 
Alice M. Eaton, Springville. 
Louise E. Wadsvvorth, Springville. 
Clara J. Pingrey, Springville. 
Carrie H. McEuen, Springville. 
Metiie H. Harrison, East Otto. 



Some of the person.-, that were known to have attended the 
Re-union, and failed to reg^ister their names: 



Hosmer L. Agard, Willink. 

Thomas L Bunting, Hamburg. 

Charles B. Cochran, Rochester. 

Arnold J. Emerson, Sardinia. 

Norman A. Freeman, Glenwood. 

Sidney D. Kingsley, Sardinia. 

George L. Dayton, Buffalo. 

Judge Stephen Lockwood, Buffalo. 

David S. Reynolds, Buffalo. 

Anson A. Stone, Sinclairville. 

Almon W. Stanbro, Buffalo. 

Frank Smith, Eden Center. 

J. B. Vanduzee, Buffalo. 

L. G. Ray Whiting, Boston. 

Girvease A. Matteson, East Otto. 

Carrie W. Andrews Bailey, Collins Center. 

Olivia Ballou Reynolds, Buffalo. 

Estella Batty Freeman. Glenwood, 

Ella M. Crandall DePuy, Sea Cliff, L. I. 

Mary E. Davis Briggs, Yorkshire. 

Philena L. Ferrin Weber, Salamanca. 



Maria L. Howell Bowen, Yorkshire. 
Persis Harrison Potter, Buffalo, 
Frank M. Mills Greene, Fredonia. 
Betsy M. Newton Bunting, Hamburg. 
Eunice J. Pratt Rogers, North Collins. 
Emma S. Wiltse Brand, Yorkshire. 
Mary Horton Sweet, Humphrey. 
Charlotte McMillan, Gowanda. 
Ella Holman Long, Hamburg. 
Lora C. Albro McClure, Buffalo. 
Luana L. Norris Kingsley, Sardinia. 
Ella M. Vedder Crowell, Hamlet. 
Rhoda A. Wheeler Norris, Pike. 
Jennie C. Baldwin Collins, Colden. 
Jennie Dygert Drake, Pike. 
Mary Stowell Scott, Hamburg. 
Sophia A. Bigelow, Chicago, 111. 
Adella Brooks, Colden. 
Grace Brooks, Colden. 
Clara L. Wheeler, Pike. 
Anna Nichols, Colden. 



TEACHERS INSTITUTES. 

The first Erie County Teachers' Institute was held in W'ill- 
iamsville in 1844, second at Aurora in 1845. third at Springville 
in 1846. fourth at Lancaster in 1847, fifth at Aurora in 1848, 
sixth at Springxillc in 1 S49. These Institutes were largel}' at- 



CATALOOUK OF MALE MKMIJKRS. 



!3' 



tended b\' teachers from all parts of the count}-. The)- con- 
tinued two weeks each, and were held for a number of years. 
The foUowint^ is a list of the officers, instructors, lecturers and 
members of the Institute lield at Sprinj^ville in 1849 • Flrasmus 
Hrii;gs, of C(^ncord, President ; Samuel C. Adams, of Collins. 
\'ice-President ; Louis \V. (iraves. of Aurora, Secretary. 

IxsTRUCTORS — J.H. Karle, Principal of Springville Acade- 
ni\-; J. H. Earle. Teacher of Mathematics; Miss Mary J. 
Hartoo, Daniel Jones, of Aurora; Miss Cordelia Warner, of 
S[)rint^\-ille, M. A. \\'liitne\-, of Aurora, and S. \\\ Craves of 
Aurora. 

Lecturers — Rev. L George, S. W. Graves, Rev. Milo 
Scott, of Aurora, S. Sedwick, of Arcade, Samuel G. Love, of 
Gowanda, Rev. H. I{,dd}\ of Springville, E. S. Eddy, of 
Williamsville. 

CATALOGUE OF MALE MEMBERS. 



NAME AND RESmKNCK. 

G. W. Andrews, Otto. 
Jonathan Briggs, Concord. 
Erasmus Briggs, Concord. 
A. C. Buffmum, Colden. 
E. M. Baily, Ash ford. 
L. H. Bugbee, Persia. 
Andrew J. Brooks, Boston. 
Wm. C. Baily, Holland. 
John R. Bensley, Concord. 
.\lfred R. Bowen, Sardinia. 

A. L. l^radley, Otto. 
Romanzo Bunn, Mansfield. 
P. S. Baker, Hamburg. 

J. F. Brown, Aurora. 
I iiram Clark, Collins. 
.\lban Clark, Collins. 
Lyman Clark, Collins. 
Pones Cole, Aurora. 
H.M.Carr, Concord. 
C. E. Carr, Concord. 

B. O. Carr, Concord. 
Miles Chafee, Concord. 



NAME AND RESIDENCE. 

J. B. Colegrove, Sardinia. 
Wm. W. Chilcott, Hamburg. 
A. T. Cole, Ashford. 
E. M.Clark, Eden. 
Charles Clark, Aurora. 
Elias Borland, Hamburg. 
T. C. Estee, Hamburg. 
J. H. Earle, Concord, 
E. N. Ely, Cheektouaga. 
Jesse Frye, Concord. 
Wm. M. Field, Concord, 
(leorge Kellogg, Concord. 
S. B. Littlefield, Hamburg. 
Nathaniel Lockwood, Boston. 
Charles McCoy, Ellicottville. 
J. McAvoy, Collins. 
Sidney McBride, Persia. 
James Moore, Aurora. 
Lucius McBride, Persia. 
Owen P. Marsh, Yorkshire. 
L. H. Morris, Aurora. 
John H. McAvoy, Collins. 



2^,2 



CATALOGUE OF FEMALE MEMBERS. 



Joseph S. O'Brien, Collins. 
George Oswold, Otto. 
A. E. Packard, Concord. 
George Perkins, Concord. 
Franklin Pike, Concord. 
Asa Potter, Sheldon. 
J. W. Porter, Sardinia. 
Byron Pratt, Aurora. 
Charles M. Plumb, Collins. 
Abijah Perkins, Aurora. 
L. W. Race, Evans. 
H. A. Race, Evans. 
Alan A. Richardson, Concord. 
W. G. Ranson, Concord. 
Joseph A. Rathbun, Persia. 
Geo. W. Woodward, Concord. 

D. M. Richardson, Concord. 
H. W. Rugg, Concord. 

J. T. Sykes, Sheldon. 
C. C. Stanbro, Concord. 

E. D. Stevens, Hamburg. 
A. D. Scott, Springville. 
Joseph Griffin, Collins. 
L. W. Graves, Aurora. 
Franklin Hodge, Buffalo. 
Charles Howe, Persia. 

Luke G. Harmon, PLllicottville. 
I). H. Hopkins, Concord. 



S. C. Horton, Boston. 
David Hershey, Amherst. 
Moses Ham, Amherst. 
Daniel Harris, Aurora. 
J. S. Hawley, Brant. 
M. N. Jones, Boston. 

D. G. Jones, Aurora. 
A. H. Jones, Aurora. 

L. A. Kennicut, New Albion. 

E. R. Kingsley, Sardinia. 
S. D. Kingsley, Sardinia. 
Charles Scisler, Aurora. 
J. H. Shearer, Aurora. 
Geo. W. Sweet, Colden. 
Ambrose Southworth, Boston. 
E. A. Stebbins, Otto. 

C. C. Sibley, Concord. 
E. C. Sanders, Ashford. 
Ferdinand Taylor, Collins. 
Loomis J. Williams, Hamburg. 
Darwin Wilcox, Sardinia. 
P. F. Warner, Java. 
Horatio Whittemore, Collins. 
L. D. Weeden, Springville. 
M. A. Whitney, Aurora. 
Wm. W. Wilson, Concord. 
James Wilkes, Sardinia. 
O. Wilcox, Sardinia. 



CATAL()(;UE OF FEMALE MEMBERS. 



NAME AND RESIDENCE. 

Laura A. Algur, Concord. 
Demis Allen, Collins. 
Malinda Arnold, Collins. 
Sarah A. Baker, Hamburg. 
Ann E. Bloomfield, Concord. 
Almira Britton, Boston. 
Jane A. Briggs, Concord. 
Rosina S. Blake, Concord. 



NAME AND RESIDENCE. 

E. P. Bartoo, Hamburg. 
Eveline C. Bois, Aurora. 
Ann Eliza Bois, Aurora. 
Mary J. Bartoo, Hamburg. 
Mary J. Baker, Hamburg. 
Selphina Bowen, Sardinia. 
Lucinda J. Bement, Concord. 
Roxaiia R. Bement, Concord. 



CATAL()(;uE OF i-i;mai.k MKMI'.KRS. 



233 



Vcstina BlmisIc)', Concord. 
Amelia A. Hlakc, Concord. 
Maryettc Curran. Concord. 
Julia Ann Carey, Concord. 
Mar\' Crawford, Concord. 
Clara Clark, Ashford. 
Esther Cornwell, Sardinia. 
Amanda Canfield, Concord. 
Annetta Clark, Aurora. 
Adaline E. Button, Concord. 
Hanna E. Dustin, Holland. 
Mary E. Davidson, Holland, 
-Sarah A. Button, Holland. 
Phebe H. Borland, Hamburi;-. 
Mary C. Estee, Eden. 
Margaret Flemins^. Concord. 
W. A. Fairbanks, Ashford. 
Sophia A. Gardner, Concord. 
Eudora Griffith, Concord. 
Laura G. Grannis, Wales. 
Amelia C. Grannis, Wales. 
Martha Georj^e, Concord. 
Carolina M. Griffith, Concord. 
Adaline B. Gibbs. Otto. 
Pamelia Guild, Ashford. 
Calista Godard, Concord. 
Lucinda Griswold, Concord. 
Ellen J. Hyde, Concord. 
Maria A. Ho\\e, Rice. 
Maria Howe, Rice. 
Mary E. Hicko.x, Hamburi^. 
Elizabeth Holland, Concord. 
Amelia Huntly, Concord. 
Ann Ingalls, Concord. 
S\'lvia Joslyn, Concortl. 
Electa M. Jennings, Collins. 
Mary E. Jenmngs, Collins. 
Martha P. Johnson, Collins. 
Mar\- E. jolmson, Collins. 



H. A. Johnson, Otto. 
Louisa A. Kennedy, Concord. 
Prudence Kellogg, Concord. 
Louisa Kellogg, Concord. 
Eniil)' J. Lewis, Collins. 
Sarah B. Mclvin, Concord. 
P(^lly Merwin, Concord. 
Helen Minor, Concord. 
Luc)' A. Newton, \'orkshire. 
Sarah Ann Newton, Sardinia. 
Harriett A. Newell, Sardinia. 
Lucy M. Nichols, Concord, 
Harriet A. Peirce, Ashford. 
Betsey Peirce, Concord. 
Helen A. Peirce, Concord, 
Ann H. Pierce, Ashford. 
Julia M. Post, Concord. 
Marian T. Perry, Aurora. 
Jerusha Pratt, Collins. 
Esther Pratt, Collins. 
Gratia I'armenter, Yorkshire. 
Lucinda W. Rundell, Alden. 
Elizabeth W. Rundel, Alden. 
Clara Richmond, Collins. 
Mehala Rider, Sardinia. 
Alice Sanderson, Portville. 
Lurinda Southworth. Boston. 
Martha Stewart. 
Phebe Starkweather, Concord. 
Olive Sleeper, Holland. 
Harriet M. Taylor, Alden. 
Ann R. Tuthill, Otto. 
Cornelia Ta)-lor, Alden, 
Sarah J. Vaughan, Concord. 
Harriet N. Wellman, Napoli. 
Cordelia Warner, Strykersville. 
Jane A. Wolcott, Concord. 
M. M. S. Watkins, Concord. 
Helen M. White. Hamburo. 



234 I^IST OF TEACHERS IN CONCORD. 

Mary Wood, Concord. C. M. Willett, Hamburg. 

Almira Woodruff, Aurora. Phebe Wood, Concord. 

Male teachers 191 

Female teachers 93 

Total 284 

LIST OF TEACHERS WHO TAUGHT SCHOOL IN CONCORD, N. 
v., DURINC; THE YEARS 1 844, '45, '46 AND '47 — 112 IN 
NUMBER. 

Jonathan Brings, Orville S. Canfield, S. L. Cary, Laura D. 
Abbott, Milton House, Daniel Noteman, A. G. S. McMillain, 
J. B. Sweet, John F. Morse, J. A. O. South, Nancy H. Salis- 
bury, David Cochran, Philip Thurbur, Lysander Needham, E. 
E. Williams, A. F. Hubbard, W. H. Freeman, B. F. Blake, 
Mary Potter, Rosina Blake, Minerva Slosson, Maria Graves, 
Lucy Hall, Margaret M. Watkins, Caroline Miner, Juliette 
Sibley, Sarah E. Fisher, Desire Little, Mary Needham, Lua E. 
Smith, Lucy Blake, Amanda Canfield, Lucretia Murry, Julia 
M. Post, Miles Chafee, Apalonia Douglass, Calista Godard, 
Roxana Bement, E. P. Kennady, D. M. Richardson, W. W. 
P>ench, W. G. Ransom, Mr. Dunham, Daniel Wilson, Martin 
Wiltse, Benjamin F". Rice, Mary Wood, Eudora Griffith, Charles 
Treat, Mercy Canfield, Melissa Duttdn, J. G. Blake, Lyman 
Packard, Russell P"rench, Margery J. Churchill, William A. 
Sibley, Jacob Widrig, Suel Briggs, Orrin Baker, William R. 
Philips, Mary E. Shaw, Enos Olden. Gilbert C. Sweet, William 
Hudson, Cyrus Griswold, B. F. Cary, E. Briggs, A. C. Adams, 
Sally Sampson, A. T. Cole, G. W. Richardson, Elizabeth Bloom- 
field, Julia A. P'rench, Alpha C. King, Cornelia Holt, Bets)- 
Pierce, Miner\'a L. Griswold, Hannah Agard, Hannah G. Parks, 
Nancy Nichols, Luc}' E. Maklem, Hannah Parsell. Hester Ann 
Martin, Julia E. Martin, Louisa White, Esther Pratt, Almond 
Nichols, Lucinda J. Bement, Jerome E. Stac)', E. H. Drake, 
Charles Needham, WMlliam H. Watkins, A. Parsell, P. H. War- 
ner, Elizabeth Melvin, Mary L. Field, Maryette Curron, Helen 
Minor, .Aurora Nelson, Irene Weber, Herma A. Johnson, Miss 
Southworth, Mr. Spring, Ahira Loxelace. Miss Stiles, Helen 



rilK roWNSENI) HILL SCIIOOI.. 235 

Hlods2jct, Jemima Treat, Miss Knaj), Atlaliiie Chafee, Miss 
Richardson, Miss Rice, Miss Stewart, Miss Hail}', Kuiiicc 
Maklem. 

AliOU'l' rilK lOWNSKM) nil. I, SCIIOOI.. 

A school-house was l)uilt on Townsent! Hill in the earl\- part 
of 1S15 and a school taught therein that summer. It was a 
framed house and locateci on land now owned b)' B. I*". Williams, 
on the south side of the (ienesee Road, about ten rods west 
of the transit road. The names of the teachers who taus^ht in 
this school in early times were : 

1815 — Summer, Waiter Eaton ; Winter, Sally Spaulding-. 
1816 — Summer, Mar}- Torrey ; Winter, Benjamin Vi\y. 
1817 — Summer, Abbie Cunningham; W^inter, Benjamin F"ay. 
1818 — Summer, Rebecca Sawyer; Winter, Amaziah Ashman. 
1819 — Summer, Lucy Chapin ; Winter, Enoch Sinclair. 
1820 — Summer, Mar\' Chapin ; Winter, William Owen. 
1821 — Summer, Patience Bowen ; Winter, Enoch Sinclair. 
1822 — Summer, Olive Fuller; Winter, William Owen. 
1823— Summer, Caroline Owen ; Winter, John Brooks. 
1824 — Summer, Eliza Ayers ; Winter, Elam Booth. 
1825 — Summer, Delia Torrey ; Winter, Elam Booth. 
1826 — Summer, Lucinda Fry: Winter, Ezra Chaffee, Amaziah 

Ashman. 
1827 — Summer, Minerva Cochrane ; Winter, Clark M. Carr. 
1828 — Summer, PolK' .Spaulding; Winter, Lucinda Fa}-. 
1829 — Winter, Oliver Canfield. 
1830 — Winter, Oliver Canfield. 
1 83 I — Winter, Asa Philips. 
1832 — Winter, Asa Philips. 
1833— Winter, Asa IMiilips. 
1834 — Winter, A.sa Philips. 
1835 — Winter, Nelson Hopkins. 
1836 — Winter, Nelson Hopkins. 

LIST OF I'F.RSO.XS WHO HAVE .MET AX ACCH)ENTA1, DEATH BY 

i)Ko\v.\i.\(; OR oiHKRWisr: ix the rowx of concord. 

A man b}- the name of Re}-nolds was drowned in the " Big- 
Bend," in the Cattaraugus creek — just below the P'r}-e crossing, 
in 1839. 



236 ACCIDENTAL DKATHS IN TOWN OF C<.)NCORD. 

An KiiL^lishman b\' the name of Dunkerh' was drowned in 
the Cattaraugus, near the Shultus bridge, about 1852. 

A young man was drowned in the Bloomfield mill-pond, in 
Springville, in June, 1870; he was a Prussian, name unknown. 

About 1848, two small children, one a boy named Rinhart, 
and the other a little daughter of Stowel Collins, were drowned 
while playing together by the race in Springville, near Frank 
lin street. The same year, a boy named Edmonds was drowneci 
in Auger's pond in Springville. 

A boy named Melancton W'oodham was dro\\ned in Cook's 
pond. 

In Jul}', 1864, George Severance, a son of Hon. C. C. Sever- 
ance, fourteen years of age, was drowned in the Cattaraugus, 
midway between the Cook and Shultus bridges. 

William Mimmick was also drowned near the Cook bridge. 

Levant Stanbro was drowned in the Griffith pond, near East 
Concord, in 1879. 

About 1880, Theodore Pilger, a young man \\ as drowned in 
the Cattaraugus near the Cook bridge. 

Jonathan Mayo, Jr., was killed in 1825, \\hile chopi)ing with 
his father. A falling tree slewed around as it struck, and 
knocking him lifeless to the ground. 

In 1832, Jacob McLen, a \-oung man, was killed b}- a falling 
tree on Lot 20, Range 7, Township 7. 

About 1873, '^ >'oung man named Cyrenus F"uller wa^- killed 
\\'hile felling trees on the farm of John F. Morse. 

In February, 1869, Arnold Cranston, father of James Crans- 
ton, was killed felling trees. 

June 22, 1877, Charles Krantz was killed while chopping on 
his farm, by a limb falling do\A'n and breaking his skull. 

'In 1883, Byron Swain, a resident of S[)ring\ille, was killed 
while felling trees in Boston. 

In 1852, Henry C. Horton was killed b\- saw logs rolling upon 
him at the Janes saw mill, in the north part of the town. He 
was 27 years old. 

Amasa Loveridge was killed in the same manner, August 7. 
1855, at Captain Tyrer's mill in what is now Wheeler Hollow. 
He was 67 years of age. 



NAMKS OK Slki:AMS I\ COXC-Okl). 21'/ 

Albert Ostrandcr fell from a scaffold to the barn tloor in his 
barn near I^ast Concord, Jan. 8, 1871. and died April 21, 1871. 

Samuel Bradley, an early settler and business man of Sprin<^- 
ville, fell from the stairs in the Gardner mill in the niijht time, 
and received injuries that caused his death soon after. 

Cyrus C. Rhodes and Daniel P. Brown, residents of Spring- 
ville, were killed by the cars at the Elk street crossing of the 
L. S. & M. S. R. R. at Buffalo. June 28, 1856. 

Peter Sampson was killed in 1836 by his sleigh slewing" 
around on the ice, and sleigh, the load and team going down 
the bank from the top of the hill this side of the Shultus 
bridge. 

Dexter Rlu)tles was killed b}- the bursting of a re\ol\-ing 
drum attached to the machiner)- in the Scoby mills about 1878. 

Sanford Mayo w;is killed b\' the cars at the Mills crossing 
(one mile north of Springville), on the Buffalo E.xtension of the 
Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad, Oct. 2, 1883. 

namp:s of streams in concord. 

The Cattaraugus creek runs along the south bounds of the 
town in a southwesterh- direction. 

Spring brook rises on Townsend liill and runs southeasterly 
and southerly through Springville into the Cattaraugus creek. 

The Cazenox'ia creek rises in Sardinia and runs through the 
northeast corner of this town. 

The east branch of the Righteen-mile creek rises on Town- 
send hill and runs northwesterh- through this town, Boston and 
Hamburg to the lake. 

The west branch of the Eighteen-mile creek rises in the west 
part ot the town and runs northwesterh- through Concord, 
North Collins and Eden to the lake. 

Smith brook rises north of the Genesee road near Mr. Coop- 
er's and runs southerly through Wheeler Hollow and Spooner 
Hollow to the Cattaraugus creek. This brook was named after 
" (iovernor " Smith who settled at its mouth in 1810. 

The Darby brook rises near Nichols' Corners and runs south- 
erly near Morton's Corners and down to the Cattaraugus creek, 
((^ritrin of the name unknown.) 



238 THE ERECTION OF A LIBERTY POLE. 

The Wells brook rises near the residence of B}'ron Wells and 
runs south into the Cattaraugus creek. 

There is also a pond of water near East Concord which has 
been commonly called Griffith's Pond. 

THE FIRS'l" LIISERTV POLE. 

There is a tradition that the first liberty pole reared in the 
town was at the Four Corners, a mile east of Springville, and 
the place has ever since been known as Liberty Pole Corners. 
The time was 18 19, or thereabouts, and on the 4th day of July, 
that the pioneers assembled on these corners to celebrate the 
day as become the descendents of patriotic sires. Officers 
were chosen, a procession formed, an oration delivered, and the 
immortal declaration rehearsed ; and in due time a tall and 
graceful pole was raised, unfurling to the breeze the flag of our 
countr)'. 

This interesting ceremony was accompanied with the firing 
of guns, the cheers of the crowd, and the sound of the spirit- 
stirring fife and drum. Upon this occasion the pioneers were 
jovial, and ready to engage in anything laudable for the sake 
of having a good time. They saw at a glance how barren the 
gathering was of tilted dignit}', anci possessing a faculty that 
invented as necessity demanded, they bestowed upon many a 
title that did great honor to the occasion. All men are not 
trained in the same school, nor are their shining qualities of the 
same order, but he who excelled in an}- special province, was 
worthy of a title that accorded with it ; and upon this particu- 
lar occasion, the gathering included names that were exalted in 
the ci\il and military ser\-ice of the land, and had the reporter 
been invented, this might have appeared: " General Knox and 
President Adams drank from the same Gourd, to health of his 
excellency, Governor Smith," etc , etc. 

^ To many of the pioneers these titles ever afterwards clung 
and the\* became kno\\n to the rising generations by these 
a[)pcllations antl no other, such as " General Knox " and " Gov- 
ernor Smith." A stor}' is told of Governor Smith in connec- 
tion with his title that is worthy of being repeated. The 
Governor was a man of commanding appearance, and once 
upon a time he happened to meet an old friend, a congen- 



iiii-; si'Ri.\(;vii,i.K .Mii.i.. 239 

ial spirit, at the old Stone Tavern on the hill. The two friends 
became very convivial over their j^lasses, and an Indian who 
hajjpened to be jjresent was asked to join them ; this was \ery 
willinj^ly acquiesced in. After drainin^r their "lasses the Indian, 
looking;- his excellenc)' square in the face, said : " Bc's you the 
(lovernor of New York ?" The Gox'ernor replied in his usual 
heavy gutteral voice : Not exactly the (iovernor of the State ot 
New York, but I am Governor of Dutch Hollow." 

THE SrRIxV(;VILLE MILL. 

One of the most interesting,' chapters in the manufacturing 
and business history of Springville, relates to the " Old Spring- 
ville Mill," or " Colton Mill," as it is sometimes called. For 
nearly fifty years it has faithfully performed a considerable part 
of the milling business for a large section of the surrounding 
country. It commenced b)' grinding the pioneer's wheat that 
grew among the stumps, reaped with a sickle and threshed 
out some keen Winter morning on the barn floor with a flail, 
and has continued until the grists received at its doors grew in 
the broad open field, and are harvested and threshed by the 
approx'ed machinery of modern. times. 

Manly Colton, of Buffalo, induced by the excellent water- 
power afforded and rhe promises held forth by the productixx^- 
ness of the surrounding country, decided to invest a poition of 
his cajjital in a larg:; mill at Springville. Work was commenced 
on Januar)- i, 1835, and the mill was completed and running 
before the close of the year. Thomas Lincoln, of S[:)ring\ille, 
was the architect, and Stephen W. Howell, of Buffalo, the mill- 
wright. The framework of the mill was of massive proportions 
and the " raising " was a memorable e\ent in the earlier histor\- 
of the town. The workmanship and materials were of the best 
quality, and w hen completed it was pronounced one of the fin- 
est and best mills in Western New York. Its cost was $22,000. 
The gigantic old water wheel was an object of interest to many 
who have stood in the damp wheel-room and looked with some- 
thing of a feeling of awe on its slow but certain movement. 
This, as well as other jiortions of the machiner\- of the mill, 
ha\'e from time to time been replaced b\- that more impnned. 
The first miller was John T. Noye, late of the well-known 
firm of I. T. N()\'e & Sons, of Buffalo. 



240 LOCAL NAMES IN CONCORD. 

Soon after being built, through the financial failure of Mr. 
Colton, the mill fell into the hands of Dart Bros., of New York. 
About 1846 they sold to Rufus Eaton, of Springville, who con- 
ducted it for about two years, when it again became the prop- 
erty of the Dart Bros., who resold it about 1848 to M. L. 
Badgley and Benjamin Joslyn. After a time Mr. Joslyn became 
sole proprietor, and about 1854 he sold to C. J. Shuttleworth 
and William Barclay, who continued together for about two 
years, when Shuttleworth bought the interest of his partner, 
which he soon sold to Stephen Churchill and rebought again in 
i860. The subsequent year Mr. Shuttleworth sold his interest 
to Madison Scoby, and in 1862 sold the other half to Abram 
Dygert. Dygert & Scoby continued in partnership two or 
three years, when they sold to Shuttleworth & Chafee, who 
conducted the mill together until 1874, when Mr. Shuttleworth 
sold his interest to Bertrand Chafee, the present proprietor. 

LOCAL NAMES IN CONCORD. 

" Townsend Hill" was so named from Johnathan Townsend 
and family, who settled there at an early day. 

" Morton's Corners" was named after Wendell Morton and 
his sons, who bought a farm and built a hotel there, which still 
stands. 

" Nichols" Corners" was so called from Lewis Nichols, who 
settled there at an early day, and some of his descendants still 
live there. 

" Woodward's Hollow" was named after the Woodward 
family, some of ^\'hom still reside there. 

" The Branch." This localit}-, along the creek, from \W^od- 
ward's Hollow to the town of North Collins, is frequently called 
" The Branch," from the fact that the west branch of the Eigh- 
teen-mile creek flows through it. 

" Wheeler's Hollow" was named from the Wheeler brothers, 
who now reside there. 

"Wheeler Hill" was so named from Benjamin Wheeler and 
family, who were the first settlers there. 

" Spooner Hollow," so called from the Spooner family, who 
li\"ed there at an earl\- da\'. 



LOCAL NAMKS IN CONCORD. 24I 

" Siblc}- Settlement," so named tiom the Sible)- brothers, 
mIio were the first settlers in that neighborhood. 

" Chafee District," named from the Chafee family, who w ere 
early settlers there. 

" East Concord," so called because it is situated in the east- 
ern part of the town. 

" Waterville," so called because two branches of the Buffalo 
Creek meet there, and in former times there were several mills, 
all within a mile of that place. 

" Horton Hill," named from John and Truman Horton, who 
settled there at an early day. 

" Colden Mill," the south part of what is called " Colden 
Hill," is in the town of Concord and is so named from the town 
of Colden, into which it extends. 

" Vaughan Street," named from several families of Vaughans 
who were early settlers on tliat street, and their descendants 
live there still. 

" Liberty-Pole Corners," so called from the fact that the first 
liberty-pole ever raised in the town was raised there at a \-ery 
early day. 

" Sharp Street." Tradition says that Sharp street was so 
called from a house built by John Gould, which had a very 
sharp or steep roof and at that time stood at the end of the 
street, on the farm where Yates Gardinier now lives. 

" Frye Hill," named from Enoch Frye and his father, the 
first settlers there, and Enoch and descendants still live there. 

" Shultes' Bridge," named from David Shultes, who owned 
the land on which it was built, and lived there: 

" Cook Bridge," so named from E. W. Cook, who owned the 
land where the bridge stands. 

" Scobey Bridge," named from Alexander Scobey, ^\■ho li\ ed 
there and owned mills there at the time it was built. 

" Frye Bridge," so named from the Frye's, who own the land 
where the bridge crosses the Cattaraugus. 

'* Block School-House," so called from the fact that the first 
school-house ever built there was built of hewed logs. 
THE Sl'RINGVILLK RIFLE COMPANY. 

This was one of the finest companies raised on the Holland 
Purchase. The rank and file was made up of the best of the 

14 



242 SPRINGVILLE RIFLE COMPANY. 

young men. But few of the members are living to-day, and 
they rank with our most honored and respected citizens. 

The uniform of this company was green frock coats with 
brass buttons, white pants with black velvet leggings that 
reached half way to the knee, black hats ornamented in front 
with a brass shield from the top of which rose a white feather 
with a red tip, leather belt around the waist, with shields 
affixed for knife and light tomahawk, Axhich every member in 
the ranks carried. They were also armed with rifles. 

This company was organized in 1820 or 1821, with Chris- 
topher Douglass as captain, and Sanford P. Sampson as first 
lieutenant. After serving a few years, Douglass resigned, and 
by the death of Lieutenant Sampson, the command of the 
company fell to Isaac Palmer. He, after serving several years, 
was succeeded by Abram Starks, and Starks by Stephen Albro, 
Albro by William McMillen, McMillen by Charles C. Bigelow, 
and Bigelow by Ephraim T. Briggs, who had command of the 
company when they were disbanded by law, and military train- 
ing done away with. 

TOWN OFFICERS OF CONCORD. 
A perfect list of the officers of the town of Concord can not 
be given as the records of the town were burned up in the great 
fire in Springville in 1868. The list of Supervisors and the 
time each served is complete. The list of Justices is complete, 
but their term of service could not in all cases be ascertained. 
But a complete list of other town officers, or their terms of 
service can not be made. But the names of such of the prin- 
cipal officers as have been ascertained are gi\'en. 

A LIST OF THE SUPERVISORS OF CONCORD FROM ITS FIRST 
ORGANIZATION TO THE PRESEN T TIME. 

1821, '22, '23, '24, '25, '26 and '27, Thomas M. Barrett ; 1828 
and '29, Joshua Agard ; [830, Oliver Needham ; 1831, Thomas 
M.Barrett; 1832 and '33, Carlos Emmons; 1834, '35, '36 and 
'37, Oliver Needham; 1838, '39, '40, '41, '42, '43, '44 and '45, 
E. N. P^rye ; 1846, '47, '48, '49 and '50, C. C. Severance ; 1851, 
'52, '53 and '54, S. W. Godard ; 1855, Lucian B. Towsley ; 
1856, J.N.Richmond; 1857, Morris P^osdick ; 1858, '59, '60, 
'61, '62 and '63, S. W. Godard; 1864 and '65, Philetus Allen; 



OFFKKUS OK Till-; TOWN OF CONCORD. 243 

1866, C. C. Severance ; 1S67, A. \V. Stanbio ; 1868, C. C. Sev- 
erance ; 1869, A. W. Stanbro ; 1870 and '71, Bertrand Chafee ; 
1874, Clark S. McMillan and Frank Chase; 1873, C. C. Sever- 
ance; 1874 and '75, Erasmus Bri^ijs ; 1876 and '"jj, Henry M. 
Hlackmar ; 1878, '79 and '80, William II. Warner; 1881, '82 
and "^}t, Erasmus Briggs. 

A LIST OF TIIF: JUSTICES OF THE PEACE FOR I'HE TOWN OF 

CONCORD. 

Ciirist()})her Douglass, Joseph Ilanchett, Rufus Eaton, Fred- 
erick Richmond, William V . (}. Lake, Amaziah Ashman, Ben- 
jamin Fay, John Brooks, Archibald Griffith, Elisha Mack, 
Stephen Albro, Emory Sampson, John Griffith, Robert G. 
Flint, Isaac Nichols, Wells Brooks, Seth W. Godard, C. C. Sev- 
erance, Hiram G. Smith, Pliny Smith, Byron Cochran, O. S. 
Canfield, Morris Fosdick, Fred Crary, Joseph Gaylord, William 
Woodbury, Isaac Woodward, Almon Nichols, A. W\ Stanbro, 
W. H. Freeman, Frank Chase, E. S. Cady, A. D. Holman, 
Harry Foote, C. C. Stanbro, Willis G. Clark. 

Town Clerks. — Amaziah Ashman, Noah Townsend, George 
Arnold, Johnson Bensley, C. C. Severance, C. C. McClure, 
McCall Long, A. W. Stanbro, A. G. Moon, A. R. Tabor, C. C. 
Smith, T. B. Norris. 

Collectors. — Soloman Field, Harry Stears, Roswell Olcott, 
Isaac Palmer, James F. Crandall, N. A. Godard, Clinton Ham- 
mond, Joseph Potter, George Thompson, Perrin Sampson, Orvill 
Smith, C. J. Shuttleworth, L. P. Cox, A. J. Moon. 

Assessors. — Joshua Agard, E. N. Frye, Emory Sampson, 
Luther Austen, Truman White, Lsaac Palmer, Ebenezer Dibble, 
Benjamin Trevitt, Oliver Needham, Charles Needham, Isaac 
Nichols, J. L. Douglass, L. A. Needham. R. T. Foote, Isaac 
Woodward, Perrin Sampson. 

Commissioners. — Dea Russell, Isaac Knox, Emery Samp- 
son, Amos Stanbro, Benjamin Fay, Jeremiah Richardson, 
Harvy Andrews, Paris A. Sprague, Robert G. Mint, Abel Hol- 
man, Rufus Thurber, Horace, Gaylord, Isaac Nichols, l\. K. 
Ostrander, Elbert W. Cook. William W. Blackmar, Ira W'ood- 
ward. 



244 



OFFICERS OF THE TOWN OF CONCORD. 



The following are copied from the new town book which 
commences in 1869 : 



1 

Year. 


Town Clerks. 


Assessors. 


1869 


A. E. Hadley, 


John Nichols, 


1870 


W. W. Blakeley, 


Laban A. Needham, 


1871 


W. W. Blakeley, 


Edward Godard, 


1872 


W. W. Blakeley, 


John Ballon, 


1873 


W. W. Blakeley, 


Alfred Newcomb, 


1874 


W. W. Blakeley, 


Edward Godard, 


1875 


W. W. Blakeley, 


William L. Mayo, 


1876 


Edwin L. N orris, 


Isaiah Gardenier, 


1877 


W. H. Ticknor. 


W. H. Stanbro, 


1878 


W. H. Ticknor, 


Alfred R. Trevett, 


1879 


W. H. Ticknor, 


George Weeden, 


1880 


W. H. Ticknor, 


Isaiah Gardenier, 


1881 


Frederick G. Myers, 


Alfred R. Trevett, 


1882 


Frederick G. Myers, 


William H. Pingrey, 


1883 


Frederick G. Myers. 


George Weeden. 


Ykar. 


Collectors. 


Com's of Highways. 


1869 


George Mayo, 


Henry Blackmar, 


1870 


George Mayo, 


George D. Conger, 


1871 


George Mayo, 


Benjamin A. Fay, 


1872 


Henry F. Norris, 


William H. Warner, 


1873 


Benjamin A. Fay, 


Nelson Scott, 


1874 


Frank Prior, 


William Wiley, 


1875 


Frank P. Spaidding, 


Samuel D. Vance, 


1876 


Frank 0. Smith, 


Nelson Scott, 


1877 


Frank P. Spaulding, 




1878 


John H. Melvin, 




1879 


John H. Melvin, 


Marcus B. Churchill, 


1880 


Edward D. Bement, 


Marcus B. Churchill, 


1881 


Morris C. PVeeman, 


A. C. Adams, 


1882 


Morris C. Freeman, 


William H. Warner, 


1883 


Morris C. Freeman. 


A. C. Adams. 



ACCOUNTS OK lOWN OF CONCORD FOR 183O. 



H5 



TOWiV ACCOUNTS AS AUDITED AND ALLOWED ACiAINST THE 
TOWN OF CONCORD FOR THE YEAR 1830. 



Names. 



John Brooks 

Joshua A^ard 

Amaziah Ashman . . . 
Stephen Needham . . . 

A. G. EIHott 

David Rensley 

Abel Holman 

Benjamin Sibley 

Thomas M. Barrett. . 

Homer Barnes 

Emery Sampson 

Luther Austen 

Benjamin Fay 

Noah Townsend 

Jeremiah Richardson. 
Archibald Griffith.. . . 

Robert G. Flint 

Samuel Cochran 

William Smith 

Widow Woodcock . . . 

Robert Curran 

L. B. Tousley 

William Vaughan. . . . 

Oliver Needham 

Silas Rushmore 

David Shultus 



Roads and Bridi^es. 
Common Schools. . 
Contini^ent I'und . . 

Rejected Tax 

Collectors Fees. . . . 
County Tax 



Total Tax 



Claims. 


$ 5 00 


10 00 


6 00 


9 75 


9 13 


2 50 


9 50 


I 50 


8 13 


6 00 


10 50 


14 75 


13 24 


15 00 


11 -'R 


1 1 -,(-> 


4 00 


3 50 


8 00 


7 00 


10 00 


15 00 


2 00 


5 00 


7 00 


5 00 


5 00 


250 00 


180 66 


26 69 


13 31 


61 83 


559 10 



Total. 



$206 88 



1,091 59 
11,298 47 



246 NAMES OF KARLV SE'I TLKRS. 

THE NAMES OF PERSONS NOW LIVING WHO CAME TO AND SET 
TLED IN THE TOWN OF CONCORD, SIXTY TO SEVENTY 
YEARS A(;0, SOME OF WHOM HA\ K REMOVED TO OTHER 
LOCALITIES. 

Mrs. Ezekiel Adams, ai^cd 96; Mrs. William Ballou, ai:^cd 91 ; 
Huldah Townsend Sinclair, aged 86; Lathrop Bebee, aged 87 : 
Mrs. Lathrop Bebec, aged 82 ; Orrin Sibley, aged 85 ; Mrs. 
Orrin Sible)-, aged i^], ; Silas Wheeler, aged 92 ; Pliny Wheeler, 
aged 82 ; Mrs David Wiley, aged 83 ; Alvira Townsend Owen, 
aged 80; Mrs. Boyles, aged 90; Mahala Eaton Butterworth, 
aged 80; Enoch N. Frye, aged 83 ; M. M. Frye, aged 80; John- 
son Chase, aged 82; Susannah Phillips Chase, aged 80 ; Mrs. 
Truman Horton, aged 83 ; Sally Foster Needham, aged 82 : 
Acsah Wheeler Townsend, aged 80 ; Eliza Shultus Reynolds, 
aged 80 ; William Southworth, aged over 90 ; Col. Sylvenus 
Cook, aged 88 ; Luke Simons, aged 85 ; P'anny Wheeler Gould, 
aged 90; Windsor and Stary King, Mrs. Stary King, Windsor 
Chase, Calvin Killom, Vincent M. Cole, Almira Chafee Black- 
mar, Eliza Chafee Cole, Vernam C. Cooper, Betsey Cooper 
Simons, Mrs. Calvin Smith, Erastus Mayo, Martha King- 
Wheeler, Samuel Wheeler, P\anny P^ay Pleld. James P"ay, John 
T. Wells. Mrs. John T. Wells, Mrs. Isaac Palmer, Samuel, 
Joseph and Abram Hammond, Hosea W. Townsend, Asa R. 
Trevett, Sally Trevett Clark. Hannah Philips l\vichell, Asa 
and Marcus Philips, Henry Ackley, Cornelia Drake Wood, 
Thomas M. and Jonathan Briggs, George Barrett, Jane Plem- 
ing P'ield, Mary P'errin Barrett. William Sampson, Mrs. Isaac 
Nichols, Saban A. Needham, Mrs. Marion Twichell Needham, 
Mary King Vance, Mary Ann Sampson Bingham, Samuel 
Shaw, Salmon Shaw, Mrs. Esther Pike 85 ; E. H. Drake, I. E. 
Drake, Julia Rhodes Lincoln, P^mily Rhodes Britton, George 
E. Crandall, William McMillan, T. H. Potter, Lucy Twicheh. 
William Kellogg, T. H. Gary, Mrs. Martha Olcott Trevitt, Mrs. 
Mary Wheeler Drake, John S. P\>sdick, Jesse Fosdick, Mar\- 
P^osdick Getty, Alice P^osdick Andrews, Mrs. Harvy Andrews, 
aged 82 ; Mrs. William Dye, about 90; Constant Trevitt, aged 
96; Reuben Wright, 82, Stanbury Wright. 



THK V()Si;UR<; MURDKR CASK. 247 

RKSIDENTS OF CONCORD WHO SliRNKD IN Illl': WAR OF l8l2. 

Isaac Knox, Samuel Cochran, Benjamin Fay, Amaziah Ash- 
man, Solomon Field, Isaiah Pike, Smith Russell, Nicholas 
Armstead, Joseph Hanchett, Isaac I>ush, Chaniiing Trevitt 
Thomas McGee, George Killom, Lewis Trexitt, Joseph Yaw> 
Uavid Shultes, Charles C. Wells, FJijah Parmenter, William 
Weeden, Samuel Burgess, William Shultes, John Drake, John- 
athan Townsend, jr., Christopher Douglass, Gideon Parsons, 
Hale Mathewson, T. M. Barrett, Comfort Knapp. 

THK vosiJiJRc; murdkr cask. 

FLarly in the Fall of 1S35. one Joseph Carter was conducting 
an asher)- on what is now Fast Franklin street, near Main street, 
Springville, for the manufacture of potash. At this time the 
" Big Mill " was being built by Manly Colton. of Buffalo. Mr. 
Colton had in his employ one — Vosburg, of Buffalo, as fore- 
man of the mason work on the mill. Vosburg made the 
acquaintance of Carter, and was accustomed after his day's 
work was done to repair to the ashery, where Carter kept up a 
fire during the night in the arch under the huge caldron in 
which he prepared the potash. Heie the two men would 
i.ndulge in card-playing by the light of the fire. On the night 
of the supposed murder. Carter and Vosburg were joined in 
their pastime at the ashery by a vagabond character named 
Goodell, who had no fixed home or occupation. On the night 
in question it api)ears the trio indulged freely in the ardent. 
The next morning the lifeless bod}' of Vosburg was found out- 
side of the asher\- building, his clothing saturated with the black- 
salts from the boiling caldron, and signs that he had been 
dragged from the inside of the building to the outside. At 
once a very general impression [)re\'ailed that the man had 
been murdered b}- his two companions either by striking on the 
head with some murderous weapon and then throwing the 
body into the. caldron to cover suspicion or b)- the more hor- 
rible method of throwing him by force into the boiling salts. 

Carter and Goodell claimed that Vosburg fell accidently into 
the caldron and so met his death. They were arrested for the 
murder, tried in Buffalo in the proper Court and acquitted. 



248 THE OTIS MUKDKR. 

The evidence submitted b\- the prosecution being neeessarily 
circumstantial. 

The defence proved that it was possible for a man to fall into 
such a place and get out before death would occur — such .m 
instance ha\'ing occurred some time previous in Sardinia. 

IIIE OTIS MURDER. 

Ransford Otis came from Vermont to Sardinia, and in 1826 
came from Sardinia to Concord; he lived on Lot 18, on the 
Cattaraugus creek, south of Springville. April 21, 1840, he 
was murdered by Major McEllery, an Irishman, who was living 
at his house. He had lived there but a few weeks, but had 
lived about the forks of the creek for some time. At that time 
there was a grist mill up at Richmonds, and they had been up 
to mill and returned and were at the barn putting out the team 
in the forepart of the evening, when McEllery, who was a 
larger and much stronger man than Otis, stepped up behind 
him and grabbed him around the neck and choked till he 
thought he had killed him, when he laid him on some boards 
on the barn floor next the hay ; but Otis came to and said, 
" Major, you don't mean to kill me ? " Then McEllery pounded 
him till he was dead. He then set the barn on fire. Presently 
the people on the creek and some from Springville saw the fire 
and came running down, and McEllery was there, and they 
enquired of him where Mr. Otis was, and McEllery said he had 
gone over to Mr. May's, who was his brother-in-law. and lived 
over across the creek where Warren Ransom lives now. And 
some of those present went over to Mr. May's and found that 
Otis had not been there, and when the barn had fallen in and 
was burning fiercely, McEllery was seen to put his hands up to 
shade his eyes and look sharply through the smoke and flames 
at some object burning in the fire and on the hay. The people 
mistrusted him and had him arrested then and there, and he 
was committed to jail, and in due time tried and convicted and 
made a confession before he died. He was hung on the 19th 
da)- of January, 1841. 

THE OEl) SPRIN(^.VILI,E HOTEL. 
The old hotel was built in i<S24 b\' Rufus C. Eaton, assisted 
by his brother, Elisha. At that time, Main street had not been 



riii'; oi.i) si'kiN(;vii,i.i-. iiori;!,. 



249 



opened but two or three years, and there was not a building on 
the south side of the street, from the Liberty Pole west to 
Waverly street, and forest trees were standing on the lots 
opposite the hotel. Rufus C, kept the hotel several years and 
then sold it to Johnson Bensley, who also run it a few years. 
In the Sprino of 1833, Richard Wadsworth. father of H. t! 
VVadsworth, bought it and kept it until the Spring of 1836, 
when he sold it to Edwin Marsh, of Buffalo, who turned it into 
a boarding house for a short time. Within a year, Marsh sold 
it to Varney Ingalls, and the title remained with him and his 
heirs about twenty-two years. During that time it was rented 
and run by Mr. Wing and son, by Phelps and Tisdel Hatch, by 
(iaston U. Smith, by James V. Crandall, William Olin, George 
Shultus, jr. Constant and Abner Graves, Brand and Harrington, 
Ballon and Stanbro, Miles Hayes, Mortimer L. Arnold, and 
James Razee. In 1859, I'erigrine Eaton bought it of Mr. 
Severance and SyKester Eaton's family kept boarders then, 
afterwards Mrs. Rumsey kept boarders. In 1866, E. S. Pierce 
bought it and kept hotel there, " Hat "' Holmes and George 
Goodspeed each rented it and run it, and E. S. Pierce kept it 
again. In i8;i, Rust and Dygert bought it, soon after Dygert 
sold out to Rust, who kept it till the Spring of 1876, when it 
went into the hands of E. Briggs, assignee, who sold it in 
the Spring of 1877 to Alvo Axtell, and he sold it to 
Joseph Capron, and he to H. G. Leland, in the P'all of 1877. 
In 1879, ^Ir- Leland took down the old house and erected in its 
stead the present new, enlarged and tasty hotel building. 
When the old hotel was first built, there were no meetino- 
nouses m Sprmgville, and religious meetings were sometimes 
held in the hall. The lodge of F. & A. M., in this town, some- 
times held their meetings there. There the )^oung people 
occasionally had their social gatherings. The hall was occupied 
in 1844, by the Whigs as a club room, there they held their 
meetings, made their sjieeches, and sang their songs. The 
post-office was kept there for a while when Major Blasdell was 
postmaster. Town meetings were held there once or twice. 
At various periods during its existence of over half a century, 
many of the lawyers and doctors, and business men of the vil- 
lage, made it their boarding place and their home for vears. 



250 PANTHER STORIES. 

In early times, before the railroad days, there was considera- 
ble emigration passing through Springville to the West, and 
quite an amount of travel from Cattaraugus county through to 
Buffalo. Frequently the hotel barn would be full, and the 
,beds all full, and sometimes the bar-room floor would be full, 
(and occasionally a customer would be in the same condition). 

Many and great changes have taken place since the old hotel 
was built, not only in this town and county, but throughout the 
world. Then no railroads for carrying passengers had ever 
been built ; then no steamships were carrying passengers across 
the ocean. The telegraph had not been invented. Then 
there were no sewing-machines, mowing-machines or threshing- 
machines in being. The Erie canal had not been completed ; 
then the assessed value of the real estate of the town of Buffalo 
was less than half what the assessed v^alue of the real estate of 
the town of Concord is now. Then there was not a cook-stove 
or a bugg}^ in this town. The old hotel has passed away and 
will be seen no more, although it \\as small in size and inferior 
in style and dingy in appearance, yet it abounded in good 
cheer, and many a good time had been enjoyed there. And just 
as good eatables and drinkables ha\'e been served up there as 
in the great hotels of New York or Saratoga. 

PANTHER STORIES. 

A short time before David Shultus came and located on his 
place on the C.attaraugus creek, an Indian family camped 
down there on the flats, they had a child just old enough to 
run around outside the wigwam. One day just at dusk, a 
panther caught the child and killed it, about that time the 
Indian, who had been out hunting, came home and shot the 
panther. The Indian buried the child there on the flats and 
put in its gra\e such articles as was their custom. The Indian 
came there after ]\Ir. Shultus located there and related the cir- 
cumstances of the case to him, and showed him the child's 
grave, and the bones and claws of the panther. He had the 
skin of one foot and part of the leg for a tobacco pouch, and 
said he should have it buried with him when he died. 

Soon after Truman White settled on what is now the John 
Wells farm, within the corporation of Spring\'ille, and when there 



A Illkll.l.IXi; IJKAR Sl'ORV. 2$ I 

was nothiiiL^ but a path throui^h the woods where the road is 
now. His son. Tompkins White, then a boy, started from the 
house to come north in the patli, and a panther came down 
from the hill on the east side and confronted him, they faced 
each other awhile and when the boy stepped forward the pan- 
ther did the same. The boy concluded it was best to retreat 
towards the house, which was close by, which he did without 
beins^ molested by the panther. 

In 1816, Da\-id Wiley, David Shultus and (jeorge Shultus 
went over to the Heaver Meadows in Cattaraugus county, 
twelve miles from Springville, after cattle on a pleasant day 
about the 20th of Noxember, they had to stay ail night and as 
there were no settlers there, the)' built up a rousing fire in the 
woods and sta)'ed by it. In the night a furious snow storm 
arose and the panthers screamed around them and one came 
so near that the\- ccnild see his eyes glimmer in the darkness. 
David Shultus went over bear-footed and in the morning the 
snow was about a foot deep, and he had to dance around quite 
lively to keep from freezing. At that time there were 
several beaver dams and beaver houses along the creek on the 
Beaxer Meadows. 

A BEAR STORY. 

The following bear story is related b}- the late David Oyer, 
father of Jacob Oyer, of Springville : " It was some 60 or more 
years ago since I went to the town of Ashford. Only a few^ 
settlers were there at that time, and the few cows they po.s- 
sessed were suffered to roam, through the woods. The few set- 
tlers would take turns in looking them up at milking time. 
The ex'ening in question it fell to my lot to bring the cows 
home, and it being Sunday I did not take my gun along, as was 
customar)- with me, but I coaxed all the dogs in the settlement 
to accompany me, and I started out in an easterly direction, 
and it was not long before I could hear the tinkling of the bells. 
All at once the dogs set up a terrible outcry in the direction 
that I was going, and I quickened my footsteps and soon came 
up with the dogs, who had a bear at bay. He sat upright upon 
his haunches with his back to a large tree, and whenever a dog 
<jot within his reach it receixed a terrible bloxv from Bruin's 



252 



NAMES OF PARTIES TAKING DEEDS 



paw, and whenever he turned and attempted to climb the tree 
the dogs would seize him and haul him back. What was to be 
done ? My only arms was a pocket-knife, but this stood me 
well in hand ; with it I cut a heavy cudgel, and by keeping the 
tree between myself and the bear, I was able to approach near 
enough, and by stepping to one side I dealt him a stunning 
blow across the nose, and a few more over the head finished 
him. That bear was dressed and divided up among the set- 
tlers, who enjoyed a feast. 

LANDS DEEDED IN CONCORD. 

The names of persons who took deeds of land from the Hol- 
land Compan}', the number of the lots and parts of lots, the 
number of acres, and the date of- purchase : 

TOWNSHIP SIX. RANGE SIX. 



Lot. 



Acres ; Subdivision. ' Date of Deed. 



140 
126 
100 
123 
I 22 
217 
140 

60 
100 
lOI 

50 

50 
125 

76 

63 

48 

120 

100 

TOO 

75 
70 

9' 
70 

30 

50 



e pt . . 
w pt . . 

s pt . . . 
m pt. . 
n pt . . 
spt. . 
n pt . . 
s-e pt . 
n-e . . . 
m pt. . 
s-w pt. 
n-w pt. 
s-w pt. 
n-e pt . 
m pt. . 
n-w pt 



spt... 
m pt. . 
n pt . . 
s-e pt . 
s-w pt. 
A\' m pt 
e m pt 
n-e pt . 



Nov. II, 1841 
Nov. I. 1840. . 
Dec. 7, 1815 . , 
Jan. 21, 1818. . 
Jan. 21,1818, 
Sept. 24, 1823, 
Dec. 3, 1823 . . 
Sept. 25, 1833, 
Dec. 29, 1837 , 
Jan. 13, 1834.. 
Dec. 10, 1834 . 
Mar. 8, 1833 . . 
July 17,1827.. 
Dec. 31, 1836 . 
Sept. 29, 1831 . 
Jan. 22, 1846. . 
July I, 1839... 
July 22, 1834.. 
June 14, 1832. 
Jan. 16, 1834. . 
Sept. 20, 1838. 
May 26, 1836. 
Aug. 23, 1832. 
Jan. 16, 1836. . 
April 10, 1832. 



Name. 



Eaton Bentley. 
Joseph Harkness. 
Samuel Cochran. 
Joseph Yaw. 
Christopher Douglass. 
Rufus Eaton. 
John Albro. 
Charles C. Wells. 
Silas Rushmore. 
James Hinman, Jr. 
John Van Pelt. 
Varne)' Ingalls. 
Noah Cuher. 
Jedediah Stark. 
Benjamin Nelson. 
Elijah Matthewson. 
Marsena Ballard. 
Joel Chaffee. 
William Weeden. 
John Russell. 
Francis White. 
Aimer White. 
William Weeden. 
Rob. Auger. 
Jar\-is Bloomfield. 



FROM THE HOLLAND COMI'ANV. 
TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE ?,\X—Conti,uied. 



25; 



25 
26 
26 



Lot. 


Acres. 


Subdivision. 


Date of Deed. 


Name. 


8 


100 


n-w pt . . . 


Jan. 14, 1834. . 


Samuel Cochran. 




8 


100 


n-w pt . . . 


Jan. 14. 1834.. 


Samuel Cochran. 




9 


245 


w 1 


Dec. 2, 1817 . . 


Abraham Mid da ugh. 




10 


162 


w 1 


Mar. 18, 1823 . 


Benjamin Rhodes. 




1 1 


50 


s pt 


Aug-. 31, 1830. 


Elizabeth Austin. 




1 1 


50 


s m pt . . . 


Mar. 2, 1829.. . 


Harvev' Andrew. 




II 


75 


m j)t 


Aug. 30, 1 83 1. 


Julius Bement. 




II 


75 


n pt 


Oct. 4, 1826.. . 


Phineas Scott. 




12 


bo 


^^- 1 


Oct. 31, 1832.. 


Jarvis Bloomfield. 




13 


100 


e pt 


July 15,1834.. 


Thomas Johnson. 




13 


82 


w pt 


Nov. 30, 1837. 


Giles Churchill. 




13 


50 


n pt 


Aug. 31, 1830. 


Luther Austin. 




14 


185 


\\- 1 


Dec. 30, 1836 . 


Elbert W. Cook. 




15 


50 


•^ pt 


Dec. 30, 1836 . 


Elbert W. Cook. 




15 


58 


n pt 


Jan. 3, 1857... 


Jarvis Bloomfield. 




lb 


^7 


•- pt 


Jan. 29, 1842. . 


David Wiley. 




lb 


42 


m pt 


Jan. 3, 1837... 


Jarvis Bloomfield. 




17 


84 


^ pt 


Oct. 25, 1838. . 


Ebenezer Dibble. 




17 


50 


m pt 


Mar. 25, 1837. 


Jarvis Bloomfield. 




17 


10 


11 m pt . . . 


June 17, 1828. 


J. White. 




17 


69 


n pt 


Jan. 23, 1837.. 


Truman W'hite. 




18 


7« 


s pt 


Oct. 9, 1837... 


Ransford Otis. 




18 


b9 


n pt 


Jan. 23, 1836. . 


Truman White. 




19 


126 


w 1 


Sept. 10, 1822 . 


George Shultus. 




20 


150 


w I 


May 25, 1829 . 


Orrin Ballard. 




21 


125 


w 1 


Oct. 21, 1819. . 


William Shultus. 




22 


140 


^^• 1 


Feb. 18, 18 14. . 


David Shultus. 




23 


47 


s c pt . . . . 


Oct. 14, 1836.. 


Abel Holman. 




23 


50 


s-w pt. . . . 


Sept. 6, 183 1 . . 


David Shultus. 




23 


4> 


n pt 


May 22, 1835 . 


Jabez Weeden. 




24 


79 


M^t 


Mar. 2, 1832. . 


Abel Holman. 




24 


40 


11 pt 


Jan. 8. 1835... 


Abel Holman. 




25 


80 


■M^t 


Dec. 30, 1837.. 


N. A. Bowen. 




25 


43 


m pt 


Aug. 13, 1838. 


George Richmond. Jr. 




25 


34 


11 pt ] 


Jan. 7, 1835.. . 


Nathan Hull. 





TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE SIX. 



365 

95 
50 



s-e pt . 
n-e pt . 



Sept. 21, 1809. 
Dec. 29, 1836. . 
Dec. 29, 1836. . 



James Vaughan. 
Asa Wells. 
Jonathan Mayo. 



254 NAMES OF PARTIES TAKING DEEDS 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE SlX—Conlinued. 



Lot. 


Acres. 
50 


Subdivision. Dai e of Deed. 


Name. 


26 


s m pt . 


. Dec. 29, 1836. . 


Willard W. Cornwell. 


26 


50 


n m pt . . 


. Dec. 29, 1836. . 


Hiram Mayo. 


26 


50 


s-\v pt. . 


. June 5, 1834. . 


Mary Rouse. 


26 


50 


n-\v pt . 


. Oct. 9, I •'-32.. . 


William Smith. 


^7 


62 


s-e pt . . 


. July 18, 1839. • 


P. C. Sherman. 


2J 


63 


n-e pt . . 


. Dec. 29, 1836.. 


Archibald Griffiths. 


27 


62 


s m pt . 


. April 18, 1840. 


James Bloodgood. 


.27 


62 


n m pt . 


. May 17, 1836.. 


Archibald Griffiths. 


27 


88 


.s-w pt . . 


. June 19, 1837. 


William B. Wemple. 


.27 


32 


n-w pt . 


. Nov. 22, 1830. 


Archibald Griffiths. 


28 


175 


s pt. . . . 


. Oct. 14, 1 83 1 . . 


John M. Bull. 


28 


175 


n pt . . . 


. Nov. 22, 1838. 


Amos Stanbro. 


29 


47 


s-e pt . . 


. Mar. I, 1838. . 


Amos Stanbro. 


29 


47 


e m pt . 


. Dec. 29, iN36 . 


William Olin. 


;29 


94 


n-c pt. . 


. Auo-. 13, 1836. 


Abraham Gardiner. 


29 


70 


s-w ])t. . 


. May 14, 1832.. 


H. J. Vo.sburo-h. 


29 


24 


vv m pt. 


. April I, 1839. • 


\W P. Powers. 


29 


94 


n-w pt. . 


. Sept. 13, 1836. 


Abraham Gardiner. 


30 


100 


e pt . . . 


.. Oct. 12. 1842.. 


John Cotrell. 


30 


100 


m pt. . . 


.| Oct. 12, 1842. . 


Joseph Cotrell. 


.30 


154 


w pt . . . 


., July 18, 1839. . 


P. C. Sherman. 


.31 


65 


m pt. . . 


. Dec. 29, 1837.. 


Arnold Wilson. 


31 


TOO 


w pt . . . 


. April I, 1839. • 


William P. Powers. 


32 


TOO 


e pt . . . 


. Oct. 26, 1836. . 


Alexander Butterfield, 


32 


7^:> 


m pt. . . 


. Julv 18, 1839. • 


P. C. Sherman. 


32 


50 


w pt . . . 


■ July 8, 1833- •■ 


William L. J add. 


33 


50 


s-e pt . . 


. Sept. 25, 1837. 


Charles Wells. 

\ Seth W. Godard and 


33 


50 


-S-w pt . . 


. April 20, 1843 • 


( Eber Brooks. 


33 


137 


m p . . . 


. Oct. 17, 1837. . 


Benjamin Freeman. 


33 


87 


n-e pt . . 


. June 7, 1836. . 


Asa Wells. 


33 


50 


n-w pt . 


. Sept. 20, 1837. 


Jo.seph McMillan. 


34 


50 


s-e pt . . 


. May 5, 1832. . 


James Bloodgood. 


34 


100 


n-e pt . . 


. Dec. 30, US36. . 


William Smith. 


34 


50 


s m pt . 


.; Mar. 11, 1S35. 


James Bloodgood. 


34 


50 


s-w m pt 


. Dec. 27, 1836 . 


Josiah Graves. 


34 


50 


n m pt . 


. Dec. 21, 1838.. 


Moses W. Griswold. 


34 


55 


w pt . . . 


. . Jan. IT, 1837.. 


Seeley Squires. 


35 


50 


.s-e pt . . 


. . June 19. 1837. 


William B. Wemple. 


35 


89 


e m i)t . 


. Nov. 17, 1838. 


William B. Wemple. 


35 


50 


n-e pt . . 


. . Jan. 17, 1828. . 


A. Griffith. 


35 


139 


n-w pt . 


.: Feb. 15, 1834.. 


Jonathan Mayo. 



FROM THE HOLLAND COM LAN V. 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE S\X—Con(inued. 



255 



Lot. 


Acres. 


Subdivision. 


Date of Deed. 


Name. 


35 


50 


w m pt. . 


April I, 1839. • 


William P. Powers. 


35 


50 


n-w pt . . 


Jan. 3,1838... 


James Wilson. 


l^ 


100 


e pt 


Dec. 28, 1837 • 


Mor. L. Badgley. 


36 


59 


em pt . . 


Nov. 13, 1837. 


P^dward Cram. 


36 


100 


w m pt. . . 


Aug. u, 1836. 


David Meeker. 


37 


127 


spt 


July 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman. 


37 


50 


n m pt . . 


June 19, 1837. 


Rebecca Putman. 


37 


60 


n pt . . . . 


April I, 1839. • 


W. P. Powers. 


37 


1 10 


5f npt... 


Jan. 18, 1851. . 


Phineas Scott. 


3« 


31 


s-c pt . . . 


Dec. 26, 1837. 


John Griffith. 


38 


ICX) 


s m pt . . . 


April I, 1839. • 


D. H. Chandler. 


38 


116 


n-e pt . . . . 


Nov. 27, 1837. 


Hez. Griffiths. 


38 


62 


n-w pt . . 


April I, 1839. . 


W. P. Powers. 


39 


113 


^^ pt 


June 16, 1843.. 


George N. Williams.. 


39 


164 


m pt . . . . 


April I, 1839. • 


D. H. Chandler. 


39 


100 


n pt 


\ June 14,1837 
( or 1836.. . . 


Homer Barnes. 


40 


50 


^ pt 


Jan. 21, 1833.. 


Abner Wilson. 


40 


200 


s m pt . . . 


April I, 1839. • 


W. P. Powers. 


40 


100 


n pt 


Auo. 23, 1838. 


Chauncey Dunbar. 


41 


60 


■'^ pt 


Jan. 31. 1837.. 


Josiah D. Graves. 


41 


233 


m pt 


Jan. 3, 1837... 


Ashley Holland. 


41 


100 


n pt 


Dec. I, 1823.. . 


Samuel Bradley. 


42 


100 


s pt 


Aug. 31, 1 810. 


Luther Curtiss. 


42 


100 


s m pt . . . 


Dec. 30, 1836.. 


Amos Stanbro. 


42 


47 


n-e m . . . . 


Feb. I, 1839.. ■ 


David L. Sweet. 


42 


53 


n w ni . . . 


Nov. 6, 1838. . 


John Gould. 


42 


73 


n i)t 


Mar. 7, 1857. . 


Hiram Mayo. 


43 
43 
43 


20 




Feb. I, 1839.. • 
F^eb. 1 , 1856. . . 


Erastus Mayo. 
Weston Waite. 


55 
50 




s-e pt . . . . 


Feb. 15, 1834.. 


Jonathan Mayo. 


43 


75 


w m pt.. 


Dec. 31, 1836.. 


James Curtiss. 


43 


96 


n-e pt . . . . 


Dec. 31, 1836.. 


Calvin Smith. 


43 


TOO 


n-w pt . . 


Dec. 20, 1837.. 


Prentis Stanbro, Jr. 


44 


70 


s-e pt . . . . 


Dec. 6, 1836... 


Dax'id Campbell. 


44 


70 


n-e pt . . . 


Dec. 6. 1839.. ■ 


Samuel Jocoy. 


44 


91 


s m pt . . 


Feb. 5, 1838.. . 


Arnold Cranston. 


44 


50 


n m pt . . 


Oct. 31, 1838. . 


Amos Stanbro. 


44 


50 


w m pt.. 


April 7, 1838.. 


Prentis Stanbro, Jr. 


44 


50 


w pt . . . . 


April 7, 1838. . 


Prentis Stanbro. 


45 


30 


s-e pt . . . 


Oct. 21, 1837. . 


Samuel A, Jocoy. 


45 


65 


s-w pt. . . 


1 June 9, 1838. . 


William Smith, Jr. 



256 NAMES OF PARTIES TAKIXC; DEEDS 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE SIX— Continued. 



Lot. Acres. Subdivision. Date of Deed 



Names. 



45 


100 


45 


100 


45 


100 


46 


133 


46 


50 


46 


50 


45 


50 


46 


100 


47 


143 


47 


100 


47 


125 


48 


288 


48 


75 


48 


100 


49 


66 


49 


75 


49 


100 


49 


100 


50 , 


50 


50 


75 


50 i 


40 


50 I 


100 


50 ! 


25 


50 1 


40 


51 ! 


42 


51 i 


90 


51 j 


100 


51 1 


102 


5- 


64 


52 


50 


52 


128 


52 1 


102 


52 


68 


53 


83 


53 


75 


53 


79 


53 


51 


53 


50 


54 


364 


55 


152 


55 ! 


100 



s m pt . . . i Dec. 26, 1 833. . 
n m pt. . . I Dec. 25, 1838.. 

n pt I Nov. 21, 1837. 

s pt I July i<S, 1839.. 

s m pt . . . : A\n-'\\ 1, 1839. . 
e m pt. . . I June 16, 1845 . 
w m pt. . . I April 9, 1 828 . . 

n pt I April i, 1839. • 

c pt j July 18 1839. • 

m pt 1 Aug. 23, 1838 . 

w pt [ June 5, 1837. . 

e pt , July 18, 1839.. 

m pt j Sept. 22, 1855 . 

w pt April I, 1839. • 

s pt Dec. 28, 1836.. 

.s m pt . . . Feb. 6, 1833. . . 

m pt ! Oct. 10, 1829. . 

n pt : Aug. 27, 1824. 

s pt j Aug. 10, 1830. 

s m pt. . . ! Feb. i, 1834.. . 

m pt April 2, 1838. . 

n pt Jan. 6, 1836. . . 

n-e pt. . . . Dec. 27, 1838.. 
n-w pt. . . Dec. 27, 1838.. 
s-e pt . . . . ' April 2, 1838. . 
n-n-e pt.. June 17, 1835. 
.s-w pt. ..^ Oct. 17, 1833.. 
\v m pt. . Feb. 28, 1831.. 

e pt July 18, 1839.. 

em pt. . . June 12. 1838. 
n-e & m pt Mar. 26. 1853.. 
n-w pt. . . t April 2. 1838. . 

n-\v pt . . . Dec. 18. 1840.. 

s pt Mar. 26. 1853.. 

.s m pt . . . Mar. 10, 1841. . 

n m pt. . . July 24, 1853.. 

n-e pt.. . . ' Sept. 29, 1855 . 

n-w pt. . . Oct. 23, 1841 . 

Dec. 25, 1817.. 

w m & -s-e . J une 8, 1 849 . . 

n-e pt . . . . Jan. 4. 1839. . 



David Smith. 
Patrick Hogan. 
I Ephraim Needham. 

P. C. Sherman. 
' W. P. Powens. 
J George N. Williams. 
; Aaron Cole. 

D. C. Chandler. 

P. C. Sherman. 

Chauncey B. Dunbar, 
i Wheeler Drake. 
i P. C. Sherman. 

Julia Anne Abbott. 

W. P. Powers. 

David Shultes. 

Varney Ingalls. 

Varney Ingalls. 

Varney Ingalls. 

Abraham Fisher. 

Daniel Tice. 

Amos Stanbro. 

Zimri Ingalls. 

Zimri Ingalls. 

Caleb Ingalls. 

Amos Stanbro. 

Amos Stanbro. 

James Flemmings. 

Amos Stanbro. 

P. C. Sherman. 

Amos Stanbro. 

Philip Ferrin. 

Amos Stanbro. 

i R. C. Eaton and 

( Otis Butterworth. 

\\'illiam Smith, Jr. 

Ephraim A. Briggs. 

Stary King. 

Stephen Churchill. 

Edward Goddard. 

Jonathan Sibley, Jr. 

Orrin Sibley. 

S}l\'ester Abbott. 



FROM rilK IIOI.I.AM) COMI'ANV. 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE S\X- Continued. 



257 



Loiv 



55 
56 
56 
56 
56 
56 
57 
57 
57 
57 
57 
5« 
58 
58 
58 
59 
59 
59 
59 

60 

60 

60 

60 

60 

61 ; 

61 i 

61 I 

62 ! 
62 
62 I 

62 j 

63 I 
<33 : 
63 
63 
64 

64 

64 I 

64 ! 
49 



Aches. Smnivi^iox. I Daye ok Deed. 



Namf.s. 



50 

50 

90 

100 

75 
75 
50 
75 
75 
55 
55 
39 
81 

64 
72 
72 
56 
56 
114 

75 
123 

50 

50 

20 

50 
125 
1 10 

50 1 

98 

50 
100 ! 

50 ^ 
125 

56 

54 

59 

75 

57 

47 

47 
104 



j .s-w i)t. . . , 
.s-w pt . . . 

^■pt 

c m [)t . . . 
I s m pt . . . 

.s-w })t . . . 
! n-w pt . . . 

.s-e pt . . . . 
! .s-w pt . . . 

n-c pt. . . . 

n m pt . . . 

n-w i)t . . . 

s-e pt . . . . 

n-e ])t . . . . 

m pt 

w pt . . . . 

s-e pt . . . . 

n-e pt . . . . 

m pt 

M' pt 

e pt 

s m pt . . . 

n m pt . . . 

s-w pt . . . 

n-\v pt . . . 

s pt 

m pt 

n-e pt . . . . j 

s-e pt . . . . ' 

s-w pt . . . . ! 

m pt 

n pt 

s pt 

n-e pt .... ; 
n m pt. . . i 

n-w pt . . . I 
s-c i^t . . . . 
c m pt. . . i 
n-c pt. . . . 
n m pt . . . I 
w pt . . . . j 
m 6v: s-c pt 



Jan. 13, 1829. 

Oct. 20, 1 84V 

Mays, 1835^.. 

June 4. 1834. , 

Dec. 26, 1837.. 

Dec. 26, 1837.. 

Nov. 15. 1836. 

Nov. 5, 1841 . . 
' Feb. 22, 1836.. 
f Oct. 25. 1838. . 
I Oct. 18, 1851 . . 
I Sept. 14, 1836. 
I Dec. 26, 1838.. 

Dec. 2j, 1838.. 

April I, 1839. . 

April 19, 1837. 

June 27, 1838. 

Dec. 10, 1834.. 

Jan. 9, 1829. . . 

Feb. 6, 1837.. . 

Mar. 26, 1853.. 

June 6, 1836. . 

April I. 1839. . 

Oct. 3. 1836... 

Nov. s, 1836. . 

Feb. 7, 1838... 
July 18, 1839. • 

Feb. 24, r83i.. 
Sept. 13, 1845 ■ 
June 22, 1835 . 
April 2, 1838. . 
Dec. 27, 1831..! 
Mar. 6, 1828.. .j 
Dec. 1 3 or 30/36: 
Dec.i2or3i,'36i 
Dec. 13, 1836.1 
Dec. 30. 1836. . I 
July 20. 1836. .1 
Dec. 30. 1 836. . I 
Dec. 30. 1836. .j 
April I, 1839. . 
Mar. 22, 1854. 



, Orrin Siblc}-. 
j Trumbull Carey. 

Sylvester Abbott. 

Caleb Abbott. 

William A. Calkins. 

Henr)' Smith. 

D. Lewis. 
! Carlos Emmons. 

Carlos Emmons. 

Alanson Wheeler. 
! Benjamin Wheeler, Jr 

Varney Ingalls. 

Benjamin \Mieeler. 

Caleb In<Talls. 

W. P. Powers. 

John House. 

Ebenezer Blake. 

Benjamin Fay. 

Benjamin Fay. 
; Nehemiah Fay. 

Philip Ferrin. 

Noah Townsend. 

W. P. Powers. 

Constant Trevitt. 

Thomas Stephenson. 

Amos Stanbro. 

Pardon C. Sherman. 

J. Southwick. 
Jacob LeRoy. 

William Field. 
Joshua Afjard. 
H. E. Potter. 
Joshua Agard. 
Abijah Sibley. 
Joshua Agard. 
Benjamin Sibley. 
Michael Curran. 
Moses Leonard. 
Oliver Dutton. 
Orange Wells. 
W. P. Powers. 
Elnoch N. Frve. 



2 5« 



NAMES OF PARriES TAKINCi DEEDS 
RANGE SEVEN, TOWNSHIP S\X— Continued. 



Lot. 


Acres. 
30 


Stbdivision. 
n-e pt . . . . 


Date of Deeo. 


Name. 


49 


Mar. 4, 1854 . . 


Jesse Frye. 


49 


75 


m pt 


Oct. 27, 1836. . 


Enoch N. Frye. 


49 


75 


w m pt. . . 


June 12, 1834. 


Jesse Frye. 


49 


25 


s-w pt . . . . 


Nov. 8, 1852.. 


Jesse F'rye. 


49 


74 


n-w pt. . . . 


July 10, 1834.. 


James S. Erye. 


56 


140 


w 1 


Dec. 4, 1833.. . 


Isham & D. G. Williams 


57 


35 


e pt 


Dec. 4, 1833... 


Isham & D. G. Williams 


57 


108 


w pt 


Oct. 15. 1852. . 


William Weber. 


58 


100 


w 1 


April 18, 1838. 


Michael Smith. 


59 


86 


e pt 


April 12, 1838. 


Michael Smith. 


59 


86 


w pt 


July 23, 1839.. 


Tristam Dodge. 


60 


159 


w I 


Dec. I, 1855 • • 


Michael Smith. 


61 


193 


e pt 


Mar. 4. 1854. . 


Jesse Frye. 


61 


75 


\\' pt 


July I, [838... 


Abraham Van Tuyl.' 


62 


132 


s-e pt .... 


March 4, 1854 


Jesse Frye. 


62 


100 


n-e pt . . . . 


Jan. 28, 1854. . 


Morgan L. Badgley. 


62 


125 


w pt 


March 22, 1854 


Enoch N. Frye. 


66 


105 


' s-e pt . . . . 


Dec. 27, 1838. 


\ B. G. Kingsbury and 
( John Haveland. 


66 


104 


e m pt . . . 


Sept. 28, 1837. 


Luther Austin. 


66 


50 


s-w pt. . . . 


Dec. 28, 1837.. 


Jacob Hufstater, Jr. 


66 


50 


n pt .... 


Oct. 27, 1836. . 


Jacob Hufstater, Jr. 


67 


50 


n pt 


Jan. 12, 1839. . 


T. B. Marvin. 


67 






Dec. 4, 1833... 


\ Daniel G. Williams 


141 


w pt 


( and Isham Williams. 


68 


70 


spt 


Jan. 10, 1834. . 


John Williams. 


58 


95 


n pt 


March 28, 1836 


Aimer White. 


69 


70 


s pt 


Sept. 21, 1837 


John Williams. 


69 


100 


n pt 


July 18, 1839.. 


r. C. Sherman. 


70 


138 


^\' 1 


July 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman. 


71 


123 


s pt ...... . 


Oct. 14, 1841 . . 


Daniel Green. 


71 


240 


" P 


Feb. 16, 1854. 


Morgan L. Badgeley. 


72 


60 


■^ pt 


March 4. 1854 


Jesse Frye. 


78 


274 


•^ pt 


Jul}- 18, 1839 . 


P. C. Sherman. 


78 


50 


n-\v pt ... 


Nov. 1, 1840. . 


Charles Watson. 


78 


50 


n pt 


Oct. 23. 1840.. 


Evert Van Buren. 


79 


223 


ept 


July 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman. 


79 


50 


m pt 


Sept. 2, 1854. . 


James S. P"rye. 


80 


50 


e pt 


Jan. 2, 1856.. . 


Alexander M. Bruce. 


80 


100 


e m pt . . . 


Oct. 6. 1838... 


Amos Stanbro. 


80 


103 


m pt 


July 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman. 


80 


100 


w pt 


Sept. 28, 1 841 . 


Charles l^ringle. 



Vinni till'. IIOLI,AND COMPANY. 
RANGE SEVEN, TOWNSHIP SIX— Co»/inue</. 



259 



Lot. 


Acres. 


Subdivision 


Datk of Deed. 


Name. 


81 


65 


. Nov. 17, 1838. 


David Jerman. 


81 


SO 


s m i)t . . 


. July 1. 1838 . . 


Abraham Van 'l\n-l. 


81 


60 


m i^t . . . . 


. lunc 25, 1842. 


Mile M. Baker. 


81 


100 


n 111 pt . . 


. Jan. 15. 1842. . 


Hosea P. Ostrander. 


81 


100 


n i)t . . . . 


. Feb. 7. 1838. . 


Alanson P. Morton. 


S2 


120 


s pt 


. Jul)- 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman 


82 


.SO 


s m pt . . 


. March 28. 1843 


Moses T. Thompson. 


82 


so 


m pt. . . . 


Dec. 29, 1838.. 


Milo M. Baker. 


82 


91 


n-e pt . . . 


March 10, 1838 


Alanson P. Morton. 


82 


49 


n-w pt . . 


Oct. I I, 1837.. 


David Witherel. 


86 


160 


c pt . . . . 


Dec. 30, 1836.. 


Samuel Churchill. 


86 


50 


m pt. . . . 


Oct. 20, 1843. • 


Jacob Le Roy. 


86 


183 


vv pt . . . . 


July 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman. 


87 


105 


■'^ pt 


. Oct. 23, 1840.. 


Everet Van Buren. 


87 


100 


m pt. . . . 


Aui^. 4, 1856. . 


Charles C. Empson. 


87 


131 


n pt 


. July 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman. 


88 


2SS 


\y\ 


. March 15. 1851 


Frederick Whittlesey. 


8q 


100 


e pt 


. June 2, 1838. . 


John Van Pelt. 


8q 


97 


m pt. . . . 


Oct. 6. 1838.. . 


Amos Stranbro. 


89 


30 


s-w m pt 


Ma)' 26, 1855.. 


John Shear. 


89 


30 


n-w m pt 


. Oct. 15. 1853.. 


L. V. Nicholas 


89 


75 


w pt . . . . 


. Nov. 18, 1839. 


Charles Prini^le. 


90 


70 


s-e pt . . . 


. June 29, 1832. 


Eleanor Curtis. 


90 


72 


s-w })t. . . 


. Jul)- 1, 1838... 


Abraham Van Tu\-1. 


90 


100 


m pt. . . . 


. Dec. I r, 1840 . 


James Wheeler. 


90 


60 


n m pt. . 


. Sept. 27, 1854. 


Levi Wheeler. 


90 


60 


n pt . . . . 


. Dec. 20, 1838. 


Isaac Nichols 


91 


50 


s-e pt . . . 


. Jan. 24 1843.. 


Jeremiah Richard so n . 


91 


50 


s-e m pt . 


. Jan. 31. 1838.. 


Jeremiah Richardson. 


9< 


45 


n-e m pt. 


. Dec. I I, 1840 . 


James Wheeler. 


91 


55 


n-e pt . . . 


. June 15, 1848. 


Jeremiah Richardson. 


91 


SO 


n-w m pt 


. Dec. 29, 1836.. 


Jeremiah Ricliardson. 


81 


83 


w pt . . . . 


.1 May 25, 1839.. 


Jeremiah Richardson. 



TOWNSHIP SEVEN RANGE SEVEN. 



60 

83 
150 

50 
ISI 



spt .. 
s-w pt 
m pt. 
n pt . 
s pt .. 



Jan. 8. 1839.. 
Feb. 22, 1836 
April [, 1839. 
Nov. 8, 1839 . 
Jan. 28, 1837. 



Carlos Emmons. 
Carlos Emmons. 
D. H. Chandler. 
Varney In gal Is. 
Varnev Ingalls. 



26o NAMES OF PARTIES TAKINO DEEDS 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE SEVE^—Coiilmiied. 



OT. 


1 
Acres. 


2 


50 


2 


50 1 


2 


75 




317 


4 


169 


4 


119 


4 


50 


5 


25 


s 


SO 


5 


16 


5 


25 


5 


50 


S 


116 


5 


50 


6 


121 


6 


50 


6 


60 


6 


90 


7 


60 


7 


40 


7 


50 


7 


50 


7 


50 


7 


50 


7 


52 


7 


52 


<s 


100 


8 


66 


8 


50 


8 


50 


8 


52 


9 


241 


9 


100 


lO 


26 


lO 


34 


lO 


33 


lO 


114 1 


lO 


114 ' 


I I 


100 



e m pt . . . 

w m pt. . . 

n pt 

\\- 1 

e»2)t 

m &n-w pt 
s-w pt . . . . 
s-e pt . . . . 
.s-e m pt . . 
e ni pt . . . 
s-w pt . ... 
s-w m pt. 
n m pt . . . 

n pt 

•'^ pt 

e m pt . . . 
n-e pt . . . . 
n-w pt . . . 
s-e pt . . . . 
S-A\' pt . . . . 
w m pt . . . 
e m pt . . . 

m pt 

n m pt . . . 
n m pt . . . 

n pt 

■^ pt 

c m pt 

w m pt. . . 
n-e m pt. . 
n pt 

^ pt 

n pt 

s-e pt . . . . 
s m pt . . . 

m pt 

n pt 

s-w pt . . . 
^■-e pt . . . . 



Name. 



March 10, 1824 

March 10, 1824 

March 16, 1836 
June 17, 1835. 
Feb. 24, 181 5.. 
Dec. 20, 18^7.. 
Dec. 21, 1848.. 
Dec. 29, 1849 • 
Nov. 22, 1838. 
March 25, 1854 
Dec. 30, 1854.. 
July 18, 1839.. 
March 25, 1854 
Ma)^ 24, 1842. . 
July 18, 1839.. 
Dec. 29, 1835 . 
Feb. 12, 1836 . 
April I, 1839.. 
Aug. 26, 1830. 
Oct. 14, 1835 .. 
Feb. 8, 1832.. . 
Dec. 29, 1838.. 
Nov. 7, 1836. . 
March 27, 1846 
Jan. 7, 1837.. ■ 
Jan. 7, 1837... 
Dec. 31, 1836. . 
Dec. 31, 1838.. 
June 14, 1839 ■ 
June 20, 1849. 
Jan. 5, 1837... 
July 18, 1839.. 
June 2},, 1855. 
Feb. 23, 1853 . 
Feb. 23, 1854 . 
Feb. 23, 1853.. 
Jan. 3, 1837... 
March 14, 1842 
Jan. 20, 1848. . 



I Trustees of 1st Con- 

- gregational Church, 

( Concord. 

\ 1st Baptist Society 

( of Concord 
Jedediah H. Lathrop. 
Jedediah H. Lathrop. 
Jonathan Townsend, 
Amaziah Achniune. 
Phineas Scott. 
J. O. Canfield. 
Reuben C. Drake. 
Reuben C. Drake. 
Phineas Scott. 
Pardon C. Sherman. 
Elam Booth. 
Parley Martin. 
Pardon C. Sherman. 
Oliver Needham. 
Sellick Canfield. 
Daniel H. Chandler. 
Hosea E. Potter. 
Hosea PL. Potter. 
John Brooks. 
Lemuel H. Twitchell. 
P. B. Brush. 
George Winship. 
Peter Bradley. 
George Winship. 
William Dye. 
Worcester Holt. 
Palmer Skinner. 
Ira Woodward. 
Ebenezer Drake. 
Pardon C. Sherman. 
Abraham Van Tu\-L 
Samuel Wheeler, 
(i W. Hawkins. 
Ely Page, Jr. 
Varncy Ingalls. 
Peter Cook. 
Phineas Scott. 



FROM rilE HOLLAND COMPANY. 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE SEVEN— CV«//««<.y/. 



261 



Lot. Acres Subdivision Date of Deed 



3 
4 
4 
4 
4 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
6 
6 
6 
6 
6 
6 
7 
7 
7 
7 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
9 
9 
9 
20 



131 

90 

100 

100 

lOI 

33 
100 

143 
106 

107 
58 
50 

100 
8 

3« 
30 
50 
24 

50 
29 
40 
60 
50 
52 
54 
50 
50 
60 
40 

50 

61 

100 

158 

41 

41 

116 

64 

64 

66 

1 12 

1 12 

167 



n-e pt . . 
w pt . . . 
s-e pt . . 
.s-w pt . . 
n-\\' pt . 
n-c pt . . 
s pt... 
m pt. . . 

II pt . 
.s-\v pt . 
.s-e pt . . 
m pt . . . 
n pt. . . 
.s-e pt . . 
.s-\v pt . . 
s pt . . . 
s m pt . 
s m pt . 
ni pt . . . 
m pt . . . 
n m pt . 
n ni pt . 
n pt . . . 
.s-e pt . . 
s-\v pt . 
s m pt . 
m pt . . . 
n m pt . 
n pt . . . 
s pt... 
s pt . . . 

III pt . . . 
n pt . . . 
s-e pt . . 
-s-w pt . 
Ill &; n-e pt 
n m pt . 
n-\v pt . 
e pt . . . 
Ill pt . . . 
w pt . . . 
e pt . . . 



Name. 



March 17, 1855 
Oct. 30, 1837. 
Jan. 7, 1839.. 
Jan. 7, 1850. . 
Sept. 28, 1850 
Dec. 24, 1836 
July I, 1838.. 
Nov. 26, 1842 
Aug. 26, 1853 
Mar. 18, 1852 
Feb. I, 1849. 

14, 1835. 

14, 1835. 

17- 1853 
10, 1853 
7. 1835. 
21, 1838 
20, 1829. 



Oct. 

Oct. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Aug. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Sept 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Feb. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Nov. 

Oct. 



29. 
29, 
29, 

■9' 



1845 
1836 
1836 
1836 
1 84 1 



29, 1836 

3, 1839- • 
28, 1836 
4, 1854. 
I, 1836. 
8, 1856. 
8, 1856. 
I, 1853.. 
June 28, 1855 
Jan. 3, 1837. . 



Jan. 
Dec. 



1837- 



„i, 1836 
Dec. 9, 1835. 
April 26. 185 I 
Nov 4, 1836. 
Sept. 2, 1828. 
Jan. 12, 1839. 
May 10, 1839 



Amasa Loveridge. 
Lewis M. Trevitt 
Phineas Scott. 
Phineas Scott. 
Phineas Scott. 
01i\'er Arnold. 
Thadeus Heacocks. 
Abial D. Blodgett. 
Thadeus Heacocks. 
William L. Adams. 
Uriah D. Pike. 
Theodore H. Potter. 
Hosea E. Potter. 
Hosea E. Potter. 
T. H. Potter. 
William Twichell. 
Solomon P. P'ield. 
H. E. Potter. 
Lemuel Twichell. 
Jacob LeRoy. 
Joseph Potter. 
George W. Thurber. 
Hezekiah Drake. 
Christiana Bridgeman. 
Lewis Janes. 
William Potter. 
William Potter. 
George W. Drake. 
Wheeler Drake. 
M. D. Scott, 
Marvin Hartman. 
Amasa Loveridge. 
Samuel W. Algar. 
Clark Carr. 
Josiah Alger. 
James Tyrer. 
Benjamin Trevitt. 
Sally Martin. 
Joseph M. Spaulding. 
Jonathan Spaulding. 
F. B. Marvin. 
J. r. (j. .Spaulding. 



262 NAMES OF PARTIES TAKING DEEDS 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE SEVEN— Con/im^ed. 



Lor. 


ACKES. 


20 


84 i 


20 


83 


21 


50 


21 


114 


21 


100 


21 


64 


22 


123 


22 


TOO 


22 


100 


23 


50 


23 


103 


23 


99 


23 


•53 


23 


50 


24 


50 


24 


50 


24 


41 


24 


50 


24 


25 


24 


50 ; 


2S 


100 i 


25 


50 


25 


50 


25 


50 


25 


71 


26 


150 


26 


so 


26 


107 


26 


50 


27 


45 


27 


79 


27 


100 


27 


100 


28 


1 1 [ 


28 


80 


28 


100 


28 


46 


28 


45 


29 


148 


29 


202 


30 


115 



m pt. 
w pt . 
s-e pt 
n-e pt 
s-\v pt 
n-\v pt 
s pt . 
m pt . 
n pt . 
s-e pt 
e m pt 
s-w pt . 
w in pt 
n-w pt 
s m pt 
s-w pt 
e m pt 
^\^ m pt 
n-c pt . 
n-w pt 
s pt.. 
n-c pt . 
n-w pt 
n m pt 
w m pt 
s pt. . . 
n-e pt . 
m pt . 
n-w pt 
e pt . . 
c m pt 
m pt. . 
w pt. . 
s-e pt . 
n-e pt . 
m pt. . 
s-w pt . 
n-w pt 
spt... 

n ])t . . 

s pt. . . 



Names. 



Dec. 

Apri 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Mar. 

Apri 

July 

Dec. 

Mar. 

Dec. 

July 

Sept. 

July 

July 

July 

July 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Nov. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Oct. 

Jan. 

July 

Nov. 

Mar. 

July 

July 

Jan. 

Aug. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Oct. 

Feb. 

Apri 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Auo. 



3I; 1836 

1 I, 1839., 

2, 1839. 

12, 1835 

8, 1823. 

1 I, 1839., 

I, 1838., 

26, 1839 

24, 1823 

4. 1838., 

18, 1839 

. 21, 1836, 

I, 1838.. 

I, 1838., 

I, 1838., 

I, 1838.. 

3. 1837... 

31, 1838, 

15, 1 84 1 . 

7, 1836. . , 

12, 1839.. 

1 , 1 84 1 . . 
20. 1855. . 

24. 1855. 

9. 1844 •• 
7, 1839... 
12, 1851 . 

2. 1855.. 

17- 1855- 
1, 1838... 
26, 1856.. 
7, 1839... 

I I, 1812. 
28, 1857.. 
31, 1836 . 
15,1835.. 
6, 1836 .. 
I I, 1839. . 

14, 1820 . 

15, 1842. . 
23. 1851. 



Hira C. Lusk. 
Daniel H. Chandler. 
Benjamin Trevitt. 
Healey Freeman. 
Benjamin Trevitt. 
Daniel Chandler. 
A. Van Tuyl. 
Isaiah Pike. 
Isaiah Pike. 
Isaiah Pike. 
P. C. Sherman. 
Lewis Trevitt. 
A. Van Tuyl 
A. Van Tuyl. 
A. Van Tuyl. 
A. Van Tuyl. 
Samuel Fosdick. 
Wm. Curran. 
John S Fosdick. 
Ebenezer Ellis 
¥ B. Marvin. 
Pliny Wheeler. 
James Tyrer. 
James Ouinn. 
Joseph Dennison. 
Horace U. Soper. 
T. M. Briggs. 
James Tyrer, Jr. 
Benjamin Trevitt, Jr. 
A. Van Tuyl. 
Carlos Emmons. 
H. U. Soper. 
Samuel Eaton. 
Carlos Emmons. 
Asa R. Trevitt. 
Everett P'isher. 
Emery Sampson. 
T. A. Canfield. 
John Andrews. 
\ A. R. Trevitt & Levi 
( Ballon, Jr. 
Andrew Adams. 



FROM Till-; HOLLAND COM I'AW. 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE SEVEN— (Vw/Zw/W. 

Names. 



265 



Lot. 


Acres. 


Subdivision. 


Date of Deed. 


30 


108 


ni pt 


lulv I, 1838.. . 


30 


53 


n-c ])t . . . . 


Dec. 18, 1835 . 


30 


53 


n-w pi . . 


April I, 1839. • 


3> 


50 


s-c pt . . . . 


; Sept. 21, 1836. 


3' 


50 


s-c m pt. . 


1 AiifT. I I. 1845 ■ 


31 


60 


c m pt . . . 


Mar. 27, 1834.. 


31 


47 


n-c pt. . . . 


Jan. 23, 1839.. 


31 


51 


s-w m pt . 


Sept. 13. 1845 


31 


50 


.<-\v pt . . . . 


Nov. 19, 1853. 


31 


100 


n-w pt . . . 


Auo-. ,. ,838.. 


32 


100 


M^t 


' April I, 1839. • 


32 


49 


.^ ni pt . . . 


Jan. 10. 1857.. 


32 


60 


n ni pt . . . 


(Jet. 14, 1842.. 


33 


120 


spt 


Sept. 16, 1822. 


33 


60 


e m pt . . . 


Dec. 29, 1836. . 


33 


60 


w m pt . . . 


Dec. 29, 1836 . 


33 


129 


n pt 


Aui;-. 18. 1825 .; 


34 


100 


•M^t 


June 25, 1838. 


34 ! 


79 


e m pt . . . 


' July 22, 1833..! 


34 


21 


\\' \w i)t. . . 


July 22, 1833.. 1 


34 


55 


m pt 


July I, 1838...; 


34 


52 


n m pt . . . 


Sept. 10, 1840. 


35 , 


200 


c & n-c pt 


Nov. 29. 1836.' 


35 


50 


.s m pt . . . 


Julys, 1839...; 


35 


•15 


w pt 


July 18, 1839.. 


36 ' 


50 


.s-c pt . . . . 


Mar. 20, 1833 .' 


36 


50 


n-c pt . . . . 


Oct. 20, 1843. • 


36 


100 


c m pt . . . 


July 18, 1839 ■ 


36 


101 


cm pt . . . 


July 1. 1842. . . 


36 1 


87 


w m pt.. . 


May 24, 1843. . 


36 


80 


w pt 


Dec. 17, 1839 • 


37 ; 


100 


n pt 


Feb. 2, 1855 . . 


37 : 


50 


•'^ pt 


Dec. 15. 1855.. 


n 


30 


s m pt . . . 


Dec. 15. 1855 . 


37 ^ 


100 


n pt 


Sept. 8, 1855.. 


38 i 


122 


.s-w pt . . . 


Feb. 2. 1855. .' 


38 1 


52 


n-e pt.. . . 


Mar, 31, 1854. 


^l \ 


119 


n-w pt . . . 


April 1 1, 1845. 


38 


150 


s-e pt . . . . 


Nov. I, 1840. . 



] 



A. Van Tu\l. 
Ezek. Adams. 
D. H. Chandler. 
Lewis Trevitt. 
Joseph Hawkins. 
Lewis Trevitt. 
Alphonso Cross. 
Jacob Le Roy. 
Truman Vanderlip. 
\ D. Burr and T. T. 
( Sherwood. 
Daniel H. Chandler. 
Truman Vanderlip. 
\ Francis H. Tattu and 
) M. M. Tattu. 
Lewis Nichols. 
Calvin Johnson. 
Joshua Steel. 
Ezekiel Goodell 
Israel Sly. 
Zeb. Simmonds. 
Luke Simonds. 
A. V^an Tuye. 
Phineas Peabody. 
Emery Sampson . 
William Sampson. 
P. C. Sherman. 
Emery Sampson. 
Jacob Le Roy. 
P. C. Sherman. 
Thomas Pound. 
Lat^rand W. Douglass 
Emery W. Sampson. 
Ciilbert C. Sweet. 
C hristopher Brick. 
Thomas Thiel. 
Jonathan Stearns. 
Gilbert C. Sweet. 
Truman Vanderlip. 
Urial Torrey. 
Ezekiel .Adams. 



.•264 NAMES OF PARTIES TAKIXCi DEEDS 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE SEVEN— Con/inufd. 



Lot, Acres Subdivision. Date of Deed 



39 


372 


39 


50 


40 


50 


40 


50 


40 


50 


40 


93 


40 


100 


41 


100 


41 


80 


41 


62 


41 


70 


42 


40 


•42 


40 


42 


10 


42 


307 


42 


100 


43 


87 


43 


32 


43 


63 


43 


107 


44 


50 


44 


52 


44 


121 


44 


50 


44 


50 


45 


100 


45 


50 


45 


50 


45 


50 


45 


50 


45 


50 


46 


55 


46 


58 


46 


47 


46 


75 


46 


50 


46 


52 


47 


235 


47 


50 


47 


50 


47 


75 


48 


67 



e s & w pt 
n-e pt . . . 
s-e pt . . . 
s-w pt . . . 
\v m pt . . 
n-e j)t . . . 
n-w pt . . 
e pt . . . . 
e m pt . . 
\v m pt . . 
w pt . . . . 
s-c pt ... 
.s m pt . . . 
n-e pt . . . 
w m pt . . 
w pt . . . . 
e pt . . . . 
e m pt . . 
m pt . . . . 
w m pt . . 
w m pt . . 
w m pt . . 
e pt .... 
e m JO t . . 

m pt 

s pt 

s w pt . . 
ni pt ... 
m pt . . . . 
n m ])t . . 
n j)t .... 
.s-e pt . . . 
c m pt . . 
n-e pt . . . 
.s-\v pt . . . 
w ni i)t . . 
n-w pt . . 
s & w pt . 
.s & m pt 
n-e pt . . . 
n-e pt . . . 
.s-e pt . . . 



Feb. 3, 1834 .. 
April I, 1839. . 
March 5, 18 10. 
Sept. I, 1855.. 
Oct. 24, 1851 . . 
Jan. 5, 1856. . . 
Jan. 26, 1853 . . 
July I, 1838 . . 
Feb. 1 1, 1856. . 
July 18, 1839. . 
Nov. 5' 1855 .. 
Dec. 21, 1836. . 
Dec. 21, 1836 . 
April 8, 1856. . 
Oct. 5, 1853... 
Dec. 21, 1841 . 
Nov. I, 1841 . . 
Nov. I, 1 84 1 . . 
Nov. I, 1 84 1 . . 
Feb. 19, 1853.. 
Oct. 3, 1841 .. . 
Nov. I, 1841 . . 
April I, 1839. • 
Dec. 27, 1837.. 
Aug. 31, 1853. 
Jan. 20, 1855. . 
Sept. 6, 185 I . . 
May 3, 1856 .. 
Oct. I I, 1S56. . 
Sept. 6, 1 85 I . . 
Oct. 10, 1837. • 
Sept. I, 1856. . 
March 17, 1855 
March 27, 1852 
April 14, 1855. 
Oct. 29, 1849. . 
No\-. 1, 1841 . . 
Jul)- 18, 1839. . 
July 8, 1842 . . 
Dec. 16, 1842.. 
July I, 1838.. 
April I, 1839. • 



Names. 



Benjamin Dole. 
Daniel H. Chandler. 
Thomas M. Barret. 
George Myer. 
P. Hagelbergier & wife. 
George Barrett. 
Jacob Myers. 
Abraham Van Tuyl. 
William S. Fessenden. 
Pardon C. Sherman. 
John Nichols 
Luke Simonds. 
Zebedee Simonds. 
Ira N. Fuller. 
Ezra H. Heath. 
Jasper Tabor. 
John Healands, 
J. How. 

Isaac Woodward. 
William Bates. 
James Collvil. 
Alexander Richley. 
D. H. Chandler. 
William Andre. 
George Vance. 
Jacob Heavy. 
Zacheus H. Preston 
Thomas Thiel. 
John L Unger. 
Jonathan Stevens. 
Truman Vanderlip. 
George Roth. 
Ira Stebbins, 
Ira Stebbins. 
Nicholas Reading. 
Orvilla Kirby. 
William Horton. 
P. C. Sherman. 
Michael Hagelberger. 
(jeorge Myers 
Abraham Van Tuvl. 
D. H. Chandler. 



I 



I'ROM Till'; IlOLl.AXD ('OMI'AW. 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE SEVENS— Co?innitfd. 



265. 



Lot 


Acres. 


Subdivision. 


Date ok D ed. 


Names. 


48 

48 

48 
48 


50 

50 


s-c pt . . . . 
n-e 111 pt . . 
n-\v m pt . 
!1-\V pt . . . 


April 5. 1839.. 
April 5, 1839. • 
Dec. 20, 1838.. 
April I, 1839. • 


Ira Woodard. 
Benjamin Rathbun. jr. 
Daniel Morton. 
D. H. Chandler. 



SOCIETIES. 

Concord has eight beneficiar}- and secret societies besides a 
lodge of Free Masons located as follows: five at Springville, 
two at Woodward Hollow and one at East Concord. The fol- 
lowing statistics relate to the several lodges : 

E. A. v., SPRIN(;VILLE UNION NO. 36. 

This society was instituted in December, 1879, with twelve 
charter members ; present membership, 112. The following is 
a list of the original officers ; James N. Richmond, President ; 
Mrs. A. Blackam, Vice-President ; Mrs. E. S. Van Valkenburg, 
Auxiliary ; William Stone, Treasurer ; A. R. Taber, Secretary; 
A. J. Moon, Accountant ; George R. Clark, Chanc; A. L. 
Vaughan, Advocate ; Rev. E. T. Fox, Chaplain ; P. A \'an 
\'alkenburg. Watchman ; William Blackam, Warden. 

A (). U. W., SPRINCVII.LE LODGE, NO I 55 

The lodge was organized Jan. 28, 1878, with seventeen orig- 
inal members ; charter members, forty-one ; present member- 
ship, fifty-seven. The following were the original officers : W. 
H. Warner. M. W.; R. W. Tanner, G. T. R.; Philip Herbold, 
O.; George H. Barker, R.; George B. Clark, T.; John P. Myers. 
Receiver. 

R. T. OF r., S1'RIN(;\ ILLE COUNCIL. NO. 5 I. 

Organized June 21. i87iS. with fourteen charter members: 
present membership, 135. The original officers were; J. W. 
Reed. S. C; L. D. Chandler. V. C; W. H. Jackson. P. C; A. 
F. Bryant, Chap.; Miss Ida Reed. Sec: X H. Thurber. Treas.; 
J. B. Flemings. Herald ; Miss Lizzie Billings. (luard ; N. G. 
Churchill, Sen. 



266 BENEFICIARY SOCIETIES. 

C. M. B. A. (Catholic Mutual Benefit Association), LOCATED AT 

SFRINGVILLE. 

The Association was organized in the Spring of 1879, with 
twenty-one charter members ; present membership, the same. 
The original officers were: Peter Weismantel, Pres.; Frank 
Weismantel, First Vice-Pres.; Nicholas Rassell, Second Vice- 
Pres.; Fred Fox, Treas.; John Bolender, Cor. Sec; Camille 
Hugel, F"in Sec; Marshall Demult, Marshal; Jacob Heire, 
Guard ; Victor Collard, Nicholas Rassell, Peter Heire, Matthew 
Metzler and Sigismund Schewrtz, Trustees. 

G. A. R. — (T<ARY POST, NO. 87, LOCATED AT SPRIXGVILLE. 

Organized Aug. 15, 1881 ; charter members, eighteen; pres- 
ent membership, twenty. The original officers were: H. P. 
Spaulding, Commander; J. P. Meyers, S. V. C; J. Oswald, J. 
V. C; O. M. Morse. Adj't ; E. L. Hoops, Q. M. George H 
Barker, O. D.; S. E. Spaulding. O. G.; W. H. Agard, Chap. 
C. VVaite, Surgeon; E. D. Bement, S, M.; \V. H. Warner, Q. 
M. Sergt. 

E. A. C, EAST CONCORD UNION, NO. I 50. 

Instituted Sept. 14, 1880; charter members, sixteen; present 
membership, forty-six. The original officers were James Crans- 
ton, Chan.; Sterling Titus, Advocate; George L. Stanbro. 
Pres.; Charles Spencer, Vice-Pres.; B. E. VanSlyke, Aux.; L. 
A. Stanbro. Treas.; Libbie M. Van Slyke, Sec; Amelia Hor- 
ton, Acct.; Annis Titus, Chap.; Sarah Baker, Warden ; Morris 
Baker, Sen.; Edward Bayless, Watchman. 

E. O. M. A., LAST CHANCE LODGE, NO. 93, WOODWARD HOLLOW. 

Instituted May 28, 1879; charter members, twenty-seven; 
present membership, thirteen. Original officers ; George W. 
Briggs, Pres.; Job Woodward, Vice-Pres.; Charles Hartley, 
Rec Sec; Layton M. Goodcll, Fin. Sec; Philo Woodward, 
Treas.; C. C. Alger, Chap.; Charles Kn()wles, C; Myron E. 
Palmerton. 1. G.; Josiah Woodward, O. G.; W. M. Woodward, 
P. P. 

E. A. C, CONCORD C.NION NO. IO3, WOODWARD HOLLOW. 

Instituted Ma\' 28, 1 880 ; charter members, twent}'; present 



NKWSI'AI'KkS. 267 

niciTibcrsliip, thirty, (^n'^inal officers: William Woodward 
Chan.; Isaac Woodward, Adxocatc ; l\rry T Scott, Pros, 
(amcs L. Tarbox, Vicc-Pres ; Mianda Tarbox. Aux.; Philo 
Wootluard. Trcas ; W. G. Clark, Sec ; Mrs. Viola Woodward. 
Acct.; Mrs. Susan Scott, Chap; Albert Potter, Warden; Mns, 
Anna Woodward, Sen.; Andrew Geif^er, Watchman. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

The first newspaper in the town was the Springville Expriss, 
l)ublished by E. H. Hough, commencing in 1844, continuing 
four years. 

The Springville Herald was started May 4, 1850, and had a 
long and influential career, ardently advocating the principles 
of tlie Whig and Republican parties. E. D. Webster & Co, 
were the founders, but after the second week Mr. Webster 
assumed the sole proprietorship, holding it until December, 
1856, when he disposed of the establishment to J. B. Saxe. 
The latter continued to publish the paper until 1863, when, on 
account of the excessive cost of publishing in war times and to 
devote himself to the ministr\- and to agriculture, he discon- 
tinued the paper. 

The American Citi'^cii, started in 1855, was published during 
the presidential campaign of 1856 by E C Saunders. 

The Poiiiy Weekly, a local paper, diminutix'e in size, was pub- 
lished by W. A. P'errin several months in 1858. 

In January, 1864, Augustine W. Ferrin, who formerl\' had 
assisted Mr. Saxe in editing the Herald, returned discharged 
from the army, in which he had served faithfully until physi- 
cally disabled. Leasing Mr. Saxe's office and procuring con- 
siderable new material, he started the Chro>neU\ wliich he pub- 
lished until March, 1865, when he was attracted to Buffalo to 
fill the position of city editor of the Express. 

The establishment was then leased b)- N. H. Thurber, who 
from March, 1865, until Januar\-, 1866, published the 'fribiine. 
Mr. Ferrin then bought the material and took it to Plllicott- 
\ille, founding the Cattaraitii^ns Repitblieaii. 

W. W. Blakcly started the Springville Journal March 16, 
1867, and has continued the publication ever since. Receiving 
from Mr. Saxe the old files of the Herald, he resolved to per- 



268 NEWSPAPERS. 

petuate the name of the respected predecessor, and therefore 
re-christened his "p^.'^er Journal and Herald. J. H. Melven be- 
came a partner in the enterprise in November, 1867, and con- 
tinued as such until March, 1873, v\hen he sold his interest to 
his partner. 

The Students Repository was for several months, be<^inning" 
in 1867. published in the interest of Griffith Institute by W. R. 
De Puy and J. H. Melven. 

The Local Ncivs, edited and published by J. H. Melven, long 
connected with the Herald 3.nd other papers, and F. G. Meyers, 
was started in Springville, Nov. 9, 1879, ^'''<^ i"^ ^till jDublished 
b)' the same parties. 

The first power printing press arrived in Springville in 
August, 188I, for printing the Journal and Herald. In Octo- 
ber, 1883, Melven & Meyers procured one for the "Loeal Neivs. 

The people of this and surrounding towns have shown their 
appreciation of local papers by giving a generous support. 
One of the strongest indications of the town's growth, prosper- 
ity and intelligence is the fact that about three thousand copies 
of these local papers, the Journal and Herald ?ind Loeal Neivs, 
are issued every week. 



liKXiRAI'ilK AI, SKKICIIKS. 269 



CHAPTER XVI. 
FAMILY HISTORIES OF THE TOWN OF CONCORD. 

IAMIL\ II [STORIES. 

The family histc^rics that fcjllow the general history of each 
town in this volume have been compiled at an expenditure of 
much time and labor. Diligent care has been exercised to 
make them correct, but, notwithstanding, in some cases desir- 
able data has not been obtainable, and some errors and omis- 
sions seem unavoidable. 

It has been the general aim not to indulge very much in 
eulogy, but to present the facts and let the reader draw his own 
conclusions. 

Much space has been allotted to family records, not only to 
furnish general information, but to enable successive genera- 
tions to trace their genealogy. 

Much of the matter relating to pioneer times and other 
topics has been placed in connection with the family histories, 
as the relations of the persons with it seems to make it a more 
suitable ])lace to insert it. 

Ainaziali A.shinaii. 

Amaziah Ashman was born in Connecticut, in 1783. From 
there, he removed to Ontario county, and resided in the Town 
of West Bloomfield some years. He came from that place to 
this town in 1809. and located land on lot 4, township seven, 
range seven, on Townsend hill. He moved his family here in 
May, 1 8 10. John Stuart and his wife, another young married 
couple, came out with Ashman and remained one year and then 
went back. It took them three da}-s to come from Buffalo to 
Townsend hill. They had to cut their own road part of the 
way. The\' built a small house or shanty, covered with bark, 
and moved into it — -without floors, door or windows. 

At that time, there were no families either east or west 
nearer than ten miles, and the nearest on the north were at 



270 inOGRAl'HICAL SKETCHES. 

Boston, and, f)n the southeast, at or near Sprhigville. Mr. 
Ashman taught school occasionally in earh' time. He also 
kept hotel for a few years on his farm on Townsend hill. He 
served as a soldier on the Niagara frontier in the war of 18 12- 
15, and was in skirmishes and engagements on both sides of 
the river. He was once taken prisoner. He was at the burn- 
ing of Buffalo. He was Town Clerk the first year after the 
Town of Concord was organized, and when it contained Con- 
cord, Sardinia, Collins and North Collins, and was elected to 
that ofifice si.xteen years in succession. He also held the oflfice 
of Justice of the Peace for eighteen years, and frequently pre- 
sided at town meetings. For the first twenty-five years after 
its organization, he was one of the leading men of the town. 
He cleared and owned a large farm, on which he resided until 
he died, in i85i. He was seventy-eight years of age at the 
time of his death. 

His wife. Thankful Ashman, died March 14, 1881, in the 
ninety-fourth year of her age. She was a resident of this town 
about seventy-one years, which is a longer period than any 
other person ever lived here who was twent}'-one years of age 
when they came. 

Their children were : 

John H., born 181 1 ; married Frelove King; for second wife. 
Sally Turner, died in Illinois, September 1874. 

Hannah, born 1813; married Augustus Bonnel ; lives in 
Illinois. 

Alonzo Curtis, born 1815; married Hannah Tj-rer ; lives in 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Ariette, born 1818; married first, Thurber, second, Saunders; 
died in 1854. 

Malvina, born I820; married John V'^arren ; he is dead, she 
lives in East Otto. 

Sarah, born 1822; married Samuel Wheeler; lives in this 
town. 

Levi, born 1825; died young. 

Alma, born 1828; married Cyrus Hurd ; lives in Kl.ma, this 
county. 

Alzora, born 1832 ; married Norman Cook ; died in 1855. 

Helen, born 1834; died 1845. 



HKXiKAI'IUCAI. SKKICUKS. 2y\ 



John Albi'o. 



]o\\\\ Alhi'o, one of the two first settlers in this town, was 
born in Rhode Island, in 1776; in 1792, he remo\'ed to Sara- 
toga count\% N. v., and from there he enii<^rated to the Town 
of Concord, in 1807. He first located on lot forty-one, town- 
ship seven, rant^^e six, b\' the bi^ sprin<j^ where Luzerne Katon 
now li\'es. Wlien he first canie to this town, his famil}- con- 
sisted of his wife and three children — Emery D., Malvina and 
Maria. In the Summer of 180S, Mrs. Albro died ; at that time 
there was only one other famil\- in the Town of Concord, that 
of Chrif^topher Stone, who li\'ed about where Mr. Joslyn's 
family Wvc now, and there were no families h'vn'ni^ in an\' of the 
adjoining towns except Boston. At that time, there was no 
minister living an}'where in this part of the country, and the 
best that could be done to gi\e Christian burial to the departed 
was to send to Boston for Deacon Richard Cary, who came ten 
miles through the woods, accompanied b\- some of his neigh- 
bors, to lead in the funeral serx'ices. 

After the death of his wife, Mr. Albro went East and re- 
turned the second Spring. He married a second wife in Pitts- 
tord, Monroe county, N. V. He did not remain on lot number 
lorty-one but a short time, when he purchased the north part 
of lot eight, township six, range six, now within the corpora- 
tion, and moved onto it. He built him a log house near where 
the old hay-barn now stands, on the east side of BufTalo street, 
just south of the forks of Sharp street and the Tounsend Hill 
roads. He kept ta\'ern there and cleared up a farm. The first 
town meeting lield in the Town of Concord, when it contained 
.Sardinia, Concord, (^)llins and North Collins, was held at John 
Albro's log tavern, in 1S12. The first school ever taught in 
the Town of Concord was taught b}' Anna Richmond, in the 
Summer of 18 10, in a small log barn of Mr. Albro's that stood 
on the west side of Buffalo street, nearly opposite his house. 

Mr. Albro lived in this town over twenty years, when he sold 
out his farm to Mr. Jlewett and remoxed to Gowanda, where 
he kept hotel several years, h'rom there he removed to Wayne, 
Du Page county, Illinois, in 1S53, where he died Feb. 2, 1861, 
at the age of eighty-five years. His second wife died at the 



2/2 BIOGRArillCAL SKETCHES. 

house of her daughter in ]-5uffa!o, Jan. 4. 1862, aged sevent\- 
five years. Her chikh'en were Ira, Ehza C, James R., Augus- 
tus G., Almyra. Jerome B. and Harriet C. 

Emory D. Albro resided in this town, but died in Wyoming- 
county. 

Malvina died in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Maria married Harry Keeny, and died in Warsaw, Wyoming 
county. 

Jerome B. went as a soldier, and died in the hospital in 
Annapolis, Md. 

Ira Aibro is a prosperous farmer in Wa)'ne, Du Page county, 
Illinois. 

James R. is a farmer and lives in Clymer, Chautauqua county, 
N. Y. 

Augustus G. is a farmer and li\'es in New Brighton, Bea\er 
county, Penn. 

Harriet C. married John Benson and died in Buffalo. 

Almyra died in Gowanda, Cattaraugus county. 

Emory I). Albro. 

Emory D. Albro was born in Saratoga county, in 1802, and 
was brought to this town by his parents in 1807 ; he was married 
to Polly Seymour, May ist, 1824, and removed to Warsaw, 
Genesee count}\ In 1828 his wife died. He returned to 
Springville in 1851; married Caroline C. Cochran, P"eb. 14 
1847. She died April 1, 1879, aged sixt}'-six years, one 
month and seventeen days. 

Emory D. Albro's children were Elaenor, married to Mr. Bris- 
tol. Lives in Gainsville, Wyoming count}'. 

Hellen M., died in Buffalo, in 1854, aged twenty-five years. 

Gary R., married Olive S. Smith, in Illiiu^is, in 1861 ; died in 
1864 ; left one child. 

Plumb Albro, born March 26, 1841 ; Dec. 25, [866, was mar- 
ried to Ella L. Richardson, at West Concord, by Rev. B. C. 
Vanduzee ; have one child — Ellen E. Albro. He died at 
Gainsville, April 16, 1881. 

Rollin J. Albro, was married to PVancena Barnett, May 5, 
1 87 1. He died May 13, 1879, ''"• this village, aged thirty-six 
years and six months. Left one child. 



BIO(;RAI'ni(AL SKETCHES. 2/3 

Lora, married C. C. McClurc, Jr. Tlicy live in Buffalo. 
Charles N., lives in Springville, at the old homestead. 
Byron C , lives in Canada. 

Joshua Aj^ard. 

Joshua Al4.ux1 was born April i6, 1789, in Connecticut, where 
he was married in March, 18 14, to Lucy Sibley, who was born 
fune 18, 1792. lie came to Concord in 1816, and located on 
lot sixty-three, township seven, range six, where he lived until 
his death, Sept. 18, i860. His wife having died June 9, 1831 
he married a second time, Nov. 15, 1831, Mrs. Electa Canfield, 
who died Feb. 23, 1880, aged seventy-eight years. By his first 
wife he had five children. 

Maria, born July 12, 1818 ; married in 1840 to Ira E. Drake. 

Mary, born Juh' 25, 1821 ; married in 1842 to Luman 
Churchill. 

Amelia, born Nov. 9, 1822; married 1847. to Horace Lan- 
don ; 1861, to Judson Wait. 

Austin, born Jan. 9, 1825 ; married in 1852 to Emily Field. 

Hannah, born Oct. 21, 1828; married 1857 to John Hill; 
1870 to Marvin Field. 

By his second wife he had one daughter, Mellisa, born Apri[ 
4; 1839 ; married Marvin Field in 1863 ; died April 27, 1865. 

Mr. Agard was a prominent man in the early history of the 
town. He was assessor for many years and was an officer in 
the militia and Deacon of the Baptist church. He was also 
Supervisor of Concord. 

Kzekicl Adams. 

Ezekiel Adams, son of Joseph Adams, was born in the town 
of Old Salisbury, Mass., on the i6th -day of Oct.. 17 19. Piis 
father was a ship-carpenter by trade, but dying when Ezekiel 
was but fifteen years of age, he was left to shift for himself. 
When he had reached the age of eighteen years he was appren- 
ticed to a Mr. Hale, to learn the carpenter and joiner's trade 
The terms of his services were that at the end of his apprentice 
ship of three years he was to receive a freedom suit and a set of 
tools. Both the agreement and the reward were faithfully 
carried out. In the meantime his widowed mother moved to 

Plymouth, Grafton county, N. H. As soon or soon after his 

1=; 



274 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

term of service expired he joined her there. In i8i2,he\vas 
married to Miss Mary Hickok. In 1816, on the first day of 
May, he left Plymouth in company with a brother-in-law for the 
Holland Purchase. They came through horse-back. After 
their arrival here and after visiting a few days among friends, 
both went to Buffalo to find employment Mr. Adams found 
work at his trade on the old Court House, then in course of 
construction. He received one dollar per day, x\fter his day's 
work was done his evenings were spent in sawing wood for the 
villagers, making nearly as much at this as he received for his 
daily wages. Mr. Hickok hired out to work on the brick-yard 
and by performing the work of two men he received double 
pay. After the close of the building season they returned to 
Concord and invested their summer's wages in securing a home. 
They bought James Pike's claim of 200 acres on the north part 
of lot thirty, paying him some $400 for the same (3n it a few 
acres were cleared and he had built a small log-house. 

That Fall both returned to Plymouth. Early in the new 
year Mr. Hickok was married to Miss Roda Pike and soon after 
they both set out for their home on the Holland Purchase, 
where they arrived on the twenty-eighth day of Feb., 1S17. 
They put their horses together and came through with a wagon. 
Adams and Hickok divided their claim soon after tlieir return. 
Adams taking north one-hundred acres and on this the remain- 
der of his days were passed. He died Sept 2, 1847, aged fifty- 
five years. His venerable wife survives, aged at the present 
writing, nearly ninety-six years. The fruits of this marriage 
were four sons and one daughter. Three are living to-da}-. \iz : 
Abner C, born April 6, 1820 at Concord. 
Andrew, born March 16, 1823, at Concord. 
William L., born Sept. 13, 1824, at Plymouth, N. H, 
Caroline, born April 28, 1826, at Concord ; died March 2, 1870 
Ambrose, born Aug. 10, 1829, at Concord ; died Jul}-, 1882. 

A. C. Adams. 

A. C. Adams, son of Ezekiel Adams, was born April 6, 1820, 
on lot 30, township 7, range 7, and lived with his parents until 
he was twenty years of age, when he went to Black Rock and 
hired out to drive team for ten dollars per month. In the Fall 



hto(;rai'iii(AL sketcfies. 275 

of 1 84 1, li(j attended school at the Siblc}- settlement to Augus- 
tine Sibley, teacher. In the VaW of 1842, he taught school at 
Morton's Corners, after which he followed teaching Winters 
and working at home Summers until 1850, when he married 
Elsie A. Chase, of l^oston. He then moved onto the okl home- 
stead and lived there two years, after which he moved to Bos- 
ton, where, in company with Truman Vanderlip and Seth T. 
Newell, he ran a tanner}' and dry goods store. In 1858, he 
commenced surveying, which he has followed ever since. Soon 
after he sold out and in company with George A. Moore, of 
Buffalo, bought the William Adams place of five hundred 
acres, where Norman Moore now lives, which place they ran 
for eight years. This he sold and bought the Mills' place, 
where he now lives. His children are: 

John O., lives at home. 

Alvin married Virgie Mason, anci li\es at home. 

Jennie L., married Charles Churchill and li\es in Springville. 

Carlton, lives at home. 

Clinton, lives at home. 

Ethan, died about 1872. 

Andrew Atlams. 

Andrew Adams was born in this town in 1823. His father's 
name was Ezekiel Adams ; his mother's maiden name was 
MaryHickok; his grandfather's name was James Adams ; his 
grandmother's maiden name was Mary Currier. Ezekiel Adams 
came to this town from New Hampshire in 1817. He settled 
on lot 30, township 7, range 7, where he owned and occupied 
land until his death, in 1847. Andrew Adams resides upon the 
land which his father settled upon in 1817. He was married 
in 1848 to Vanila Francisco. Their children are: 

Lenna R. 

Leona A., married Milton Trevett. 

Clellie M. 

Edwin Anwator. 

Edwin -Vnwater was born in the town of Collins Oct. 1 1, 
1854, lived in North Collins and came to Concord in 1857; his 
father's name is David Anwater ; his mother's maiden name, 
was Margaretta Basler. Thev emigrated from Wurtemburir 



2/6 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH HS. 

Germany, in 1854; his father and mother are now living with 
him ; he is unmarried. The children are : 

Edwin, born Oct. 11, 1854. 

Mary, born July 18, 1858. 

Charles, born Sept. 14, i860. 

When Edwin was three years old, one afternoon he went out 
into the fields and strayed into the woods. Night came on with 
a snow storm, it being in the month of November, The family 
and neighbors searched for him until 2 o'clock A. M., and did 
not find him. In the morning the search was renewed, and his 
mother found him under a log that rested on a stump, he came 
out all right and gives this narrative. 

Henry Ackley. 

Henry Ackley was born in Guilford, Vt., April 26, 18 14. His 
father's pame was Henry Ackley; his mother's maiden name 
w^as Chloe C. Putnam. Mr. Ackley came to this town when 
two years of age with his mother, and Uncle Daniel Putnam, 
the latter locating on lot 38, range 7, township 7. Mr. Ackley's 
grandfather, Jcssee Putnam, having precceded them in 1 808 or 
'09, and located on lot 32, range 7, township 7. He died about 

1834 at Pine Grove, Penn. He- was one of our very earliest 
pioneer settlers. To illustrate the primitive condition of civil- 
ization in the early days of our town, Mr. Ackley relates that 
upon the death of his grandmother, Mrs. Putnam, about 1820, 
at the residence of his son, Daniel Putnam ; her remains were 
placed upon a rude bier and carried by men on foot through 
the woods all the way to the Boston cemetery, to be interred. 
Mr. Ackle}' has always resided in to\\n and been engaged in 
farming, excepting five or six years subsequent to 1842, when 
he was employed in Harvey & Weston's tannery, then situ- 
ated at what is now known as Fowlerville. He was married in 

1835 to Janette Drake. The\' had two daughters: 
Eouise, died in 1861. 

Emma, married to Alphonso Smith, in 1871. 

01iv<M* E. Alger. 

01i\er E. Alger was born in the town of Concord, Januarx' 
12, 1842; is an engineer by occupation; was married May 10. 
1864. to P'lorence J. Hinsey, of Pekin, Tazewell county. 111. 



I'.IOC.RAI'IIFCAI, SKKTCHKS. 277- 

His father's name was S. W. Alt^cr, wlio was born in the \car 
1803, came to Boston, Erie county, N. Y., in 1826, and served his 
time as an apprentice with Hatch & Alger, tanners, and settled 
in Concord in 1830. His mother's maiden name was Louisa 
Carr, who was a dau<^hter of Elder Clark Carr. 

David D. Barrett. 

Mr. Barrett's father, Thomas M. Barrett, was born at Wood- 
stock, Conn., March 20, 1777; from there he moved to the vil- 
lage of Schenevus, Otsego county, N. Y., where he was mar- 
ried to Hannah Chase, daughter of one of the first settlers of 
Otsego, and sister of Judge Chase of that county. In 1810 he 
removed with his family to Concord, settling on lot fort}', in the 
northwest part of the town. He bought his land of the Hol- 
land Company, paying $90 for fifty acres, and taking a deed, 
his deed being the first one given for land in the territory com- 
prising the present town of Concord, previous settlers simply 
having their land articled to them as it was termed. Mr. Bar- 
rett came with a span of horses and cut the first road through 
from the Boston Valley road on to Horton Hill. When set- 
tled in his new home he found himself surrounded for a con- 
siderable distance on either side by the primeval forest, as yet 
undisturbed by man. He related that in going in search of his 
cows, he sometimes found them feeding quieth' in company 
with a herd of five or six deer. 

Although meager educational prixilcges found Mr. Barrett at 
20 years of age with scarcel)' the rudiments of an education ; 
his energy and perseverance secured sufficient education so that 
he taught school and understood surveying. He brought a 
compass with him to Concord, but ne\XM- practiced surve)-ing. 
He was the first Supervisor of the original town of Concord, 
and held the ofifice eight years. He was also Supervisor of the 
present town of Concord eight years. The title of Major he 
acquired from the position he held in the militia while a resi- 
dent of Otsego count}'. He lived where he first located till his 
death in September, 1844. His wife died in 1867 or 1868. 
They had a family of twelve children, six girls and six boys. 
The five oldest were born in Otsego county : their names were 
Betsey, Clarissa, George, Liberty, Manly, Temperance, Josiah, 



278 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Hannah, Reuben, lH?iy, Elvira and David. They all lived to 
years of maturity, but Reuben and David are the only ones 
now living. 

David D. Barrett was born March 20, 1829, in Concord, in 
which town and Colden he has since been a resident. He is a 
farmer by occupation, and in 1882 was the candidate of the 
Greenback party for County Clerk. He married Sophina Pike, 
daughter of Isaiah Pike. They have no children, except an 
adopted daughter. 

The Brigg-s Family. 




MRS I A I.RIGGS 



Captain Samuel Briggs li\-ed in Taunton, Mass., during the 
time of the Revolution. In his \-ounger da}-s he was Captain 
of a whaling vessel that sailed from New Bedford, Mass. His 
wife's maiden name was Ruth Paul. In after years he removed 
from Taunton to P'ranklin county, and bought a farm and mills 
on Miller river in the town of Orange. On a certain occasion, 
during a flood, he was attempting to save some logs which 
were going over the dam, when he was struck by one of the 
logs and knocked over the dam upon the rocks below and 
killed. Captain Tyrer, an early settler in this town who was at 
that time a young man and worked for Captain Briggs, ran 
down and picked him up and carried him to the house. Cap- 
tain Brigg's widow came to this town in 18 16, and lived until 
1830, when she died at the age of eighty-five years. 



HIOdRAI'IIKAI. SKKTCHKS. 279 

His children were five boys: John, Samuel, Shubel, Simeon 
and Ephraim A., and three girls : Sylva, Nancy and Ruth. All 
of the boys except the youngest lived and died in Massachu- 
setts. Sylva married Sylvenus Bates. They moved here in 
the winter of 181 1 and 18 12 on an ox-sled from Massachusetts 
and settled in Collins where she died. Nancy married John 
Cobb. About 18 16, John Cobb with his family came here, 
went to Olean and floated down the Allegheny and (3hio and 
went up the Wabash to Crawford county, 111., where they set- 
tled and lived and died. They had a large family of children. 
One of them, Amasa Cobb, enlisted in the time of the Mexi- 
can war. After his return he studied law and was elected to 
the State Legislature of Wisconsin, first to the Assembly then 
to the Senate. When the late war broke out he raised a regi- 
ment and was appointed Colonel, and served under McClellan 
in the Peninsular campaign, after which he was promoted to 
Brigadier General. When he came home he was elected to 
Congress twice from Wisconsin. After a few years he removed 
to Lincoln, Neb., where he is now one of the Judges of the 
Supreme Court. 

Ruth married Nathan Godclard. 

Ephraim Alien Briggs. 

Ephraim Allen Briggs was born in Taunton, Plymouth 
county, Mass., in 1783. He went with his parents to Orange, 
Franklin county. In 1806, he was married to Sally Townsend, 
of the town of New Salem, Franklin county, and they resided 
there until 18 15. They had five children born in Massachu- 
setts. They came here with horses and wagon, and were four 
weeks on the road, and settled on Townsend Hill on the east 
part of lot sixty, township seven, range six, and cleared up a 
farm. In 1839, they removed to the middle part of the unim- 
proved lot fifty-three, township seven, range six, and cleared up 
another farm on which the\- resided until his death, which 
occurred on the 25th of February, 1 861. He was seventy-eight 
years of age at the time of his death. After several years she 
went west to visit her children in Wisconsin and Minnesota, 
where she died at the residence of her daughter, Sally Briggs 
Canfield, in Waseca county, Minn., June 25, 1869. 



28o BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

After a long life of useful toil they rest from their labors. 
They came here when the country was almost an unbroken 
wilderness, and they labored earnestly and continuously and 
cleared up two farms, and reared a large family of children. 
Although they never possessed a very large amount of this 
world's goods, yet they were generous and free-hearted, and no 
one in need who desired aid went away from their door empty 
handed, and the same might be said of most of the old pion- 
eers. My mother always enjoyed excellent health, and she 
endured and accomplished very much, beside doing the neces- 
sary household work and caring for a large family of children 
she spun and wove and frequently consumed the mid-night oil 
over her work. She carried us all safely through the measles, 
scarlet fever and other ailments, and doctors were very seldom 
seen at our home. Throughout her life of crowded care she 
did not worry or scold, but quietly and pleasantly pursued the 
even tenor of her way. She never spoke evil of others, but 
always found something in the character of every one that was 
entitled to a kind word. In life she "fought the good fight 
and kept the faith," and she approached the grave " soothed 
and sustained by an unfailing trust in the life to come." 

Their children were : 

Mary Elvira, born May 9, 1 808. 

Ephraim T., born June 8, 18 10. 

Sylvia, born August 5, 181 1. 

Thomas M., born March 23, 1813. 

Jonathan, born Eebruary 12, 1815. 

Erasmus, born August 31. 1818. 

Suel, born Ajjril 7, 1820. 

Sally, March 17, 1823. 

Cindcrrella, born October 5, 1825. 

Christopher, born March 21, 1828.. 

Chandler C, born Jul}^ 20, 1830. 

Mary Elvira married William Field and died March 19, 1847. 

Ephraim T. married Jane Flemings. He was a carpenter and 
joiner by trade and also a farmer, and was at one time Captain 
of the Springville Rifle Compan)-. He died June 30, 1848, 
aged thirty-eight years. 

Their children were : 



bio(;rai'hical sketches. 281 

Jane Ann, George W., Maria S. and Viola. 

Jane Ann followed teaching for several years previous to her 
marriage and was an excellent teacher. She married William 
Baker of Buffalo, and died July 16, 1865, aged thirt\'-t\\o years 
and four months. 

Maria S. was also a teacher and died Januar)- 31. 1865, aged 
nineteen years and nine months. 

George W. died young. 

Viola married Ira C. Woodward and resides in Springviile. 

Sylvia married Stary King. 

Thomas M. married Phcebe Spaulding ; he is a farmer, and 
resides in La Crosse county, Wisconsin. They reared a family 
of seven children — Allen, George, Morris, Adelia, Fayette, 
Sarah and Chancey, who are all living in Wisconsin, except 
Fayette, who died in 1870. 

Jonathan is unmarried, and his principal business has been 
teaching here and in the West, in which calling he has been 
very successful. When gold was discovered in Colorado he 
was among the first who went there to engage in mining. He 
is now and has been for several years engaged in teaching in 
Garnavillo, Clayton county, Iowa. 

Erasmus lives in Springviile. 

Suel married Phoebe Ballou ; he is a farmer, and li\es in La 
Crosse county, Wisconsin. He has been elected Justice of the 
Peace and Supervisor a number of times, and was also once 
elected Assemblyman. 

Sally married Orville S. Canfield, and lives in Wanseca 
county, Minn. 

Cindcrrella married William Smith, and died Jul\- 5th, 1874, 
aged forty-eight years, nine months. 

Christopher married Jane Colburn. He is a farmer, and 
lives in West valley, Cattaraugus county. They have one child, 
Charlotte, who married John West, and lives near West valley. 

Chandler C. married IMioibe J. Woodward, in Concord, Oct. 
5, 1853. She was born in North Collins in 1834. He is a far- 
mer, and lives near Blue-earth City, Minn. They have two 
children : 

Arthur A., born July i8th, 1859. 

Suel C, born Nov. 29th, 1865. 



^82 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Julius Benieiit. 

Julius Bcment was born in Oneida county, N. Y., in 1789. 
He came to this town from there in 181 1, driving a yoke of 
oxen all the way. He stopped in Buffalo three months 
and cut cord wood, reaching this town in August. He bought 
land on lot 11, range 6, township 7, upon which he always 
resided until his death, in 1876. He was married in 1824 to 
Sallie Chafee 

Their children were : 

Diana Bement, married Sherman Jacobs. 

Roxana Bement, married Daniel Willson ; reside in Illinois; 
farmer. 

Lucinda Bement, married Franklin Blake ; reside in Orleans 
county, N. Y.; merchant. 

Elmore Bement. 

Albert Bement, married Esther Twichell ; reside in Golden ; 
merchant. 

Edward D. Bement, married Sophia Wilson ; reside in 
Springville; barber. 

Elmore Beineut. 

Elmore Bement was born in this town in 1834. At twenty 
years of age Mr. Bement went to California via Nicarauga, and 
engaged in gold mining, which he pursued for five years, when 
he returned via Panama and engaged for two years in the grain 
commission business at Chicago. In 1861' he again visited Cal- 
ifornia, via the Isthmus, and remained about five years, devoting 
his time to gold and silver mining, lumbering and the duties of 
a soldier. He was sixteen months in the volunteer service of 
the United States army, being attached to Company G, Second 
regiment California cavalry. The movements of his regiment 
led him into the wilds of Arizona and Nevada. Mr. Bement's 
experience and observations on the Pacific slope have been 
varied and extensive. He now resides in town and is a farmer. 
He was married in 1867 to W'ilhelmina Splattar. They have 
three children : 

First — Frank C. 

Second — George L. 

Third— Carlotta M. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 283 

Wells Brooks. 

Wells Brooks was born in 1804. In an carl\- dax' his parents 
came to the town of Boston. Subsequently tiiey removed to 
this town. Wells, when a young man, taught school occasion- 
ally. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced 
his profession for eighteen or twenty years in this town. While 
living here he held the office of Justice of the Peace, was twice 
elected Member of the A.ssembly, and in 1849 was elected 
County Clerk of Erie county, and removed to Buffalo. He 
was afterwards elected to the office of Supervisor from 
the Tenth ward for several terms. Mr. Brooks was a good law- 
yer and possessed fine talents and sound judgment. In all 
positions and relations of public life he enjoyed an enviable 
reputation, and deserved praise for the fidelity and ability he 
manifested in the discharge of his duties. Mr. Brooks married 
Helen McMillen, daughter of Joseph McMillen of this town, 
Jan. I, [833. 

PARENTS. 

Wells Brooks, born April 21, 1804: died Dec, 23, 1859. 
Helen McMillen, born Nov. 30, 18 14; died Feb. 26, 1872. 

CHILDREN. 

Imogene, born Sept, 4, 1835; died March 13, 1841. 
Preston, born March 17, 1837; died Oct. 23, i860. 
Sarah, born Dec. 21, 1S31 ; died June 6, 1^64.. 
Howard, born Aug. 14, 1839. 
Henry Wells, born Nov, 13, 1840. 
Willis Herbert, born Jan. 12, 1843. 
Helen McMillen, born Dec. 16, 1844. 

Henry W. Brook.s. 

Henry W. Brooks, son of Wells Brooks and Helen McMillen 
Brooks, was born in Springville in 1841. When he was five 
years of age his parents removed to Buffalo, where he lived 
until 1875, when he became a resident of Springville. He was 
one of a family of seven children, three of whom are living — 
Henry W., the subject of this sketch, Willis H., who resides in 
Kent county, Mich., and Helen M., who married Charles G, 



284 BKXiRAPHICAI. SKETCHES. 

Coss, and resides in Glean, X. V. The three oldest, Imogene, 
Preston and Sarah, are dead. Howard, the youngest, was 
drowned near St. Louis, Jul}' 4, 1881. 

Henry W. Brooks was married in 1863 to Amanda J. Hart- 
man. They have five children living: Robert W., Lillian W., 
Henry \\\ jr.. William M. and Charles \V. 

They have lost two — Sarah A. and Loui.sa May. 

Eaton Beiisley. 

Eaton Bensley was a soldier in the war of 181 2. He came 
to this town from Herkimer county, N. Y., in the Spring of 
1 8 16, and built a saw mill near the mouth of Spring brook, and 
engaged in farming. He resided in town until his death, in 
1878. He was twice married, first to Sophia Russell, by wiiom 
he had six children, as follows : 

John R. Bensley, died when a child. 

George E. Bensley, married Anna L. Tanner; is in the grain 
commission business at Chicago. 

D, Cytherea Bensley, married Rev. L. W. Olney ; reside in 
Chicago. 
^ S. Vestina Bensley, married x\lanson Chaffee ; both are dead. 

John R. Bensley, married Mary A. White, first wife ; Au- 
gusta Euller, second wife ; is in the grain commission business 
at Chicago. 

]-: Sophia Bensley, married Herbert Scoby ; reside in Union- 
town, Kansas. 

Mr. Bensley's second wife was Agne.s McCaa, by whom he 
had seven children, as follows : 

^- Agnes L Bensley, married Madison C. Scob}', stock dealer in 
Chicago. 

Mary J. Bensley, married Elbert Cornwall, first husband ; M. 
L. Price, second husband ; United States surgeon, in Texas. 

David W. Bensle}', married Luc\- H. Twichell ; hardware 
merchant at Springville. 

Malona Bensley, died in 1.^59. 

Louis K. Bensley, grain shipper at Denison, Iowa. 

Katie W. Bensley, resides at Chicago ; is a teacher. 



1!I()(;rai'iii(AI. skktcmes. 285 

J)jivi<l W. Bi'iishy. 

David W. Benslcy was born Nov. 9, 1845, near Springville» 
In 1864 he went to Chicay,"o and engaged for eleven years in 
the grain business, when he returned to Springville and became 
a hardware merchant. He was married in 1^74. They have 
four children, as follows: Agnes H., William Iviton, Bernes L. 
and Lucy. 

Mr. Benslcy's mother, Mrs. Agnes Iknisley, died April 7, 
1880, aged sixt)^-seven years ten months. 

Mr. D. W. Henslc}- died in the Spring of 1883. 

Slam Bootli's Statement. 

I came to this town in February, 18 17, was not married at 
that time. I came from Tolland county, Conn., with John 
Brooks. We came with a yoke of oxen and span of horses, 
and were five weeks on the road. We came in the Spring to 
the Susquehanna river, Penn., staid there till the next Winter 
and then came through by way of Painted Post, Cayuga lake, 
Canandaigua and on to Buffalo. We staid at Heacox's tavern 
and next day went out to the Indian village and staid over 
night. We had to ford one branch of Buffalo creek, the ice 
was running. We got stuck in the creek, had to unload part 
of our goods, and wade out with them on our backs. Next 
day we got as far as Green's tavern, two miles south of Potter's 
Corners (Hadwin Arnold place) and staid over night. Next 
day came to Boston Corners and staid at Torrey's. Next day 
went up to where the State road and the valley road fork where 
Brooks had made a location and put up a shanty. 

I was born in May, i8oi,and was in mj- sixteenth year. I 
taught the first school in the Sibley neighborhood in the Win- 
ter of 1817-18, it was not an organized district school for there 
was no district organized at that time. I think the Sibley 
school house was built about 1821, and I think Mahala Eaton 
Mrs. Butterworth) taught the first Summer school in the new 
house, and Oliver Needham the first Winter school. I tausfht 
the Liberty Pole school in the Winter of '22-'23, the Townsend 
Hill school in the Winter of '24-'2 5, and in the Sibley district 
in '26-'27. 



286 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Mr. Booth died Nov. 2, 1882, aged eighty-one years, five 
months and eight days. 

Warren Booth. 

Warren Booth was born in this town September 13, 1836, 
His father's name was Elam Booth. His mother's maiden 
name was Sibyl Ingalls. He has always resided in town, is a 
farmer by occupation. He was married in 1864 to Dora Rob- 
inson. Their children are : 

Nettie L., born April 10, 1870. 

Day E., born Aug. 26, 1878. 

Mr. Booth is a member of the A. O. U. W., and Past Select 
Counselor of Boston Lodge No. 79, Royal Templar of Tem- 
perance. 

Morgan L. Batlgley. 

Mr. Badgley was born in Cortlandville, Cortland county, in 
this State, December 29, 1808. In 1831 he removed to Buffalo- 
and was employed in the drug store of Messrs. Pratt, Allen & 
Co., and soon thereafter he became one of the proprietors. In 
August, 1832, he was married to Miss Harriet A. Colton. In 
1835 ^^^ removed with his wife and child to Springville and 
entered into business. He came to Springville as the principal 
clerk and manager of the business of his brother-in-law, Manly 
Colton, then a merchant and the builder and owner of the 
mill still known as the Colton mill, on Main street. In 1836-7 
Mr. Colton failed as did many others at that time. Mr. Badgley 
suffered much by the failure. However he was enabled soon 
after to engage in the mercantile business. 

By his ability and integrity he soon gained the confidence of 
the citizens of this communit}' and prospered in his business to 
such an extent that he in the course of time accumulated a 
large property. He was in the mercantile business tor a long- 
time, and at one time owned the Colton mill. In the latter 
part of his life he loaned money and dealt in notes and mort- 
gages. He was kind to the poor and persons in sickness and 
distress. He and his wife suffered the great affliction of their 
lives in the death of their only son Heniy, who died May 10, 
1845, aged eleven years and seven months. The shadow cast 
by his early death never departed from their lives. 



HIOCJKAl'IIU AI. SKETCMKS. 28/ 

Mr. Badijlcy died March i8, 1878, in the seventieth year of 
his age. 

Mrs. Badi^ley continues to reside at her home in Springville 

Henry M. Blackmar. 

The ancestors of the Blackmar famil)' were of En<4iish descent. 
The}- located at an early day near the Connecticut River, in 
Connecticut, from whence Mr. Blackmar's grandfather, Martin 
Blackmar, emigrated to Greenfield, Saratoga county, N. Y., 
about 1780. He was a prominent and influential man and a 
surveyor ; possessing talent and skill suflficient to manufacture 
his own surveying instruments. He was accidentally shot in 
181 2, while hunting bears with others, in the Green Mountains. 
The bear-skin cap which he wore being mistaken for a bear, he 
became the unfortunate target of a brother hunter. 

Mr. Blackmar's father, William Blackmar, was born in Green- 
field, Saratoga county, N. Y., Oct., 19, 1805. In Oct., 1825, he 
came to Erie county, being a passenger on the first regular 
packet-boat that passed over the Erie canal. He li\ed in Ham- 
burg three years, where he learned the trade of carpenter and 
taught school. In 182 1 he went to Buffalo and served two 
years as jailor under Sheriff Lemuel W'asson. 

He was married in 1831, to Almira Chafee and followed his 
occupation in Buffalo and Hamburg until 1837, when he 
moved to Concord, where he has since lixed. He now resides 
with his son, Henry M. He has seven children li\ing, resi- 
ding in different states. 

Henry M. Blackmar was born in Buffalo, Oct. 24, 1831. 
When six )-ears of age he came to Concord where he has since 
resided. His occupation is farming. Mr. Blackmar takes an 
active and prominent part in public affairs. He was Commis- 
sioner of Highways eight or nine }'ears and twice, 1 876-1 877, 
represented with energy and fidelit}' his town on the Board of 
Supervisors. 

He was married in 1862 to L\'dia Ferrin. The\- ha\e had 
two children : 

Helen May, born March 20, 1867 ; died May 31. 1879. 

Roy, born June 29, 1872. 



288 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Lothop Beebe. 

Lothop Beebe came from the town of Silasbury, Addison 
county, Vt., to this town in 1816, and remained two years, then 
started to return to Vermont. He stopped at East Bloomfield, 
Ontario county, and remained there about three and a-half 
years and worked at blacksmithing. He was married Feb., 
1820 to Sally Bemus and returned to Springville in June, 1821. 
He has lived in Concord about forty years of his life, and in 
Ashford about twenty, and has followed the business of black- 
smithing and farming. 

In 1825, he built a blacksmith shop on Main street, in Spring 
ville, extending from George E, Crandall's store to the west. 
In 1826 he built a dwelling house where Richmond's brick store 
stands, on the corner of Main and Mechanic streets. He car- 
ried on the business of blacksmithing here several years. He 
served as a soldier in the war of 181 2-1 5, in the eastern country 
and after he came here he held different ofifices in the militia 
and was made Colonel of the 248th Regiment, with Homer 
Barnes, Lieutenant Colonel and David Bensley, Major. Mr. 
Beebe and Mrs. Beebe are both living at East Ashford ; he is 
eighty-seven years old and she is eighty-two. Their children 
were : 

Martha, born 1822; married Hiram H. House; she died in 
1845. 

Marshall, born May 1823,; married Caroline Fairbanks; 
he died in 1877. 

Maria, born Sept. 1826; married Hiram H. House ; she died 
Aug., 1854. 

Edward Cheever, born April, 1S23, he died Aug., 1861. 

Norman, born May, 1834; married Susan Davis; lives at 
Lake Christal, Minnesota. 

Sally Ann, born Sept., 1836; she died August, 1861. 

Elvira, born Jan. 17, 1840; married Jehiel D. Whitne)- ; li\"es 
in East Ashford. 

Dr. Moses Blakeley, 

Son of Moses and Phoebe Blakeley, was born in Bennington^ 
Vt., Jan. I, 1796, and in 1814 he was united in marriage to Miss 
Irene Washburn, and fourteen children were the fruits of this 
union. Nine of them, with the \'enerable wife and mother, are 



RTOCRAI'HICAL SKETCIIKS. 289 

still li\inL(. He mo\-cd to the town of C^iilins in 1838, and for 
sixteen years he very successfully practiced medicine in this and 
the surrounding country. In 1854 he moved to the village of 
Aurora, where he enjo\'ed a lucrative practice in his profession 
up to the time of his death He served on the lines during the 
war of 1 8 12 and 181 5, and his venerable widow now recei\'es a 
pension for his services Dr. Blakeley acquired quite a local 
reputation in the practice of medicine. He died at his home 
in 1868. Family record : 

Isaac C, born Oct, 31, 1817; married Anna Tanner, Oct. 30, 
1S42. 

Angeline, born 1820; married Nelson Hills; died in 1877. 

Moses, Jr., born 1822 married Polly Beckwith ; lives in Mich. 

Ansel W. born 1824; married Caroline Adams and Viola 
Thompson. 

Nancy, married Elijah Bull; died in 1862. 

Melissa, married Schuyler Jones; li\'es in Nebraska. 

Edgar, born 1827. 

Julia, married John Wheeler; died in 1872. 

Mary, married Robert Willett ; died in i8m. 

Andrew J., married Almira Tyrer. 

Wellington, married Emily Brandymore. 

Maria, married Joseph Wiser. 

Edgar and Edwin — twins. 

Dr. Isaac V. Blakeley. 

Dr. Isaac C. Blakeley was born Oct. 31. 1817, and came to- 
Concord in the }-ear 1838. His father's name was Moses 
Blakely, who died in 1868. He was a soldier in the War of 
1812; was at the Battle of Plattsburgh ; he was a practicing 
physician. His widow, surviving him, gets a pension. His 
mother's maiden name was Irene Wasburn. His occupa- 
tion is a doctor, has practiced medicine fort\'-two years. Was 
married Oct. 30. 1842, to Anna Tanner, who is a descendant of 
the Wilbur famih' of Collins. 

Emma A., born Aug. 19, 1843 '- niarried to James Wells. 

Mortimer C, born Nov. 10, 1845. 

Araminta A., born March 8, 1847; died Oct. 18, 1862. 

Ansel W., born Aug. 8, 1849. 

John W., born Aug. 19. 1855 ; married to Suella Doniker. 



:2gO BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Edgar Blakeley. 

Edgar Blakeley was born Nov. ii, 1827, in the Town of 
Java, Wyoming county, N. Y. His father's name was Moses 
Blakeley ; his mother's maiden name was Irene Washburn — 
both born in Burlington, Vermont. His father was a practicing 
physician. Was married, Feb. 18, 1847, ^^ Miss Anna Knight. 
His occupation is a farmer and dealer in live stock. The names 
of his children are : 

Alburtus E., born June 21, 1849; married to Annita Jones. 

Galen E., born Sept. i, 1852 ; married to Rosa Blakeley. 

Celia, born Oct. 22, 1855 ; married to Lindsey Thompson. 

Addie, born Aug. 18, 1862. 

Chester H. Briggs. 

Chester H. Briggs was born in the Town of Collins, April 25, 
1849, and came to Concord in the year 1878. His father's 
name was Oliver Briggs, who died April 30, i860; his mother's 
maiden name was Keziah Berry, who died Sept. 2, 1870. He 
is a farmer by occupation ; was married Oct. 22, 1873, to Mary 
A. Carroll, daughter of Patrick Carroll, of Angola. 

His brother Charles Briggs, enlisted in the Tenth New York 
Cavalry and served three years, and then re-enlisted for the 
war. 

They have one child, Frankie Briggs, who was born June 15. 
1874. 

Ansel Blakeley. 

Ansel Blakeley was born Oct. 30, 1824. His father's name 
was Moses Blakele)' ; his mother's maiden name was Irene 
Washburn. He was married Dec. 31, 1850, to Caroline Adams, 
who died March I, 1870, and he was married to Viola Thomp- 
son, June 4, 1871, His children are: 

Ledra, born Dec. 25, 1855 ; died June 28, 1858. 

Sophronia, born Feb. 7, 1857. 

Duane S., born April 24, 1859. 

Elmer E., born July 2, 1863; died Oct. 9, 1871. 

Dee A., born Feb. 24, 1870. 

AVilliain Ballon. 

William Ballou, Sr,,was born in Richmond, Cheshire county, 
New Hampshire, Dec. 26, 1792. From there he removed to 



BIOC.RAPIIICAI. SKETCHES. 29 1 

Rutlaiul count}-, Vermont, and from there to Zoar in Collins, 
in 1817, thus becoming one of our early pioneers. He resided 
in Zoar until 1844. when he moved to Sprini(\Mlle, where he died 
in 1866. He was married in Vermont, in 1813,10 Eunice Cook, 
daughter of William Cook, who settled in Zoar about 1815, 
where he kept tavern at one time. He died in 1853, Mrs. 
Ballou was born in the same town that her husband was, and, 
what is an uncommon coincidence, at the same date. They 
had eight children, the three oldest being born in \"ermont. 
\'iz : 

Hetsc}-, born in 1814; died in 1 81 8. 

Laura E., born in 181 7; married John T. Wells. 

Lucy S., born 1820; married Clinton Hammond. 

John, born 1822; married Mary Perigoo. 

William, born 1826; married Louisa Evans. 

Oliva, born 1828; married Da\id S. Reynolds. 

Philana married Jerome Barnet, 

Josephine, born 1837, died in 1863. 

William Ballou is an extensive jeweler at De Kalb, 111.: he 
has a famil}' of four children. 

James BloodgooU. 

James Bloodgood was born January 5, 1801, in the town of 
Columbia, Herkimer count}', \. Y. ; occupation, a farmer. 
Came to this town in June, 1827, was married (3ctober 10, 1830, 
to Nancy Vaughan, who was born November 30, 18 10. Her 
father's name was James Vaughan. Mr. Bloodgood has been 
a resident of the town of Concord for a period of fifty-five 
years. His history is part and parcel of the histor}- of many of 
the early settlers of Concord. Perhaps an extract from a pub- 
lication entitled. " The first fift}' years of the ^L^dison Uni- 
versity," is appropriate : 

" James Bloodgood, born in Columbia, Herkimer count}-, 
January 5, 1801, came to the Seminar}- in '24 and left in "27; 
settled as a farmer in Springville, Erie count}- ; married Nancy 
\^uighan of Oueensburg, N. Y. ; taught school much in con- 
nection with his farming. His only son graduated at Madison 
University in 1852." 

Referring to the same publication : 



:292 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Delevan Bloodgood, born at Springville, August 20, 1831, 
entered in '48 and graduated '52. Married at Washington, D. 
C, to Jennie, daughter of the late John Ruger. After study 
of medicine in Ann Arbor, Mich., and Philadelphia, Pa., took 
M. D. from Jefferson, Md., College. Studied at medical 
schools in Pittsfield, Mass., New York city and Buffalo, N. Y. 
Visited Europe in '55. In '57 Assistant Surgeon in United States 
Navy." 

His first cruise was of two and a half years in the flag .ship 
of the Pacific squadron, the steamship Merrimac, afterward 
the Rebel iron clad. Visited principal ports on western coast 
of North and South America, and the islands of the" Pacific ; 
in '60 ; at Boston Navy Hospital. Next in steamer Mohawk 
captured two slavers. In arduous service during the war in the 
Gulf. After battle at Port Royal, on transport Atlantic, con- 
veying sick and wounded north. In '62 Surgeon on the Daco- 
tah, watching the Rebel ram Merrimac ; cruised after Semmes 
and other privateers ; two years on the coast of the Carolinas, 
in chase of the Chesapeake. Detached from Dacotah, caught 
by Rebel raiders at Gunpowder river, Md., but soon escaped. 
Recruited in N(n\- York. In '65 made cruise on the lakes in 
the Michigan. In '66, on receiving ship Vermont, New York 
harbor. In '67 sent to the Jamestown at Panama, which was 
suffering from yellow fever ; the passage of sixt\--six days 
from Panama to San Francisco a terrible one, every sixth per- 
son having died. Spent following winter in Alaska ; next 
summer cruising on the coast of North America. Had a cruise 
on coast of Mexico in Lackawana, then ordered to Na\'y Yard 
New York, where he still remains. 

The Blotlgett Family. 

Abial D. Blodgett and famih- lived man\' \-ears and the chil- 
dren attended school on Townsend Hill. They were all apt schol- 
ars. They removed from this town about 1845 to McHenry 
county, 111., and settled near Harvard. Albert, the eldest child, 
enlisted in the army and went to Mexico during the Mexican 
war, and came homesick. He did not recover and died in 1852. 
Ellen married I'rank Diggins, Helen married I. E. Baklwin and 



lUoOKAl'llICAI. SKKTCHKS. 293 

Hattic married H. C Jerome. The)- all li\e at or near Har- 
\ard, McHenr\- c<)uiU\'. 111. 

Abial D. Rlod^ett died in McHenry cinintw in 1861. Susan, 
his wife, died in McHenr)- county, in i<S66. 

Dolo.s A. I51«Klj'«'tt. 

Delos A. l^lodi^ett was born in Otse<^o count}', X. \\ , and 
was brouL^ht to the town of Concord by his parents, when a 
child. He received his education in this town in the cominon 
schools and Springville Academ}-. He removed with his par- 
ents to McHenry count}'. 111. After he had started out for 
himself and obtained some means of his own, he in\x'sted the 
same in pine lands in Michiy^an, and continued to so invest for 
many years. i(S48 he engaged in the lumbering business in 
which he has continued ever since Besides a large lumber 
manufacturing establishment in Muskegon and extensive pine 
lands in the north part of the State, he has .several farms. Mr. 
Blodgctt is a public spirited citizen, ready to assist in any need- 
ful public enterprise. Though not a professor of religion, he 
built a church and presented it. a free gift, to the people of 
Hersey, the village in which he lived. His wife's maiden name 
was Jennie S. Wood. 

Their children are : 

John \V., aged t\\ent}'-three, and Susie R., aged eighteen. 

Mr. Blodgett has taken great pains to educate his children. 
His son, besides receiving a good busidess education, has 
attended the Militar}- Acadeni}- at Worcester. Mass.. two years. 

J. S. Baruett. 

Mr. Barnett's father, Gilbert Rarnett, was born in Bridge- 
water, near Utica, N. Y., Dec. I2, 1791. He removed with his 
family to Springville in 1833, and leased of Col. E. W. Cook, a 
site for a foundry ^\hich he built and had in operation in 1834. 
It was the first foundr}- in town, and the first work done was 
making the castings for tlie "Big" mill. He operated the 
foundry about four years then sold it to a Mr, Kennedy. Mr. 
Barnett died in Wisconsin, June 14, 1899. He was married 
November 16, 1812, to Betsey Dickinson, who was born near 
Utica, N. Y., February 23, 1794. 



294 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

They had eight children, namely : 

Jedediah S., born Nov. 15, 181 3. 

Frederick M , born March 26, 1817, died, June 14, 1856. 

William D., born Dec. 8, 18 19, died about 1870, 

Gilbert, jr., born Sept. 4, 1822. 

Elizabeth, born Nov. 29, 1824. 

Miles A., born March 18, 1828. 

Jerome B., born May 31, 1831. 

Lucy A., born April 13, 1835. 

Jedediah S. Barnett was born in Sullivan, Madison county, 
N. Y., came to Springville in 1834, While engaged in the 
foundry business with his father, he cast the first cook stove 
and plow made in town. He was proprietor of the foundry at 
Springville for a while and was employed for twelve years in 
the foundry at Gowanda, N. Y. He was married Dec. 25, 1839, 
to Lydia Demon. 

Have had four children . 

Morris D., born March 27, 1841 ; married Mary Hurd ; resides 
in Springville. 

Francena, born July 27, 1845 ; married Rollin J. Albro. 

Agnes M., born Nov. 27, 1848 ; died Sept 19, 1853. 

Albert M., born Sept. 2, 1859; married Lillian Davis, 

X. Boleiider, Jr. 

N. Bolender, Jr . was born in Varysburgh, N. Y., Oct. 7, 
1853; came from the town of Sardinia to Concord in the \-ear 
1876. His father's name is N. Bolender: his mother's maiden 
name was Catharine Bensinger; his occupation is milling; \\as 
married to Miss Julia Rose June i, 18 10. 

N. Bolender, Jr., & Bro., are the owners of a farm of eighty- 
seven acres, three-fourths of a mile south of Morton's Corners, 
upon which was a saw mill and flouring mill of four run of 
stones, with all appliances complete, and doing a good busi- 
ness. March 22, 181 2, the flouring mill was burned with its 
contents, consisting of grain of all kinds and seeds, with a 
quantity of flour. The mill was valued at $5,000, and about 
$1,000 in stock; A\as insured for $2,500. They have since 
rebuilt their mill the same size as before. They are also own- 
ers of a custom mill at Collins Center ha\^in<>' t\\\) run of stone ; 



I'.iocRAi'iricAi. SKi:T(.in:s. 295 

are also running;" a cider mill and shinL;ie mill in connection 
with the custom mill at Collins Center. There are three good 
dwelling houses on their farm. 

Anson lilasdoll. 

Anson Blasdell was born March 30, 1S41, in the town of 
Collins, Erie count)', N. V., and came to Concord in the )'ear 
1864: was married Nov. 15. 1873, to Miss Juliette Gaylord. 
I lis father's name was Ah'in Blasdell ; his mother's maiden 
name was Al/ana Irish ; his grandfather's name was William 
l^lasdell ; his grandmother's maiden name was Tamar Allen. 
Mr. Anson Blasdell says: My grandfather, although seventy 
years of age, enlisted in the late war in the State of Iowa, and 
died in a hospital in Illinois. He was a soldier in the war of 
18 12. The)' have two sons : 

Ja)^ born March 5, 1875. 

Lee, born July 22, 1876. 

Byron E. Bristol. 

Byron E. Bristol was born in Si^ringville in 1842 ; his father's 
name was Adoniram Bristol ; his mother's maiden name was 
Lucinda Harvey. Mr. Bristol enlisted Sept. 24, 1861, in Com- 
pany A, One Hundredth Regiment, New York Volunteers. 
He was Orderly-Sergeant of his compan)- ; he was first with 
McClellan's army in the Peninsula campaign, and took part in 
the battle of Fair Oaks ; he was afterwards transferred to Mor- 
ris Island, under the command of General GihiKn'e, ^\•hich \\as 
intended for the besieging of Charleston. In this siege he was 
sexerely wounded, four balls striking and penetrating his breast 
simultaneous!)', two of which have never been removed. From 
Charleston he was removed to Virginia, where he participated 
in the siege of Petersburg, at which place he was mustered out 
of the service Sept. 24, i^'64. 

Mr. Bristol was married in i860 to Julia E. Grover. They 
have one child — Frank E. 

AVarner Bond. 

The Bonds came from New Salem, Mass., nearl)- sixty years 
-ago, and settled in the north part of Ashford, Cattaraugus 



296 BIOGRAPHICAI, SKETCHES. 

county, N. Y. Warner Bond's father, John P. Bond, bought 
land of the Holland Land company, on which he settled and 
lived until his death, Sept. 26, 1879. He was one of the first 
settlers of the town, a hardy pioneer ^\■hose dexterity in wield- 
ing the axe was rarely equaled. 

He married Sally Shultus. Of their children three lived to 
mature years : 

Abbie J., married Adelbert Tainter, and died in Ashford in 
1877. 

Perry, died in 1871. 

Warner, who was born Aug. 7, 1846, in Ashford, where he 
has always resided as a farmer; was married in ib6g to Linda 
Goodemote. They have three children — Carl, Lula M. and 
Cliff. 

tTosepli BrittOTi. 

Mr. Britton's father, John Britton, came to Boston, Erie 
county, from New Jersey, in 18 10. He served as a soldier on 
the Buffalo frontier, in the war of 181 2. He died in Boston. 

Joseph Britton was born in Boston, N. Y., Feb. 17, 1817; 
removed from that town to his present home in Concord, in 
1855. He was married in 1845, to Emily C. Rhodes. They 
have one adopted daughter, Mrs. Carl Waite, of Springville, 

Edward D. Benient. 

Edward D. Bement was a son of Julius Bement, one of the 
earliest pioneers of Concord, a mention of \\hom is made in 
another part of this work. The subject of this sketch was born 
in Concord, Aug. 8th, 1842, where he has since resided, except 
two years residence in Buffalo — 1 870 and 187 1 — where he was 
engaged in the flour and grain trade. 

Mr. Bement enlisted Aug. 3, 1861, in the i T6th New York Vol- 
unteers, Co. F. He left Fort Porter for the scene of the war 
Sept. 5 ; went into camp at Fort Chapin, near Baltimore ; 
left there Nov. 6, for Ship Island, off the coast of Mississippi. 
On account of sickness he was left off at the hospital at Fort- 
ress Monroe ; not recovering his health he was discharged on 
account of reasonable disability, Dec. 11. 1861, and returned 
home. 



lilOCRArillCAI, SKF/KHKS. 297 

He was married Nov 21, 1866, to Miss Sophia 11. Wilson ; 
they have one child, Burtic K., born May 21 1870. Mr. Be- 
ment was Collector of the town of Concord in 18S1. He is at 
present proprietor of a livery stable and a well equiped suite of 
barber rooms in Sprint;ville. 

IJlakcley Faiuily. 

John D. Blakeley was born in Greenville, Cireene county, 
N. Y., ini8i3, of New En<;^land parents, who, in 1815, when. he 
was two \x'ars old, moved to the town of Willink, now Aurora. 
He worked upon the farm near the village of East Aurora, 
teaching school winters, until 1846. Four years he was con- 
nected with a woolen-factory at West Falls. Moved to Spring- 
ville, Sept. 10, 185 1, where he has since resided, for the first 
few years in the harness business, then a spinner in a woolen- 
factory and a carpenter. During the last twent)'-two years he 
has been in mercantile life, and by steady industry and careful 
management has acquired a fair competence His son 

Walter W^ Blakeley, N\as born in Aurora, in 1846, is editor and 
publisher of the Journal and Herald, a local newspaper which he 
began publishing in 1867 as the Springi'illc Journal. He is also 
proprietor of an extensi\'e and well arranged book and sta- 
tionery store, and takes an acti\'e interest in movements that 
tend to build up the moral and intellectual culture of his town. 

flarvis Blooinficld. 

Jarvis Bloomfield was an early settler here. He was a farmer 
and owned until his death the mill now owned b}' C. J. Shut- 
tleworth. He had four children : Hiram, the oldest, lives near 
Rochester ; David C, lives in Sherman, Chatauqua county ; 
Maria, married P'rank Fargo, and lives in Warsaw ; Homer, 
when last heard from, lived in California. Mr.- Bloomfield died 
Ma\' 12, 1856, aged si.xty-eight years and eleven months. 

Samuel Bradley. 

Samuel Bradle\' \\as an earh' settler in this town, and built 
and managed the first woolen mills ever built in this town. He 
afterward bought, in compan)' with his son-in-law, Silas Rush- 
more, the Gardner grist mill. A few years afterward, while 
tendintr the mill at ni<>"ht, he fell from the stairs and was 



298 HIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

injured so badly that he died in a short time. None of the 
family or descendants have lived in this town for forty or fifty 
years. 

Charles E. Botsfoitl, C. E. 

C. E. Botsford was born in Syracuse, N. Y.. in 1837. When 
he was five years of age, the family moved to Yorkshire, N. Y,, 
and to Springville in 1847, where he has ever since held a 
residence. He attended school three years at the Springville 
Academy, where he developed a rare proficiency in mathemat- 
ics, which resulted in his becoming a professional civil engineer 
and surveyor. 

About 1856, he became assistant engineer in the construc- 
tion of the Brooklyn city water works. He remained in this 
position se\'en years, at the expiration of which time he gave 
his attention to the locating and construction of railroads for a 
period of ten years, principally in the States of New York, 
Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Besides being actively engaged 
in the building of railroads, he made a great many preliminary 
surveys. Among the roads which he assisted in building are 
the Rondout & Oswego, in New York ; the Sull'van & Erie in 
Pennsylvania, and the New Haven, Middletown & W'illimantic, 
in Connecticut. Of the last-mentioned, he was chief engineer, 
and also of the Rochester & Pittsburgh. 

Mr. Botsford has undoubtedly the largest prix'ate librar\- in 
Erie county outside of Buffalo. His collection now numbers 
one thousand volumes of standard works. 

Mr. Botsford was married in 1876, to Roselia M. Parmenter, 
a graduate of GrifTfith Institute. They have two sons, Charles 
and Heman. 

The Bhike Faiuily. 

Ebenezer Blake came to this State from Canada about 1816, 
and after stopping at several different places for a while, finally 
settled on Townsend Hill, in 1829, He reared a large family 
of children : 

Adonirum J., the eldest, died in Cuba, N. Y.. in 1843. 

John G. lives in Mount Carroll, 111. 

Rosina (Blake) Rowley lives in Springville. 

Benjamin F. lives in Gaines, Orleans county. 



HKJCRAPHICAL SKKTCHKS. 299 

Chirinda died in 1848. 

Louisa (Blake) Willis died in I <S6o. 

Charles E. died in 1873. 

Harn- li\'es in Rome, N. Y. 

Cephas lives in Gaines, Orleans county, N. V. 

Saphronia M. lives in Blaine, Porta<^e county. Wis. 

Sylvester H. Barnhart. 

Mr. Barnhart was born at Dickinson's Landin<^, Stormont 
county, C. W., Sept. 19, 1842. His parents were of Canadian 
birth. He received instruction in the hi^ijjhcr branches from a 
private instructor, and tauLjht school four }'ears in his native 
county, then relinquishcil the pursuit on account of his health; 
in 1864 he went to St. Catharines, C. W., and worked for 
three years at cabinet and undertaking' business ; from that 
time up>.to the present he has mainly followed the occupation 
of harnessmaker and saddler in \'arious places in New York, 
Pennsylvania, and in the cities of Cleveland, Chica<^o, Detroit, 
and Cincinnati. He is at present (1883) located in Springville. 
While at Corr\', Pa., he was engaijed for a while in the electro 
gold and silver plating business. He was also engaged for a 
hardware firm in Cleveland, O., for some time. 

In the manufacture of harness, Mr. Barnhart is a \-er\' skillful 
workman, his wcM'k taking first premium when ])ut on exhibi- 
tion. 

<ir<M>rj»-e 1). I5ra<ltVn'd (Colored). 

George D. Bradford was born in the cit}' of New Orleans, 
La., June 8, 1850. At the commencement of the rebellion in 
1861 he joined a division of Rebel-General Longstreet's army, 
stationed in New Orleans, in the capacity of an officer's waiter. 
He filled this position until the occupation of New Orleans by 
the Union army, under General Butler in 1862, when he joined 
the Union forces, and became an assistant in the One Hun- 
dred and Si.xteenth regnnent New York volunteers, with 
which he remained during all the hard-fought battles in which 
it took part and until the close of the war in 1865, when he 
came to Springville with Capt. Charles F. Crary ; after Captain 
Crar}''s death he became an inmate of Mr, J. N. Richmond's 



300 lilOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

family, and expresses thanks for their kindness and the educa-- 
tional privileges they gave him. 

Statement of Mrs. Boyles. 

I was born in Connecticut ; my father's name was Abel Ab- 
bey ; my name was Melinda Abbey ; came from Connecticut 
to Lyle. Broome county, this state, in 1803; my father came 
to Sardinia in 181 3 and bought of Sumner Warren a saw mill 
and a quarter section of land where Sardinia village now is; 
he moved his family on in March, 1814; was about three weeks 
coming through ; he came with two span of horses and a yoke 
of oxen ; stayed the last night of our journey at Jackson's, east 
of Arcade ; on coming into the town of Sardinia we passed 
where a Mr. Eaton and another man had made a beginning 
where Rice's Corners are now, but both had gone east on 
account of the Indians, and one of them never moved back ; 
we found General Knott on his place, and IVIr. Mariam and 
Cartwright about where Thomas Hopkins and Mr. Hosmernow 
live, and Godfrey and Palmer lived just west of Colgrove's Cor- 
ners, on the Andrc\\s place. The saw mill that father bought 
of Warren stood about where Mr. Simonds' mill is, and the 
little log house stood about where Andrews' grocery stands 
now ; there was no other house where Sardinia village now is, 
nor nearer than Godfrey's west of Colgrove's Corners. 

Mr. Warren had built a shant}' on the place where Hiram 
Crosby now lives, but not long after he, Godfrey and others 
were called out on the lines to serve as soldiers, and his wife 
went up and stayed with Mrs Godfrey while they were gone. 
Old Mr. John Wilcox lived on the Olen place, lot thirty-four, 
township five, range seven. 

Ezekiel Smith lived at the foot of the hill as you come down 
towards Springville. 

A man by the name of Wolsey lived on the old Carney place. 

John Johnson lived oii lot fifty-six about where his son Rich- 
ard now lives, and John and Jeremiah Wilcox had commenced 
on the next lot below. 

Morton Crosby was on the Jonathan Madison place, and Com 
modore Rogers lived next this side ; then Capt. Charles Wells ; 
then Jedediah Cleveland ; then Richmond's folks were next. 



iiloCRAl'lIKWl, SKF/ICIIKS. 



^OI 



Horace Rider and the Sears fami!>- li\ed on the hill on lot 
fifty-seven, a half or three-fourths of a mile nearly north of the 
Hakes brids^e. 

Ezekiel Hard}' li\'ed on lot fort\--two. 

lacob Wilson, Benjamin Wilson and Daniel Hall lived in the 
eart i)art of the town near where the railroad junction is now. 

These are all the families that were in town at that time that 
I can remember. 

In June, 1814, Adelia Sears, a yount;' woman, luini,^ herself 
with a skein of \-arn, in the barn, where she was at work wea\-- 
ini^; her family and friends never knew what caused her to do 
the act. I remember that Mr. Warren and his wife and four 
more of us rode down on horseback fixe miles throu<^h the 
woods to where the Sears family lived at the time. 

In the Summer of 1814 I taught school in Sardinia. It was 
in a log house east of Colgrove's Corners, that stood near New- 
ell Hosmer's present residence. 

All the men liable to do military duty had been called to the 
frontier, only two or three who were exempt from age remained. 
When in the school room that Summer we could hear the can- 
non at Fort Erie, Chippewa and Lund)''s Lane distinctl)-. 
We sometimes felt rather lonesome back in the wilderness and 
most of the men gone to the war. 

In 181 5, my father and Deacon Russell were highwa)' com- 
missioners, and laid out the road through Springville on West. 
In 1815, I was married to Jeremiah Wilcox b}' Christopher 
Douglass. Escp, and moved down and commenced keeping 
house on the creek, about t]iree-c]uarters of a mile east of the 
Hakes bridge On the 29th of Februar\-, 1S16, there was 
a caucus down at Richmond's, and m\- brothers and others 
came down from the east part of the tt)wn to attend the cau- 
cus ; I, too, went down to \isit with the Crosby folks, and left 
the house alone, and before we returned, the house and every- 
thing in it burned up. We went to the Barny Carny place and 
staid one year, and then went back onto the creek and kept 
tavern 

The girls in the Richmond famil\- were Anna, Betsey, Sally, 
and Louisa; the boys, George and Frederick. Richmond's 
log house was used for various kinds of public gatherings. I 



b 



302 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

remember that when the town meeting was held there once or 
twice when the four towns were all in one ; militia trainings 
were held there ; religious meetings were held there also, and 
they had good meetings, too. I remember that when Mr. Fay, 
of Townsend Hill was married, that for their wedding tour he 
and his wife, each with a good horse, took a horseback ride in 
good style down to Richmond's on Sunday to meeting. Social 
gatherings were held there, when sometimes nearly all from 
Sardinia village to Springville were present. 

In those early days we had to endure many hardships and 
privations, but the people were generally friendly and we 
enjoyed ourselves very well, and had some very good times. 

In 1820, we moved up on to lot thirty-three, township seven, 
range six, where the brick house now is, on the west side of 
Vaughan street. The families living on or near that street at 
that time, are Archibald Griffith, at East Concord, Nathan 
Godard and Cyrus Cheney, on the Steele place, William 
Wright, on the Bloodgood place, Jonathan Mayo, west of the 
road. Captain Wells, on south part of lot thirty-three, John 
Henman, Elijah Matthewson, Hale Matthewson, on the Hor- 
ton place, Abner Chase on road running west from Vaughan 
street, Culver lived where William Pingry does, Douglass lived 
down on the creek, old Mr Madison lived on the Byron Wells 
place, Deacon Jennings lived where William McMellan does and 
Ben Rhodes lived on the Jabez Weeden place. 

When I first came to Springville, David Sticknex' kept hotel 
in a small log house near the Opera House. W^hen we passed 
from one room to the other had to step over a log. Fred Rich- 
mond traded a little and Jinks and Stanard traded on Buffalo 
street, between the Methodist and Baptist churches. Not long 
after that Rufus C. Eaton kept hotel in the old yellow house 
that stood back of the Universalist church near the pond. I 
went to some shows there in 1819. The first frame house built 
in Springville was by David Leroy ; it stood a little south of 
the Presbyterian church. Dr. Daniel Ingals lived in it after- 
wards. Don't know for certain what year the old hotel on 
Franklin street opposite the park was built, but I remember I 
went to a ball there in 1 82 1. Harry Sears kept it then. I 
think the Eaton grist mill was built before 1820 I came here 



HIOGRAI'IIICAI. SKKTCHES. 303 

and had wool carded in 1817. I think there niust have been a 
carding machine before Bradley came. I think Elliott com- 
menced trading in 1825 or '26. Dr. Churchill did some busi- 
ness in early times. Dr. Rumsey was a young man and died 
at Mr. Henman's house of consumption in the summer of 1816. 
Dr. Woodward was next and Dr. Reynolds, then Drs. Daniel 
and Varnc)' Ingals. My father sold out in Sardinia to Dudley 
and Horace Clark and went to Elyra, 0.,and died there. Two 
or three years after we moved to Vaughan street we raised a 
fine crop of wheat, but could sell it for only three shillings, or 
three and six per bushel ; we also had to sell sheep for fifty 
cents a head. 

Mr. Wilco.x died in Ashford, March 24, 1843. 

My son John A. died in Minnesota. 

Sardis, Abel and x\lfred died in Calif(^rnia. 

Carlos E. died in Mexico. 

Albert Tracy died in Kansas. 

M\^ daughter, L. C). Wilcox, died in 1839, ^ged eighteen 
years. 

Maria married Janies Goodemote and lives in Ashford. 

Lucy married Alden Kellogg and li\'es in Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Boyles died in Nov. 1877. 

Murray Cliaiirtlor. 

Murra\- Chandler, son of Elam Chandler and Sail)- Fleming 
Chandler, was born in Concord, Jan. I, 1847. He was married 
March 29, 1876, to Filena Smith, daughter of Calvin Smith, 
Esq. of Springville. They have one child, Robert Smith 
Chandler, born Feb. 6, 1879. ^^^- ^- '^ '^ cheese maker and 
farmer. His father came to Concord from Vermont, and was 
engaged for a time in mercantile business at Ellicottville, N. 
Y.; now lives at Yorkshire, N. Y. 

Georg'e Cosliiie. 

George Cosline was born Dec. 15, 1844, in the town of Bos- 
ton, Erie county, N. Y., came to Concord in 1857; is a farmer 
and was married Nov. 9, 1859, ^^ Janette Hickok, of the town 
of Concord. They have one son, George S. Cosline, who was 
born May 15, 1864. His brother, Henry Cosline, enlisted and 



304 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

served three years in the late war, and until discharged. George 
Cosline was drafted and paid $300 for a substitute. He was in 
the Mississippi Valley for seven years and cut two thousand 
cords of steamboat wood. 

Albert Crosby. 

Albert Crosby was born June 28, 1853, in Sardinia. His 
father's name was Hiram Crosby, and his mother's maiden 
name was Susan Jackman. He has worked at the business of 
farming and cheese making. He was married in 1874 to Miss 
Ella Smith, daughter of William Smith and Cinderrella Briggs 
Smith. They own and occupy a farm on lot fifty-three, town- 
ship seven, range 6, in the town of Concord. 

They have two children : 

Alonzo Erasmus^ born June 18, 1875. 

Elsie E., born March 30, 1877. 

Statement of Vernain C. Cooper. 

I was born in the town of Kingsbuiy, Washington county, 
N. Y.; my father's name was Samuel Cooper; my mother's 
maiden name was Betsey B. Armstead ; my father came to this 
town in 1809, and took up lot thirty-three, township seven, 
range six, but did not settle on it. and soon after sold it ; 
he returned East. In May, 181 1, my father started from 
Washington county to move to this town. The family con- 
sisted of father, mother, myself and my younger sister Betsey. 
My uncle Nicholas Armstead and a small boy, George Arm- 
stead, came with us ; we came with two yoke of oxen hitched 
to our wagon and drove two cows ; we were three weeks com- 
ing through and were compelled to camp out nights, frequently 
in the woods ; one or two basswood trees were cut for the cattle 
to browse upon ; mother prepared something for us to eat and 
we slept under the wagon ; I was so young that I cannot tell 
for certain the route we came, or all the incidents that occurred, 
but I think we came b\' w<iy of Pike and Arcade ; I remember 
when we passed the Tice place in this town ; they were burning 
brush on the sides of the road, and it was so hot that we could 
hardly get through safely; we arrived on the 7th of June and 
located on lot nineteen, township seven, range seven, on land 



r.KXikAl'IIICAI. SKKIIIIKS, 305 

nf)\v owned b\' G. VV. Spauldin<4' ; our house was built some 
distance west of liis house on the south side of the road ; there 
was no saw mill in this town, and our house had to be built 
without lumber; the bod\' was of logs, the roof was shingled 
with bassu'ood bark, and the floor w<is made of plank sjjlit out 
of basswood logs, called " puncheons," and all the planing, 
matching and fitting they received was performed with an axe ; 
the door for the first Summer was a blanket hung up. 

Thomas McCx^e came in soon after we did and located on lot 
eleven, the place that Laban Smith now owns. 

James Brown came in soon after and settled on lot twenty, 
township seven, range seven. 

His son. Obadiah Brown, located on lot twenty-eight, town- 
ship seven, range seven. 

Isaac, Ezra, Hira and Daniel Lush, four brothers, came 
and settled on lot twenty-seven, township seven, range seven, 
where Hira C. Lush now lives. They came from Augusta. 
Oneida count}'. 

Smith Russell came and settled on lot twelve, townshij) 
seven, range se\'en, on the north side of the Genesee road, on 
land now (iwned by Henry Scott. 

Channing Tre\itt came and located on lot eighteen, township 
seven, range seven, and put up a saw mill in 18 1 3, where the 
Wheeler Brothers now are. 

Alexander Clements came and located where Samuel Stevens 
now li\"es. 

All the above-named families came in and located before, 
and lived in this neighborhood during, the War of 1812-15. 
Most of them were called out to serve as soldiers on the Nia- 
gara frontier; some of them went more than once. My father 
was drafted twice but hired substitutes each time. The first 
time he hired his brother-in-law, Nicholas Armstead, who got 
badh' wounded ; the second time, he hiretl Isaac Lush. Dur- 
ing the fore part of the war. the settlers feared that the Indians 
on' the Cattaraugus and Buffalo Creek reservations might side 
with the British and make war on the settlers; but. when the}' 
learned that those Indians took sides against the British and 
assisted the Americans when desired, that fear passed away. 

The Indians were always very friendly with us, and used to 

16 



306 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

stay at our house over night frequently, and mother, out of 
friendship and matter of policy, went down to the reservation 
visiting. 

Immediately after the close of the war, settlers began to 
come in quite fast, and within two or three years the following 
families came to our neighborhood: Jonathan Spaulding, 
Benjamin Trevitts, John Andrews, Everett Fisher, Daniel Per- 
sons, Samuel Eaton, Asa Philips, Roswell Olcott, James Tyrer, 
Ambrose Cram, Ebenezer Merrick, Frederick Wood, Cary 
Clements, Samuel Sampson, Emery Sampson. 

There was no grist mill in this town for several years after 
we came, and we had to go to Boston to get our grinding done^ 
until Jonathan Townsend built his mill on Smith brook, 
in 1816. 

People from Collins used to come to our house on their way 
to Boston to mill, and stay over night, and take our wagon and 
go on to Boston and get their grists ground, then come back 
and stay another night at our house, then in the morning hitch 
on to their drays and go winding through the woods with noth- 
ing but a path to follow to their homes in Collins. 

A great many people used to sta}' at our house over night, 
some going to mill, some looking for land or moving, and fre- 
quently there would be six or eight there at a time. Once, 
father was digging a well, and, in order to prevent accidents, 
laid rails over the top at night, but one of our oxen recklessly 
walked onto the rails and went to the bottom ; but, by the use 
of ropes and the assistance of travelers stopping there that 
night, he was hoisted out and landed safely on terra firuta. 

A wolf once killed one of our sheep and dragged her up onto 
a big elm log, and was found there taking his breakfast in the 
morning. 

One time, a bear killed one of ni}- father's hogs, and he and 
Mr. Brown took the remains of the hog down b}' the little 
spring brook and baited a bear trap, which they constructed of 
logs and pins or stakes, and they caught the bear by one hind 
leg. 

When we went to the trap, a large dog that had followed us 
into the county rushed up and attacked the bear in the trap, 
but the bear seized him in his fore paws, and would have hugged 



HKXiRAl'HICAI, SKKTCUKS, 307 

him to death. We tried to pr)- his paws apart with liand 
spikes to Hberate the dog, but could not do it, and finally had 
to knock the bear in the head and killed him ; we then took 
him up to the house and kept him several days for people to 
look at. 

My father's family were ; 

Vernam C. Cooper. 

Betsey Cooper married Luke Simonds; lives in Concord. 

Julia Ann married Jonathan Swain; died in Colden. 

Margaret died in this town twenty years ago. 

Samuel died in Illinois twenty-seven years ago. 

Phoebe died in Ohio eighteen years ago. 

Elark}' Lodusky lives in Concord. 

Ezra Lush's mother was sister to my father, and Ezra's wife 
was sister to m}- wife. 

Veriiani C. Cooper's Family. 

He married Keziah Sampson, Jul)' 28, 1828. Their children 
were : 

Colvin Cooper. 

Caroline married Job Woodward; lives in Concord. 

Cary married Helen Gray; he died in Kansas, 1879. 

Ann married Frank Perkins ; he died nineteen years ago. 

Clementine died when a child. 

Carlos died when a child. 

Leroy died at Staunton hospital. District of Columbia, 
Dec. 8, 1864, aged nineteen years, nine months and nineteen 
da)-s. 

William Wallace married Flora Stage ; lives in Concord. 

John Wesley married Mariette Colburn ; lives in Concord. 

The Cooliraii Family. 

Samuel Cochran, who was one of the very first settlers in the 
present Town of Concord, was born Jan. 21, 1785, in the Town 
of Gifford, Vermont, and was married Nov. 6, 1805, to Catharine 
Gallup, who was born Feb. 22. 1787, in the Town of Colrain, 
Mass. He was descended from the Scotch Covenanters, who. 
flying from the persecutions under King James, settled in the 
North of Ireland ; while she was a descendant of a Hugenot 



308 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

family which had escaped from the massacre of St. Bartholo- 
mew. Soon after marriage, the youthful pair moved to Tioga 
county, N. Y., near the present Town of Painted Post, where 
they remained until the Fall of i8o8, when, having found their 
location to be destitute of water in the dry season, they 
decided to go where living water was abundant. 

At this time, the Holland Land company were distributing 
their circulars and maps, and inviting settlers to visit their 
lands. One of these fell into Cochran's hands, on which the 
present location of Springville was named "Cold Springs," on 
account of their abundance, coldness and purity. His late ex- 
perience decided him to visit the place for himself. In the 
month of September or October, 1808, in company with Joseph 
Yaw, an uncle of his wife, he started on foot, equipped with 
blanket, knapsack and staff, to visit Cold Springs, now Spring- 
ville. He came through the southern tier of counties to 
Angelica, and from there b}' what was known as the McClure 
settlement, in the Town of Franklinville, Cattaraugus county, 
Joseph McClure having cut to that place a sled road from 
Angelica, which was barely a track indicated by blazed trees, 
from which the logs had been cut and rolled awa\\ McClure 
had been educated for the medical profession, but disliking it 
he had left Belchertown, Mass., and moved to Angelica, N. Y., 
in the Summer of 1804, when his skill and accuracy as a sur- 
veyor had attracted the attention of the principal surveyor 
and agent of the Holland Land company, Joseph Ellicott, by 
whom McClure was employed, and sent into the wilderness to 
survey the subdivisions of the Purchase, and appreciating the 
loveliness and fertility of the broad valle}' of the Lschua, he 
decided to make it his home and moved there in 1806. From 
this point, Cochran and Yaw had onl}' blazed trees to guide 
them down the south branch of the Cattaraugus creek to the 
forks where the}' crossed to the north bank of the stream which 
they followed down as far as the place kno^\■n as the George 
Shultus place. P^rom this place, the\' came up the ravine to 
what is now called Cattaraugus street, to the site of the present 
Village of Springville. They found only the two families of 
Christopher Stone and John Albro. Stone on Buffalo street 
just south of- Eaton street, and Albro farther north. 



I'.IOCkAl'IIICAI, SKHTCIIES. 309 

Cochran & Yaw took up lot 2 ; Cochran the south part. 
With tlic help of Albro & Stone they cut logs and rolled up the 
body of a house high enough to stand under the lowest side of 
the roof. This structure was located at the point of the hill 
about forty rods south-west of the Edward Goddard place, 
where a few years later Yaw built a house and spent his days. 
At first Cochran's house had no floor or window and not a nail 
in it. Pins driven into augur holes in the logs furnished shelv- 
ing, seats and table. The)- had what might be regarded as a 
novelty at the present da)-, a bedstead with only one leg to it, 
in which were two augur holes, receiving the two rails from the 
sides of the house which furnished the other legs and side, 
ready for bark cording, which, in those days, was considered 
a rather extravagant and great luxury. As soon as the shant}' 
was ready Cochran returned for his wife, by way of Buffalo and 
Batav'ia, following only blazed trees as far as Boston, from 
which place a sled-road had been cut out to Buffalo. The first 
road or travelled path from Springville to Buffalo was up Frank- 
lin street to the Russell orchard, then by the Wilson place, 
Townsend Hill, Pike, Adams and Trevett's, to Boston. Coch- 
ran was soon ready to return to his future home, where his life 
was spent and where he and his wife rest in the beautiful cem- 
eter\' on the farm they so long occupied. 

All their effects were easily packed on a small sled drawn by 
a yoke of steers, and the father, mother and child started for 
this wilderness home, by the way of Batavia and Williamsville. 
F^rom the latter place he was nine days in reaching Springville, 
and this was only accomplished with the greatest exertion, 
often being compelled to cut and roll the logs from trees that 
had fallen across the track. Crossing the Buffalo creek on the 
ice was a serious affair. After the ice had first formed the 
water in the creek had fallen about a foot, the ice breaking 
along the bank had formed again below, leaving a strip of the 
first formation projecting from the bank. In crossing the run- 
ner of the sled ran so firmly under the ledge that the steers 
were unable to back it out. After \'ainl)' tr\^ing to extricate 
the sled, it being quite dark, he took the child in his arms and 
with his wife, walked nearly a mile, to the Indian Council House, 
where the Indians were holding one of their wild dances, feath. 



3IO BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

ers and paint giving them a hideous appearance. Here he left 
his wife and child, while he with two or three Indians, returned 
to extricate the sled, which delayed his return about two hours, 
which, to the young wife, seemed an age, alone with the howl- 
ing, painted savages. She had seldom seen Indians, but her 
mind was filled with stories of their savage ferocity and memory 
was faithful in bringing them all up fresh before her as they 
danced, howling around their camp-fire. One of the squaws took 
the baby in her arms and danced around the fire with it singing 
their war songs, which seemed to please the child far more than 
the mother, who expected every moment to see it tossed in the 
fire. Another took her fur-trimmed overcoat, put it on and 
followed in the dance and finally disappeared out-doors with it. 
Her feelings can better be imagined than described. Her 
child seemed safe but the thought that her fur-trimmed coat, 
the bridal-gift of her mother, was gone forever and she could 
not hide her tears. "White squaw, baby, cry," said one who 
could speak a little English. 

At last her husband returned with the Indians who had 
accompanied him. All was right again, but that scene could 
never be forgotten by the mother. They stayed at the Council 
House all night. The Indians fed their steers and gave them 
breakfast for which they would take no remuneration. The 
only similar instance in their long journey. They obtained 
shelter nights and food until they reached Boston corners. 
Thence it took them two da}'s to reach Springville, camping 
one night beside a fallen tree, between the Lewis Trevitt place 
and the Pike school-house, about five and one-half miles from 
their new house, which they reached on the following day. 

When they left Boston they started very early with strong- 
hopes to reach Springville that night, but a strong wind had 
prostrated se\'eral trees across their track, which had given them 
a day of the hardest labor to get through, but all in vain. The 
bright hopes of the morning were all blasted and though it was 
cold and blustering they were compelled to spend the night 
beside a fallen tree near the roots which were turned up. Hem- 
lock brush was piled on the ground and a covering of it on 
poles overhead, a fire built before it which kept Cochran bus}- 
through the night, to suppl)- with fuel and tend while the 



HIOGRAl'HICAL SKETCHES. 311 

mother had a six-months' child to keep comfortable and quiet. 
The steers had to make their supper and breakfast on browse. 
They were all read}- for another early start and reached the 
shanty of John Russell, on lot one, near the an<;le (just west of 
the corporation line) on Franklin street, built since Cochran went 
for his wife. It was a pleasant surprise for Cochran and wife 
to come upon this, shanty in the wilderness, with its genial 
occupants and they were made welcome there the first night in 
Concord, and the wives formed a union that night, baptised 
with many tears (but they were tears of joy) that lasted all 
through their future lives. And their " pine-knot" torches 
often guided them through the woods, half a mile, from shantv 
to shanty, for a long winter evening's visit. The next morning 
Russell and Cochran went down together to Cochran's house to 
clear out the snow which they found abundant in it, as the roof 
covered only about three-fourths of the top, no doors in it and no 
chinking had been done. But the snow was soon ejected and fire 
built at one end where there was not any roof and both wives 
were soon there getting their two suppers together. With what 
thrilling interest the survivors of these two families recounted 
these scenes over fifty years after. 

Though greath' surprised by the addition of Russell and wife 
to the town since Cochran went for his family, he was disap- 
pointed in finding that Albro had lost his wife and left for his old 
home in the east. During the winter of 1808 and 1 809, Stone, 
Cochrane and Russell were the only settlers within ten miles. 
Cochran and Russell were the two first permanent settlers of 
the town of Concord. Stone and Albro removing to other 
parts of the country. The first money earned b}' Cochran was 
by making ashes, boiling the lye into salts, in a two-pail iron 
kettle, and carrying the salts in a trough he had dugout, on his 
back to the asher}' in Hamburg, twenty-two miles distant. With 
this mone)' he was enabled to pay his bill made in Boston when 
moving into Concord. It is difficult to picture to ourselves the 
hardships of pioneer life. The winter blasts penetrated the 
hastily-built shanties. There were no fire-places and no chim- 
neys save a big hole in the roof, through which all the heat as 
well as the smoke escaped. The cattle lived on browse and for 
a while these hardy settlers had to supply much of their provis- 



312 BIOGRArHICAL SKETCHES. 

ions from the game of the surrounding wilderness. They had 
no neighbors within ten miles. The curling smoke from these 
three humble but happy homes was all there was to cheer the 
forest gloom. Never were neighbors more highly prized than 
by those hopeful pioneers who where closely united by their 
common experiences and the necessities of their forest life. 

Much of their out-door labor w^as done in common. Together 
they logged and cleared their land and soon each had three or 
four acres burned and in condition to plant corn and potatoes. 
They struggled hard under adverse circumstances to supph" 
their actual wants. But sympathy and generous friendship 
made their lot happ)- and often in later years they were heard 
to call those early days of struggle and privation the happiest 
of their lives. Cochran and Russell with their wi\-es, went on 
foot to Gary's, in Boston, ten miles, on a visit, each of the men 
carrying a bab)' in their arms. They did not start for the after- 
noon visit at five P. M. Nor did they return the same evening, 
but took two days for the trip and felt well paid. " This visit 
was soon returned by Asa Gary and wife. 

A few years later, when Peter Pratt had settled in Gollins, now- 
known as Zoar, Russell, Gochran, and their wives, and Albro, 
who had returned with a young wife, went with an ox sled 
eight miles to spend an evening at his house. It took a good 
part of the day to get there and all night to get back. Still no 
doubt they worked lively and gossiped very little about their 
neighbors. About this time Gochran heard that a man named 
W^aterman had settled upon the Gattaraugus Greek, where the 
village of Gowanda is now situated. As there were W'atermans 
in his native town he determined to visit him in hopes to hear 
from his eastern home again. To accomplish this he first went 
eight miles to get Peter Pratt's old mare on which his wife could 
ride and carr)- the baby, for he had come to the conclusion after 
carrying the bab}' to Boston and back that baby had got big 
enough to ride a horse, while he was needed to go ahead and 
pick out the way, there not being any road. They travelled 
over twenty-five miles, over the terrible breakers and ravines of 
Zoar, along the Gattaraugus creek, then an unbroken wilder- 
ness, to reach Waterman's. On their return the mare's colt 
broke its leg, which caused another day's delay. The visit 



RIOC.RAPIIICAT, SKKTCIIKS. 313 

which was returned by Waterman and wife on horse-back, 
occupied five da\'s. Such incidents, trixial in themselves, 
throw a clearer li<^ht upon the lives and feelings of our 
ancestors and give us a better comprehension of the hardships 
they endured, than can be obtained from the most eloquent 
descriptions. These pioneers had no communication with the 
outside world and the friends they left, except as intelligence 
was brought to them from time to time by some new settler. 
There were but few additions to the settlement until 1810, 
when quite a number of families joined them. The next year, 
and }'ear following, additions were so numerous through the 
town that when troops were called for in the war of 1812, quite 
a compan}- went from the limits of the present Town of Con- 
cord. Cochran was appointed Ensign by Colonel Stevens and 
had charge of the company from this town, and were placed at 
the batter}- on foot at Black Rock the night Buffalo was burned, 
and came near being taken prisoners in the morning. When 
Buffalo was burning a company of Red Coats were sent down 
the ri\er to silence the battery, which had been doing bad work 
with their small boats, which had been continually crossing the 
river during the night. And this companyof Red Coats were near 
the battery when Colonel Chapin was seen coming at full speed 
from another direction and in time warned them to make their 
escape, when they all fled, some running but a few rods jumped 
down the bank by the river side and were safe from their shots, 
whilst others ran for the woods some forty or fifty rods on a 
double quick, the balls whizzing by them, Cochran was among 
this number and as he dodged behind a big hemlock tree a ball 
struck the tree throwing the bark so sharph' in his face that he 
thought certainly the bullet hit him. Cochran, in after \'ears, 
often spoke of this as the most terrible event of all his life, for, 
on the last fire, the cannon ran over his foot crushing off the 
nails from his toes and he came near fainting and fallino- at 
every step the pain was so terrible. Onh' one of the company 
got hit b\- the enemy's bullets and that but a flesh wound in 
his arm. When the British had spiked the guns they returned 
to the city for plunder. At the close of the war, Cochran 
received a commission from the Government as aide-de-camp 
to Brigadier-general and afterwards to Major-general. Much 



314 l!I()(;RArHICAL SKKTCIIES. 

of the time during his Hfe he held some town office, was one of 
the first stockholders in the Springville Academy and a trustee 
all his life. Most of the time its treasurer and during its darkest 
days and most trying periods, one of its most firm and liberal 
supporters. At its opening he was so anxious to see it start 
full that he put in five scholars, though part of them were so 
young as to more properly belong to the district school. He 
was ever ready to aid in every benevolent and public enterprise 
in the place. His second log house was built on the corner 
of Central avenue and Franklin street, occupying the ground 
on which the beautiful and stately mansion of D. \V. Bensley 
now stands. In 1823, he built the house on Main street, in 
which he spent the remainder of his days. When this house was 
finished the traveling public pressed him so hard for accommo- 
dation that in 1S24, he put up a sign and kept public house for 
twenty years. Though he voluntarily abandoned the liquor 
traffic and kept a temperance house for three or four years. 
This house is again being fitted for a hotel by F. K. Davis. 
Cochran died in 1845 "ot quite sixty-two years of age, leaving 
a wife, five sons and four daughters, all of whom but the eldest, 
were born in Springville. 

His eldest son, Orson, was born Jan. 26, 181 5, and lived in 
Concord till ^840, when he moved to Otto, near Waverh*. He 
was elected Justice of the Peace in 1850, which office he has 
held ever since, now over thirty-five years. Was town super- 
intendent of Common School there till the office was aban- 
doned. He still lives at Otto, near Waverly. 

Joseph G., the second son, was born Feb. 5, 1817. He pre- 
pared for College at Springville Academy and graduated at 
Amherst College and Union Theological Seminary, N. Y., and 
was sent by A. B. C. F. M., in 1847. ^o Persia, Asia, where 
he died after twenty-five years of \'er)- successful labor in the 
mission field. In 1847, ^^ ^^'^^^ married to Miss Deborah 
Plumb, a daughter of Joseph Plumb, formerly of Gowanda. 
She continued a missionary on the same field where her hus- 
band died. Her son. Dr. J. P. Cochran, is laboring with heron 
the same field. 

Byron, the third son, was born Jan. 30, 1821. Has held 
:several offices in the militia, was on Brigadier and Major-Gen- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 315 

eral's staff. Was elected Justice of the Peace five times, was 
deacon, elder and Sunday school superintendent of the Presby- 
terian church, Springvllle, for over thirty years, till health 
failed and he resigned. He still resides in Springville. 

Augustus G., the fourth son, was born July i, 1825. He 
served three years in the war of the Rebellion, was with Sher- 
man in his grand march through Georgia, returned from the 
hospital in poor health and is now living on a farm in the Town 
of Great Valley, Cattaraugus county. 

David H., the fifth son, was born July 5th, 1828; prepared 
for college at Springville Academy. Graduated from Hamil- 
ton College about the year 1849. Was principal of Fredonia 
Academy about three years, from which place he went to the 
State Normal school at Albany as Professor of Chemistry, &c. 
Was soon chosen president of Albany State Normal school,. 
where he remained till about 1861 or 1862, when he was elected 
president of Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute, 
where he still remains as Ph. D., LL. D. 

Colonel Elbert Willett Cook. 

Elbert Willett Cook — familiarly known as Colonel Cook — 
was a son of Paul and Jerusha Cook and grandson of Constant 
and Isabel Cook, and in direct line with their ancestors who 
came to this country about 1630. The ancestors of his mother. 
Miss Jerusha Hatch, came over in the Mayflower, and landed 
at Plymouth Rock. She was of the same family as Israel T. 
Hatch of Buffalo and Judge Pringle of Batavia. 

Elbert Willett was born April 2^, 1804, in Springfield. Otsego 
county, N. Y. 

Miss Thankful Plumb Murray, born in Orwell, Rutland 
count)', Vt., was a daughter of Jonathan and Roslinda Murray. 
Elbert Willett Cook and Thankful Plumb Murray were mar- 
ried in Springville, Erie county, N. Y., Nov. 29, 1832. Their 
children were : 

Hiram Henry, born Oct. 17, 1835, and died unmarried July 
18, 185S. 

Harriet Maria, born Nov. 19, 1837, and died unmarried Sept. 
18, 1857. 



3i6 hio(;raphical sketches. 

Olive Bascom, born March 20, 1839 ^"^ died unmarried 
August 31, 1868. 

Elbert Plin}-, born Nov. 5, 1841 ; married, and living in 
Havana, Schuyler count)', N. Y. Banker and miller. 

Jonathan Paul, born Nov. 30, 1846; married, and lives in 
Springville, Erie Co., N. Y.; a farmer. 

Grace, born Oct. 11, 1855; unmarried, and lives in Havana, 
Schuyler Co., N. Y. 

Mrs. Thankful P., wife of Elbert W. Cook, died in Havana, 
Schuyler Co., N. Y., Nov. 21, 1872. Elbert W. Cook and 
Lucretia M. Batterson — a sister of the first wife — were married 
Nov. 24, 1872, in Havana, Schuyler Co., N. Y. She died in 

1883. 

His father died in the service during the war of 1 8 12, leaving 
his mother and six small children — four bo\\s and two girls — 
destitute. 

Elbert cared for himself after about ten }'ears of age. At 
about fifteen, he went to learn the trades of tanning and curry- 
ing, shoemaking and harness-making. During his apprentice- 
ship, he earned b}' extra work enough to pay for such things as 
he desired, which were not considered necessar}- for an appren- 
tice in those days, and had by these extra earnings, when his 
time was out, a light horse equipage, worth $80; a set of tools 
for making shoes and harnesses, and $100 worth of leather. 
He commenced business for himself by shoemaking, going 
from family to family, as was the custom in those days. After 
earning about $120, he commenced schooling himself, hereto- 
fore having had very poor privileges. He spent o\'er three 
years in school ; most of the time at Skancatlas, N. Y., mean- 
while supporting himself. 

Directly after, he, with his brothers, Charles and Hiram, 
eno^aged in public works, obtaining contracts in Pennsylvania, 
New Jersey and New York. The compan}- to which he be- 
longed, built eighteen miles complete of the Chemung Canal, 
in N. Y. 

Soon after he came, in compan)- with his brother Hiram, to 
Springville, N. Y., and purchased the grist-mill and woolen- 
mills, with adjoining lands, deeds bearing date July 10, 1831. 
He also purchased divers tracts of land, and improved them, in 



liloCKAl'lIKAI. SKKTCllKS. 317 

all ab(iut six luiiulrcd acres. He li\cd in S])rinLj\ilIc about 
thirty-six years, duriiii^ which time he rebuilt the grist-mill and 
woolen-mills, enlarging their capacities. He also made man)- 
other improvements. 

Soon after coming to Spring\-ille, he was elected to office in 
the militia and trained in the Fall as Captain, next year as 
Adjutant, next as Lieutenant-Colonel, next as Colonel, which 
office he held sexcral \-ears, although he twice tendered his 
resignation. 

lie was noted for his public spirit, doing alwa)-s what he 
could to promote public welfare. Of a generous nature, he 
was kind to the poor; as a rule furnishing employment to the 
needy. Hard to refuse a friend, he often extended aid of a 
nature that xxorked to his own disadvantage. 

He was a staunch temperance man, freely spending time and 
money for its benefit. His name was used by temperance men 
for the Assembly, the Senate and for Congress. 

In May, 1867, he moved to Havana. Schuyler county, N. Y., 
in consequence of Xhe death of his brother Charles, who died 
the preceding October. A constant hard worker through life, 
he adhered to the old habit instead of living at ease. He set 
about improving lands and buildings there as in his own home. 

For years a professed infidel, without excitement, he quietly 
experienced a change and found himself in full harmony with 
Christians. From this time he commenced contributing to aid 
the progress of Christianity, giving liberally to churches far 
and near, frequenth" outside of his own denominatior, . He 
furnished the lot, prepared the ground, and erected a fine 
brick structure, costing in all over $30,000, and presented it a 
free gift to the Baptist church to which he belonged. 

Another monument of his generosity was utilizing the Peo- 
ple's College building — main part six stories, with wings four 
stories, standing unoccupied. Securing title thereto he pre- 
sented it to the Baptist denomination — the building and nine- 
teen acres of good land and about sixty thousand dollars in 
cash. To-day it is heated \\Tth steam, supplied with warm and cold 
water in all the rooms, has a boarding-house, dormitories and 
chapel connected with the school. Although young, it ranks 
among the highest in the State for its discipline of students. 



3t8 biographical sketches. 

Colonel Cook, in Springville, N. Y., is as familiarly known in 
Havana, N. Y., as Deacon Cook. W. v.. R. 

Johnson Chase. 

Johnson Chase lives in Machias. He says: My father, 
Enoch Chase, came to Concord from Vermont in the Fall of 
1810, and located on lot twenty, township six, range six, since 
known as the Goodemote place ; he and his brother came 
through with two span of horses ; C. Douglas had a log house 
built on the creek above the Shultus bridge, and we lived in it 
till our house was built. 

During the war of 1812-15 there were living on the creek, 
Christopher Douglas, David Shultus, William Shultus, Enoch 
Chase, George Shultus, Moses White, Truman White, Frances 
White. Within the Corporation I remember the Eaton fam- 
ily, John Albro, Samuel Cochran, Joseph Yaw, Isaac Knox, 
Samuel Burgess, Alva Plumb, David LeRoy, David Stannard, 
Jerry L. Jenks, David Stickne}^ Dr. Daniel Ingals, Milo Ful- 
ler, Elijah Perigo, Benjamin Gardner. Gardner's grist mill, I 
think, was built in 1 8 14, and Milo P"uller, run a carding ma- 
chine in connection with the mill. 

The families east of the village were Deacon Jennings. James 
Henman, the Madison family, Noah Culver on the Pingry place 
and Bascom on the Dodge place. 

In 1S16 we moved to Little Valley, Cattaraugus county; 
there was no road south from Springville then ; we had to go 
up to Richmond's, cross the creek, take the State road and go 
beyond Machias, then to Ellicottville and on to Little Valley. 
There was only one house between Richmond's and Franklin- 
ville ; only two log houses in Ellicottx'ille, and three or four 
settlers in Little Valley. 

Enoch Chase, Sr., died in Little Valley in 1825. 

Enoch Chase, Jr., died in Iowa in 1839. 

Lyman died in Iowa. 

Kimball lives in Iowa. 

Statement ol" Joel Chafee. 

; My father's family started from Rutland count}-, Vt., Feb. 1, 
1817, and came with a yoke of o.xen and a wooden-shod sled to 

1 



lUOCKAI'HICAL SKKTCIIKS. 319 

( )n()iRlai;a count}-; there we found bare ground and traded off 
our sled and got an old wagon, and paid $20 to boot ; there 
were father and mother and six children of us, and we carried 
our own beds and took them in nights and laid them on the 
floor and slept on them, and we carried and cooked our own 
provisions and did not buy any meals on the road ; we were on 
the road six weeks; some storm}' days we did not travel; we 
left the Buffalo road somewhere near the Genesee river, and 
came through by or near Pike and Arcade ; stayed at Peter 
Sears', near Sardinia village, over night, and came down to 
Richmond's the next da}- in the forenoon ; mother had walked 
considerable of the wa}- and carried a child and was nearly tired 
out, so father and mother and the younger children remained 
at Richmond's that afternoon and night, but four of us children, 
viz., Diana, Joel, Almira and Stephen, came on by ourselves, 
and followed marked trees through the woods to Springville 
and u}) through ^\-here we li\'e now (it was all woods here then), 
and down where the Scoby bridge crosses the Cattaraugus 
creek, and down a piece on the other side to Uncle Parmen- 
ter's (Mrs. Parmenter was sister to our mother). When we came 
to the Cattaraugus creek it was partly frozen over, but there 
was a strip in the middle where the water was the deepest and 
ran the swiftest that was not frozen, and there w-ere two small 
poles laid across the open space. John Holdridge lived on this 
side up a piece from the creek, and when we came to the house 
we told Mrs. Holdridge that we w-anted to go over to Uncle 
Parmenter's, and she went and called Mr. Holdridge, and he 
came and took us over on the two poles, one by one, and we 
went down a short distance to Uncle Parmenter's house ; if we 
had undertaken to cross the creek alone, probabl}- some of us 
would have been drowned. 

At that time General Knox lived on the corner of Main and 
W'averl}' streets. Mr. Burgess lived where George Weeden 
does. Julius Bement lived on the place he so long occupied, 
and kept " bachelor's hall." We lived in his house one and 
three-fourths years. We had just three dollars in money when 
we arrived here ; my father located on the farm we now occupy 
in 1 8 19; at one time we lived on bran bread three weeks, and 
we used to dig leeks and boil and eat them ; they constituted 



320 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

a considerable portion of our food. My father got money to 
pay his first tax by putting up a leach in one corner of the 
kitchen and boiling the lye over the kitchen fire into black 
salts and selling them, which was the only way we could get 
money; I got my spending money by burning down hollow 
trees and making salts out of the ashes. 

Sophia Russell taught the first school in this district in her 
father's chamber, about 1819. Before that we went to the vil- 
lage to school, kept in Widow Gardner's house on East hill. 
The first school house in this district was built b}' subscription 
and located on Main street on the corner of Deacon Russell's 
land, about 1820; that school house was moved down to the 
Chafee Corners about 1822; David Bensley taught the first 
school in that house. 

Once father and others clubbed together and hired Mr. Bur- 
gess to go to Buffalo with his oxen after some provisions ; it 
took him over a week to make the trip, and among other things 
he bought a tierce of flour, and it was dix'ided up according to 
the amount each paid. 

The Bensley's built a saw mill on the Spring brook down near 
the Cattaraugus creek in 181 7. 

I worked for Samuel Cochran by the month in 1827 and 
helped score timber and draw brick for the old acadenn-, whicli 
was built that season. 

Cliarles Cliafee. 

Charles Chafee was born in Claridon, Rutland count)', \"t. 
His wife's maiden name was Polly Miles. They came to this 
town March 15, 18 17. 

Betsey, born 1802; married Elisha Eaton. Died in Concord 
1880. 

Diana, born 1804; died in Concord 1818. 

Joel, born May, 1807. 

Almira, born August, 1809; ni'H'i'ied William Blackmar. 
Lives in Concord. 

Stephen, born November, 181 1 ; died in Wells\'ille. Ohio in 
1838. 

Alanson, born November, 1813 ; married Vestina Bensle\'. 
and died in Concord 1874. 



I 



hi()(;rai'iiical sketches. 321 

Eliza, born March, 1816; married Edward Cole and li\es in 
Hamburg. 

Augustus, born August, 1818; married Alelinda Andrus. first 
wife, and li\es in Concord. 

Miles, born 1822; married Caroline Miner and li\-es in Iowa. 

Adaline, born 1826; married Heman Andrus; tlied in Con- 
cord in 1850, aged twenty-four. 

Joel Chafee. 

Joel Chafee was born in Wallingford. Vt., in 1807, came to 
this town with his parents in March i8i7;'was married Oct. 
II, 1832; his wife, Anna Moulton, was born in the tow 11 of 
Spencer, Worcester county, Mass. 

Their children were : 

Augusta, born Sept. 1835 ; married Joseph Rumsey, Oct. 1855. 

Bertrand, born Oct., 1837; married Jennie Richmond, 1871. 

Ellen, born March, 1845 '• died, Jan., 1856. 

Rurdett, born Aug. 1849; clied, Aug., 1849. 

Carlos E., born July, 185 1; married, Sept., 1870, Hattie 
Cochran. 

Anna Chafee died Sept. 24, 1882, aged seventy years and one 
month. Joel Chafee survived her but a few months, d}ing 
March 14, 1883, aged seventy-five years, ten months and four- 
teen days. 

Bertrand Chafee. 

Mr. Chafee was born in Concord, Oct. 26, 1837, where, with 
the exception of two or three years' absence, he has since resid- 
ed. He was reared on the farm and received his education at 
the Springville Academ\'. In 1855, he engaged for a year in 
the jewelry business, at Union Springs, Cayuga county N. Y. 
The following two years he spent in Buffalo, first as clerk for 
the Western Transportation Company, and then for the Ameri- 
can Express Company. Leaving Buffalo, he returned to the 
farm where he remained until 1863, when he engaged in the 
general hardware trade in Springville, under the firm name of 
J. Chafee & Son, which he continued for twelve years. In 
1869, in company with C. J. Shuttleworth, he bought the 
Springville mills, and the next year a one-half interest in the 



322 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

Pike, N. Y., mills. They afterward purchased the entire Pike 
mills. They dissolved partnership in 1874, Mr. Chafee taking 
the Springville mills which he carried on until 1880, when he 
leased them to E. L. Hoopes, having previously disposed of 
his hardware interests to D. W. Bensley in 1875. He is also 
the owner of several farms. 

In 1870 and '71, Mr. Chafee was elected Supervisor of his 
native town, both years by precisel)- the same majority, sixty- 
six. In 1865, he was elected to represent the fifth Assembly 
District in the Legislature, and took an active part in the pro- 
ceedings of that body. 

He was instrumental in getting through the Legislature the 
new charter of the village, and also the bill regulating the sala- 
ries of Supervisors in Erie county. 

He also presented to the Legislature the bill which changed 
Griffith Institute into a union free school with an academic 
department. Previous to this change he was for ten years — 
1866 to '76 — one of the Trustees of the Academy and for eight 
years was Treasurer of the Board. 

Since the organization of the S. & S. R. R. in 1878, Mr. 
Chafee has been its President and General Manager. 

Mr. Chafee is a Knight Templar, and in 1875 and 'jG he was 
Deputy Grand Master of the Masons of the State for the dis- 
trict comprising Erie county. 

Mr. Chafee was married May 17, 1871, to Miss Jennie B. 
Richmond, daughter of George Richmond, Sr., one of the 
earliest settlers of Sardinia. 

Carlos E. Chafee. 

Carlos Emmons Chafee, son of Joel Chafee, was born Jul}' 
2, 1 85 1, in Concord, of which town he has always been a resi- 
dent. He attended school several years at the Springville 
Academ\-. He is. at present conductor on the Springville and 
Sardinia Railroad. 

Mr. Chafee was married Sept. i, 1870, to Hattie C. Cochran, 
■ daughter of Byron Cochran, Esq., of Springville. 

They have two children : 

Bessie E., born Aug. 1 1, 1876, and Jennie, born Sept. 28, 1880. 



(J bio(;rai'iikal sketches. 323. 

«Tohn K. Cliafee. 

John R. Chafee, son of Alanson Chafce and Vistina Bcnsley 
Chafee, was born in Concord, July 2, 1857, where he has always 
resided. He was educated at Griffith Institute. Mr. Chafee 
has two sisters : Louella, who married Edwin Miller, and 
resides near Minneapolis, Minn., and Emma, who also resides 
near Minneapolis. 

Angiistus Chafee. 

Augustus Chafee was born in this town in i<Si8. His father's 
name was Charles Chafee ; his mother's maiden name was 
Polly Miles. Mr. Chafee is a farmer and has always resided 
in town. He has been married four times ; b\' his second wife 
he has two children : 

Sarah M. Chafee married Warren Widrig. 

George W. Chafee. 

By his fourth and present wife he has one child : Ella R. 
Chafee. 

Elder Clarke Carr. 

Elder Clarke Carr was born in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, 
in 1774, and was married to Patty Merwin, in the same state. 
He moved to Durham, Greene county, N. Y.. in 1802, and com- 
menced preaching about 1803. In 18 10, he moved to Ham- 
burg, Erie county, N. Y.; was called out to serve on the Nia- 
gara frontier in the War of 1812, and was at Buffalo at the 
time it was burned. He moved to the north part of Concord 
and settled in the valley of the Eighteen-mile creek, about 
1 8 14. For years he was pastor of the Boston Baptist church, 
and also founded several churches in the south towns of Erie 
county. He died in the Town of Concord in 1854. His wife 
died in 1879, aged ninet}--four years. They had three children : 

Louisa, born in Durham, Greene county, N. Y., in 1803 '< ^"^'^^ 
married to Samuel W. Alger in 1824, and died April 9, 1882, in 
Concord. 

Clark M. was born in Durham, (ireene county, N. Y., in 
1805, a"d died at Galesburg, 111., in September, 1877. 

Laura was born in Durham, Greene county, in 1807. She 
was married to Ambrose Torre\- ; died in the town of Concord. 
in October, 1881. 



324 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

The Carr Brothers. 

The five Carr brothers, a brief mention of M'hich follows, 
A\ere the sons of the late Clark M. Carr, of Galesburg, 111., a 
former resident of Erie county, and <^randsons of Elder Clark 
Carr, an early settler in this town, and an early preacher in this 
and adjoining" towns. 

Three of them attended Springville Academy and also 
graduated at Knox College, 111. They all served with distinc- 
tion in the Union army, and afterwards occupied prominent 
positions of public trust. 

Eugene A. Carr was born in Concord, N. Y.; at sixteen 
years of age he went to the West Point Military academy ; 
graduated high in his class ; was appointed second lieutenant 
and sent to the Western frontier ; in a battle with the Sioux, 
was wounded, and promoted to first lieutenant ; afterwards 
received a captain's commission, which he held till the com- 
mencement of the Rebellion, when he was promoted to colonel. 
He served under Generals Lyon in Missouri and Grant at 
Vicksburg, where he was wounded, and promoted to brevet 
brigadier-general, ^\'hich title he held during the War. At the 
close of the W^ar, he was sent b}- the Government to Europe to 
inspect military fortifications. As an officer of the regular 
army, he is now stationed in Arizona. He married Mary Mc- 
Connel, daughter of General McConnel, of St. Louis. The}' 
ha\e one son, Clark N. 

B\'r()n O. Carr was born in Concord, N. Y. During the 
Rebellion, he was quartermaster in the Arm}- of the South- 
west, with the rank of colonel. After the War, he ^^•as 
appointed superintendent of the Ogden division of the Union 
Pacific Railroad, which he held four years ; subsequently, he 
was government steamboat inspector on the Mississippi river; he 
now resides in St. Helena, Cal. He was married in 1854 to 
Mary E. Buck, of Galesburg, 111. 

Horace M. Carr was born in Boston, N. Y.; after gradu- 
ating at Knox College he graduated at Hamilton College; 
entered the ministry ; served as chaplain in the Union army 
during the War: is noA\- preaching at Parsons, Kansas. 

Clark E. Carr was born in Boston, N. Y.; after gradu- 
ating at Knox College, he graduated at the Poughkeepsie Law j 



i 



I!I()(;rai'iirai. skktciiks. 325 

school : j)racticctl law at (lalcsburg, 111.; was a])])oiiUcd aide- 
de-camj) on (io\crnor Nates' staff, and occuj)icd that position 
durin^f the War; is now postmaster at (lalesburi;", which posi- 
tion lie has held twenty-five years. 

George P. Carr, son of Clark M. Carr. b\' his second wife, 
was born in Buffalo, N. Y. He served as cajitain in the Union 
ami}- during the War, and at its close was ajJiJointed by Presi- 
dent Johnson parish judi;'e in Louisiana ; while occupying this 
position he met his deatli in. a m\-sterious manner, jjrobabl)' a 
victim of the intense political feeling" rife at that time. He 
possessed literary talent and was the author of two books of 
poems : "The Ri\er of Life," and " The Contest." 

Clark Family. 

Abraham Clark, Jr., father of Alanson Clark, Lsq., of this 
town, was born in the town of (jloucester, Providence count)', 
R. L, June 14, 1790, being the fifth in a family of ten children, 
was married to Alice Blackmar, who was born in Thompson, 
Windham count}'. Conn., AjM'il 24, 1795, Feb. 18, 1816; resided 
in his nati\'e town till November, 181 8, when, with his family 
consisting of his wife and one child, he emigrated " west " to 
what was then the town of Concord, Niagara count}', N. \\ 
"Taking up " a piece of land containing one hundred acres, 
part of lot fourteen, range eight, township seven, being about 
one mile from Langford postoffice, in what is now the town of 
North Collins; he afterwards sold his claim and removed to 
land situated in the the same town, part of lot twelve, township 
se\'en, range eight; here he resided till his wife died, July 2, 
1853; shortly after this he disposed of his farm to his sons^ 
Lyman and Alanson. 

April 29, 1854, he was again married to Mrs. Julia M. Wright, 
and removed to the east part of the town on the Genesee road, 
near the present Concord line; remaining here but a short time 
he removed to Evans Center, Erie county, where he continued 
to reside till his death, April 25, 1864; he and his first wife were 
both active members of the F. B. church. 

By his first wife he had ten children, as follows; 

L}'man, born in Gloucester, R. L, Nov. 16, 1816; married to 
Emih'. tlaughter of Abram Coneer, of Shirle\'; now lives at 



326 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Princeton, Green Lake' county, Wis.; previous to his removal 
he was for some time Justice of the Peace, and was Supervisor 
of the town of North Collins in 1856-7. 

Anna, born in Collins, Erie county, N. Y., May 7, 1819; died 
Oct. 16, 1822. 

Emily, born March 6, 1822; died Nov. 13, 1838. 

Alanson, born April 3, 1B24. 

Hiram, born June 4, 1826. 

Alban, born March 19, 1829; is married and lives at Prince- 
ton, Wis. 

William, born April 19, 1831 ; died in Princeton, Wis., Oct. 
3, 1863. 

Susan, born May 26, 1833; died Oct. 7, 1834. 

Julia A., born Feb. 12, 1836; died Feb. 13, 1854. 

Henry Clay, born July 13, 1839; died May 3, 1853. 

By his second wife : 

Julia Clayanna, born Aug. 3, 1855 ; lives in Buffalo with her 
mother and half sister, Mrs. Eunice Dole. 

Alanson, fourth child of Abraham Clark, has always resided 
within the limits of this history, being the only one of his fath- 
er's family now a resident of this State, except the half sister 
just mentioned who resides in Buffalo. He was married at 
Hamburg, N. Y., by Esquire White, Feb. 26, 1854, to Flora 
Palmerton (born Aug. 6, 1831), daughter of William Palmer- 
ton, a brother of Joshua and Henry Palmerton, all of whom 
were early settlers of the town of Collins, Joshua having settled 
near Collins Center in the Spring of 18 10, the others following 
soon after. The Palmertons came from Danby, Vt., and are 
supposed to be of English origin. 

William Palmerton married Floranna Delezenne, who was, as 
her name indicates, French descent ; they had eleven children, 
four of whom, Betsey, Nathan, Flora and John, are residents 
of this county. 

Delezenne Palmerton, the eldest, lives at Muskegan, Mich. 

George Edward Palmerton went to California during the gold 
excitement, and has not been heard from in twenty-five years, 
and is supposed to be dead. 

The other members of the family not mentioned are now 
deceased. 



HIOGRAI'lIICAl. SKETCHES. 327 

Their children arc as follows : 

Willis (iaylord, born Nov. 10, i«S54. 

Riley Hiram, born Feb. 4, 1857. 

George William, born May 26. i<S5<S. 

Mr. Clark lixcs one-half mile east of W'oodward's Hollow 
(which is his postoffice), on \\hat has ever been known as the 
Genesee road, is a farmer, and owns a dair\- farm of 275 acres. 

Willis Gaylord Clark graduated at the Oberlin, O., Commer- 
cial college in August, 1874; has taught school considerable, 
and in the Fall of 1881 was a candidate for School Commis- 
sioner in the third district of Erie county. He holds the office 
of Justice of the Peace, to which he was elected in 1882. 

Joiiatlian O. Caiifield. 

Jonathan O. Canfield, was born Sept. 30, 181 1, in Ulster 
county, N. Y. His father, Jonathan Canfield, was a minister. 
His mother's maiden name was M£.rcyJHolly. When Mr. Can- 
field was nine years old, the family moved to Boston, N. Y., 
where they lived twelve years ; they then removed to Genesee 
count}-, where the}' lived six }'ears ; they next removed into 
this town, where Mr. Canfield has since resided. The follow- 
ing is Mr. Canfield's family record: 

PARENTS. 

I 

Jonathan Canfield, born Nov. 6, 1765 ; married July 15. 1787 : 
died Dec. 9, 1851. 

Merc}' Holl}', born April 9, 1771 ; died Now 25, 1855. 

BROTHERS AND SISTERS. 

Silvanus, born May 11, 1788; married Feb. 17, 1815, to 
Abigail Wood; died June 7, 1848. 

Josiah, born Sept. 14, 1789; married March 13, 1814, to Mary 
Crosby; died June 22, 1854. 

Sillick, born Sept. 12, 1791 ; married Jan. 22, 18 14, to Susan- 
na Tousey ; died Sept. 20, 1865. 

Wealthy, born Oct. 22, 1793 ; married Dec. 26, 1819, to Josh 
Baker; died Dec. 21, 1824. 

Mylo, born Oct. 7, 1796; married Jan. i, 1826, to Electa 
Landon ; died March 13, 1826. 



328 BIOGRArHICAL SKETCHES. 

Watee, born March 31, 1799; married Nov. 13, 1853, to 
Hiram Moore; died December, 1855. 

Sally, born May 31, 1801 ; died Au^. 27, 1826. 

Rebecca, born June 18, 1804; married Nov. 11, 1827, to 
John B. Landon ; died May 14, 1874. 

Jane, born July 28, 1807; died Sept. 17, 1809. 

Oliver, born Oct. 22, 1809; married May 17, 1837, to Lau- 
rilla Hopkins; died May 10, 1865. 

Jonathan O., born Sept. 30, 181 1; married first, Sept. 7, 
1843, to Elvira Horton ; second. May 15, 1877, to Elizabeth 
Waterman. 

CHILDREN. 

*Ray H., born July 16, 1844; married 1873 to Lydia Booth. 
Moses H., born Nov. 2, 1847; married 1872 to Melissa 
McCullor. 

G. l^ruce, born June 21, 1850; married 1874 to Kate Brooks. 
Paul, born Sept. 21, 1855. 

*Ray H., is a graduate of Eastman's Business College. 

Vincent M. Cole's Statement. 

I was born Sept. 19, 1814; came to this town in 1817; my 
wife's name was Julia Squires, daughter of Seely Squires; she 
was born in Concord, and died in 1840; I was married to my 
present wife, Catherine Ostrander, in 1842 ; am a farmer. My 
father's name was Aaron Cole ; m\- mother's maiden name was 
Sarah C. Gates. My father was left an orphan at an early 
date, and removed to Concord in 18 17, and lived with Orrin 
Sibley one Winter, and then built a log house on a farm of 
fift}' acres, one-half mile east of Orrin Sibley's. He moved into 
the log house and went to Hamburg and got a pig and brought 
him home under his arm, and put him in a pen near the house. 
One night the pig squealed and mother went out and found a 
bear at the pen. She got a fire-brand and threw at him and he 
left. Soon after the bear came again and mother dro\-e him 
off, and left some fire burning near the pen ; but the bear came 
a third time and got the pig, and killed and eat him up. Some 
of the neighbors built a bear pen of logs, near where the \'os- 
burg cheese factory now stands, and caught two young bears. 
The wolves used to kill our sheep and we could not keep sbeeo 



JJKjdRAl'IIICAI. SKKICIIKS. 329 

unless wc put them in a close pen at nis^lu near the house. 
There was j)lent}' ot wild s^anie in the woods, our dot^' killed 
several deer alone, when the snow was deep and the crust would 
bear the doi^. When he killed one he ^\■ould come to the 
house and we would follow him back and t^et the deer. We 
had all the venison and bear meat we wanted. We planted 
and raised a good crop of corn among the logs and stumps, by 
planting the corn w ith an old axe. The)' had three children : 

Li/.ette, born in Concord in 1842, married Thomas Ui)ham. 

Ella, married Addison Lonsbury. 

Jolin is a dentist and li\es in Collins Center. 

AIiiioii I>. Conger. 

Mr. Conger was born in Danb\', Vermont, Jan. 12, 1815 ; of 
Quaker ancestr}'. He was a son of Noah Conger and Hannah 
Griffith Conger. Mr. Conger came to Collins in 1838, where 
he resided until 1877, when he removed to Springville. While 
a resident of Collins he was engaged chiefl}' in farming, but for 
some years past his business has been loaning money and buy- 
ing and selling real estate. He was Assessor in Collins twenty- 
one years. Mr. Conger was a brother of the Hon. Anson G. 
Conger. He was married in 1839 to Sophronia Potter, daugh- 
ter of Peter Potter, formerly of Granxille, N. Y. They have 
had six children, xiz. : 

Noah, born April 26, 1841 ; died, A])ril 27, 1873. 

Hannah M., born Aug. 31, 1844. 

Lydie E., born Now 7, 1847 ! ciied July 8, 1868. 

Andrew W., born June 5, 1850; married Florence Clark, 
daughter of Timoth)- Clark, and resides on the homestead farm 
in Collins. 

Albert PI., born Oct. 24, 1857. 

Jessie M., born Dec. 15, 1859; married Russell F. Prjant . 
resides in Spring\ille. 

Mr. Conger is, in the full accejitation of the term, " a self- 
made man." He began his successful career in humble cir- 
cumstances, and b)' his own unaided efforts he has secured to 
himself and posterity a \'ery handsome competence. He 
informs the writer that the first jnone)' he possessed he earned 
of a neighboring farmer by chopping by the month, and that 



330 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

in his early years he made it a rule to lay up something each 
year over and above his expenses. 

George D. Conger. 

Mr. Conger was a son of Abram Conger, who was one of 
four brothers that came to Collins in the Spring of 1817. He 
(Abram Conger) was married in June, 1830, to Anna Hunt. 
Four of their children are now living, viz.: 

Emily married Lyman Clark ; reside at Princetown. Wis. 

Mary Jane married Charles Bartholomew ; reside in North 
Collins. 

Fidelia married John Goodell ; since died. 

George D. Conger was born Dec. 10, 1842, in Collins. His 
time until eighteen years of age was spent on the farm and 
attending school. On the 8th of August, 1861, he enlisted in 
the Forty-Fourth New York Volunteers, Company A ; was 
corporal, and took part in every engagement in which his regi- 
ment was engaged in, except an interval of six weeks in July 
and August, 1862, when he was confined in the hospital. He 
was slightly wounded at the Battle of Gettj'sburg ; was mus- 
tered out of the service Oct. 12, 1864. He was married Feb. 
16, 1865, to Diantha Sampson, and engaged in farming in Con- 
cord. He has at present upon his farm fifty acres of apple 
orchard. In the Spring of 1883, he moved to Springville, N. 
Y., and became a dealer in carriages, wagons, agricultural 
implements and farm produce. He has one daughter. Cora 
May, born Aug. 10, 1869. 

.Tames Curtis. 

James Curtis was originally from W'illington, Conn. He 
came to Concord in 1832, from Onondaga county, and located 
on lot forty-three, township seven, range six, on Sharp street, 
buying his land of Jonathan Mayo. He married Mar}- Marcy, 
a cousin of Governor Marcy of New York. They had four chil- 
dren : 

Zebadiah married Lovice Hall, and died in Concord, about 
1 840. 

Nancy Maria married Erastus Mayo, and died about 1849, 



HIOCRAPHICAl. SKK'ICHKS. 33 I 

leaving seven children, viz.: William, Louisa, James, Miner\a, 
Rufus, Cornelia and Delia. 

William T. married Charlotte* Williams first, and Angeline 
Williams second. He died in 1882. in Aurora, Krie count)-; 
no children. 

Origin 1). Curtis. 

Origin D. Curtis was born June 27, 18 1 8, in Onandaga 
county and came to Concord in 1831 ; \\as married the Fall of 
1839 t*^ Lucy Ma)'(). He li\'ed in Concord till the Spring of 
1850, when he moved to Machias ; to Otto, N. Y., in 1864, and 
back to Springville in 1872. hi the Spring of 1881, he went to 
the Red Ri\'er \alley, Polk county, Minnesota, and purchased 
one hundred and sixty acres of land. He is a farmer and car- 
penter by occupation. He has eight children, viz.: 

Mar)- C. married L. B. Churchill. 

Julia L. married James Jackson ; reside in Waupaca, Wis. 

Dora married William H. Jackett ; reside in Mansfield, Cat- 
taraugus count)-. 

Jonathan V. married Adda Chase ; reside in Salamanca, N. V. 

Henr\' married Estelle Stanbro ; reside in Concord. 

Edwin married Ida W^idrig; reside in Springville. 

Willis H. married Rosa Barse ; reside in Polk county, Minn. 

George married Etta Widrig ; reside in Springville. 

Mr. Curtis' father, James Curtis, died in Machias,, Cattarau- 
gus county, in 1863. His wife died in Concord about 1878. 

Robert Currau. 

Mr. Curran was born in Dundalf, Ireland, in 1780: came to 
Ulster count)', N. V., wlieti thirteen years of age ; from there 
to Tioga county, N. Y., and to the nortii part of Concord in 
182 1, where he resided until his death, in 1865. Mr. Curran 
Avas one of a famil)- of seven. When he came to Concord, Bos- 
ton corners was called Torrey's corners, and there were but 
three frame houses on the Boston road in the vicinity of the 
corners. Mr. Curran had five children : 

Mrs. A. P. Ellis of East Concord. 

Caroline, who died in 1861. 

William Curran, Esq., of Boston. 

Hiram and Mar)- Curran, also of Boston. 



332 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHP:S. 

James F. Craiidall. 

James F. Crandall was born March 20, 1797, in Newport^ 
Rhode Island. His father, WilHam Crandall, followed the 
ocean, and was captain of a merchant vessel that sailed from 
Newport. James F. married Maria W. Edwards, who was born 
in Newport, R. I., also. They came to Concord in 1821. Mr. 
Crandall was a weaver by trade and worked in a factor}- in 
Rhode Island. He worked in a factory after he came here, 
and also kept hotel several years, and was engaged in trade in 
this town and Aurora. He died in Spingville, April 20, 1873, 
aged seventy-six years. His wife, Maria W. Edwards, died May 
20, 1855. 

Their children were : 

George E. 

Sarah G., born Jul)' 16, 18 19, in Rhode Island ; married 
Major Wells and died here about 1844. 

Abajail P., born Feb. 13, 1822, here; married A. H. N\ ing, 
lives in Chicago. 

Emeline, born May 15, 1824, here.; married D. G. Vorce ; 
died in Chicago about 1877. 

Augustus, born June 2, 1831, here. 

Augusta, born June 2. 1S31, here; married William Murray; 
died in California about 1865. 

George E. Crainlall. 

George E. Crandall ^\'as born in Providence, R. I., Jul}- 16, 
1 8 16. Came to this town with his parents in 1821. He was 
married to Polly M. Harvey in Springville, Dec. 22, 1836. He 
has resided in Spring\Mlle about sixt\--two years. He is a prac- 
tical jeweler, and has carried on the business many years. He 
has also carried on the gunsmith business, and has sometimes 
been engaged in farming. 

His children are : 

James F., born Oct. 25, 1837; married Clara Tillotson ; 
resides in New York city, is a jeweler. 

Norman E., May 24, 1849; married Ursula Hammond; 
resides in Ashford, is a farmer. 

L.emuel G., born July 30, 1843 ; married Loretta Hunt ; she 
died in 1877 ; is a jeweler. 



I'.KXiKAl'IlICAI, SKKTCIIKS. 333 

Nelson H., born May 29, 1845 I married Antoinette Casey; 
they have one child, Rianca ; resides in Sprin^ville and is a 
jeweler. 

Ellen M., born June 12, 1847 ; married Wilh'am R. l)e Pli}- : 
resides at Sea Cliff, L. I. ; he is a la\\\xM-. 

George A., born Sept. 17, 1847; married Sarah Dorse)-; 
resides at Holland ; he is a jeweler. 

William C, May 20, 1853. 

Ebeiiezer S. (*a<ly, Statoinoiit. 

Ebenezer S. Cady was born in the town of Chatham, Colum- 
bia county, N. Y. Came to the village of Springville in 1858 ; 
is a carpenter and joiner ; was married at Schu}-ler, Herkimer 
county, N. Y., in 1840, to Miss Mary Oyer, who was born in 
1817 at Schuyler, Herkimer county, N. Y. My father, Arnold 
Cad)', was born at Chatham, Columbia county, and serx^ed as 
volunteer of marines in defence of the New York harbor in 
the war of 1812. My mother's maiden name was Sarah Hunt. 
She was born in Washington, Vt. Grandfather's name was 
Ebenezer Cady ; he was a Captain in the war of the Revolu- 
tion. Grandmother's maiden name was Chloe Beebe. She 
was born in Connecticut. The house my grandfather built in 
Chatham in 1761 and '62, was built of pine timber, was taken 
down in 1824 and the timber used in building the Presbyterian 
meeting house in the village of Spencertown, Columbia county, 
N. Y. In this house my grandfather's two sons and fi\'e daugh- 
ters were born. The outside doors were made of pine boards, 
two thicknesses, cut into horizontalh' about half-way of their 
height, and at night barred on the inside with a stick. On the 
farm was an oak grove where the people assembled on the Sab- 
bath to worshi}) (they were Presbyterians), until the)' built a 
church on his farm, the first church in Chatham. This building 
was moved to Chatham four corners, a distance of one and one- 
half miles. The building was put on runners and under the 
runners small sticks were placed for rollers, and many ox teams 
were hitched to each of the runners and in that way the build- 
ing was drawn to the spot and for many years the followers of 
the lowly Nazarene met at this humble church and offered 
their devotions to the God of Abraham, till finally later gen- 



334 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

erations have sold the old church for a sheepfold. and built 
another church exhibiting more pride than piety. 

They had six children : 

Lucy A., born in 1840 and died in 1872. 

Sarah J., born in 1844; married Newela French. 

Maryette, born in 1847 -^^^^ died in 1850. 

Cassius M., born in 1850 and died in 1871. 

Ellen G., born in 1853; married Gardner Berry. 

William S., born in 1856 and li\-es in Kalkaska, Mich. 

James A. Cranston. 

Arnold C. Cranston, father of the subject of this sketch, was 
born in Rhode Island March 17, 1799, and was married about 
1 82 1 to Miss Selinda, who was born in Massachusetts July 20, 
1804. They came here from Madison county, N. Y., in 1834, 
and settled a few miles north of Springville on the farm now 
owned by his son, James A., where he lived until his death in 
1869. which was caused by the falling of a limb of a tree which 
he was felling. His wife died Aug. 2, 1877. They had four 
children, all but one of whom were born in Massachusetts: 

Monroe, born April i, 1822; died in 1822. 

Almeda G., born Feb. 17, 1825 ; married Lysander Needham. 

Harriet L., born Nov. 22. 1833; married Wilbur Stanbro. 

James A. Cranston was born Aug. 27. 1828, in Massachu- 
setts, and came with his parents to Concord in 1834. He is a 
carpenter and joiner and worked at his trade a great many 
years, but at the present time confines himself exclusively to 
farming. He was married in 1857 to Miss Polly M. Wilcox, 
They have four children : 

Fred. A., born in 1859; married Jennie Widrig, and lives in 
East Concord. 

Mar\', born in 1865. 

Nellie, born in 1867. 

Lemuel, born in 1869. 

Calkins Family. 

Elisha Calkins and wife (Elizabeth Cross) came from Ver- 
mont and settled in Clinton county, N. V. In the Fall of 1828 
thev moved to Buffalo ; not liking the low lands in the vicinity 



HIOCRAI'HICAL SKETCHES. 335 

they only .sta)'ed through the Winter, and in the Sprin*;' of 
1829 came to the town of Golden and settled on a farm on 
South hill. Their family consisted of eight children, 01i\'e, 
Polly, William, Moses, Sally, Harrison, John and Hetse)-. The 
girls married and settled in Golden ; two of them are still living 
there, Mrs. Thomas BufTum and Mrs. Jesse Hedges. 

Moses married Elizabeth Abbott, and settled on the hill : he 
is now living at Golden village, but very feeble ; he has one 
son, A. G. Galkins, living in Buffalo. 

John married Susan Southworth, of Boston, and li\ed on a 
farm on the hill. In the Fall of 1856 was kicked by a horse 
and died of injuries received, leaving two sons, John D. and 
Earl, who are now living at South Bend, Ind. 

Harrison married Elizabeth Gunningham, of Goncord, and 
lived on the hill near Glenwood ; he died of consumption in 
1853, ^^^ 1^'ft one son, Hon. Elisha G. Galkins, now li\'ing at 
Kearney Gity, Nebraska. 

William A. cleared a farm in the town of Goncord, attending 
the Springville academy in 1833, when Parsons was Principal 
His health failing, he went down to Staten Island and taught 
school one year, and married Eliza Randolph Rollo, of Staten 
Island ; he came back and went to farming on his farm in Gon- 
cord and lived there about five years, sold out and moved into 
the town of Golden, where he is still living. He had fi\e chil- 
dren, two sons (dying in infancy) and three daughters : 

Jane Rollo married Harry Foote. 

Maria married A. G. Galkins, and Ii\'es in Buffalo. 

Julia married A. J. Swcetapple and li\es in Elma. 

Frederick Crary. 

Mr. Grary was born in Wallingford, Rutland count)-, Vt., in 
1802. His grandfathers, William Grary and John Sweetland, 
were both soldiers of the Revolution, the latter taking part in 
the battle of Bunker Hill. Mr. G. first came to the region 
then called Concord about 1819; subsequently, about 1820, in 
the capacity of a showman, he accompanied the first elephant 
that was ever exhibited in Springville. He was first mar- 
ried in Scipio, Gayuga county, N. Y., to Wealthy Ann Durkee. 



336 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

She dying, he was married a second time to Louisa Richmond, 
by whom he had children as follows: 

Marion, who died at six years of age. 

Charles S., who served as Captain of Compan)' F, One Hun- 
dred and Sixteenth regiment New York State volunteers during 
the Rebebellion he died in Springville in March, 1865. 

Ann, married Andrew Neff; resides in Ashford, N. Y. 

Charlotte, married Eugene Mills, and afterwards died, leav- 
ing two daughters. 

While a resident of Sardinia Mr. Crary served three terms as 
Justice of the Peace, and one term in Springville. 

Cyrus Cheney. 

Cyrus Cheney came here from Massachusetts about 1816. 
He married Rebecca Sawyer and lived here a number of years 
and then went back to Massachusetts. When gold was dis- 
covered in California he went there and remained a few years 
and died soon after he returned. The\' had three children, 
Abigail, Sally and .Vugustus. 

Isaac B. Cliilds. 

Isaac B. Childs was born Oct. 13, 1823, in the town of Con- 
cord, and has always resided in this town, and b)' occupation a 
cooper and farmer. Was married to Marsha A. Brown, who 
was the mother of his two children : Ellen M., wife of" George 
B. Baker and Charles F. Childs. She died Nov. 22, 1861. His 
second wife, Mary Ann Jones, died March 12, 1866, leaving no 
children. His third wife, PLmily Pratt, mother of Lowell 
Childs, died Feb. 10, 1873. He was married to his present 
wife, Catherine Oyer, March 10, 1875. His father's name was 
Lewis Childs; his mother's maiden name was Deborah Starks, 
daughter of Jedediah Starks. His father removed from Deerfield, 
Mass., in 1832, and settled on the farm now owned by George 
Weeden, one and one-half miles north-west from Springville 
and worked at coopering. Her also opened and worked a stone 
cjuarry on his farm and for many years furnished stone for a 
large number of the buildings in Springville and surrounding- 
country. He subsequentl}' sold his farm and removed to 



liiOdRAiMiicAi, sKKrciii<:s. 337 

SprinL;"\'ilIc, where he continued to reside until the time of his 
death, in 1853. His mother died July 5, 1873. 

Ellen M. Childs was born March 2t, 1850. 

Charles F. Childs was born June 18, 1854. 

Lowell Childs was born Feb. 3, 1873. 

Colburii Family. 

Orlin Colburn was born at Charlestown, Montgomery county, 
N. Y., June 13, 18 16. When a boy six years of age, he came 
with his parents to Collins, May 20, 1822. The family moved 
into an old log school-house, situated on what is now called 
"Scrabble Hill;" In 1837 he was married to Miss Jane Pea- 
body, who died in 1847, leaving a family of five children, all of 
whom are dead except one. Erastus Colburn was born Dec. 
25, 1841. He enlisted at the commencement of the war, served 
four years and came home unhurt. In 1867 he married the 
daughter of Captain Davis, of Erie, Pennsylvania, and in 1868, 
emigrated to Marysville, Kansas, where he has since been 
engaged in farming. 

Ezra Colburn, the second son of the family, enlisted in 1 861, 
was taken prisoner at the battle of the Wilderness and died 
from starvation at Libby prison. 

Orlin Colburn married his second wife, Sarah Ackley, of the 
town of Persia, Cattaraugus county. Farming has been the 
principal occupation of his life. Has five children by his sec- 
ond wife, viz : John C, born May 2, 1850, married Mar)^ A. 
Hawks in 1874. They have three children. 

Caswell C. resides at Wheeler Hollow, N. Y. 

O. J. Colburn was born May 6, 1852, in Concord, N. Y., was 
married in 1:^79. ^^^ Mary E. Morton, who was born Sept. 3, 
1856. 

Peter Colburn was born April 29, 1854; married Mary A. 
Sutherland, in 1868. 

Lowell M. Ciiiiiniiiig's. 

Lowell M. Cummings was born in 1847, ''^ the town of War- 
ren, Mass. Came to Springville in 1870, where he was married 
in 1870, to Miss Kate Emmons, daughter of Dr. Carlos Em- 
mons. 

17 



338 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

His father's name was John F. Cummings ; his mother's 
maiden name was JuHa Graves. His ^grandfather's name was 
John G. Cummings ; his grandmother's maiden name was 
Sarah Burroughs. , 

Until the age of fifteen years he remained at home with his 
father's family and attended the Alfred University. Then, in 
the years 1863 and 1864, went to New Hampshire and attended 
Phillips Academy at Exeter, during the years 1865 and 1866, 
then came to Springville and engaged in mercantile business. 
Subsequently read law and was admitted as an attorney and 
counselor-at-law in 1877, leaving since practiced his profession 
at Springville, N. Y. His children are: 

Caroline J. Cummings, born April 29, 1878. 

Carlos Emmons Cummings, born Aug. 7, 18/8. 

Charles D. Cummings, born July 5, 1880. 

Giles Clmrchill. 

Giles Churchill was born at Cherry Valley, N. Y., March 12, 
1786. His father Stephen Churchill was at the burning of 
Cherry Valley by the Indians and Tories in 1778. His moth- 
er's maiden name was Esther Loyd. 

At twenty-one Mr. Churchill began the study of medicine at 
Penfield, N. Y. He studied and practiced there until 18 12, 
when he came to this town and bought land of the Holland 
Company, where the late Calvin Smith lived at the time of his 
death. He served as a soldier on the Niagara frontier in 1812. 
He practiced medicine some in Springville, and taught school 
twelve terms in the vicinity. But his principal occupation was 
farming to which he gave his attention until his death in 1872. 
He was married in 18 1 3 to Abigail Toocker. Their children 
were : 

Eliza Ann married Prentice Stanbro ; died in 1869. 

Emeline died when young. 

Stephen G. married Margaret W'idrig; reside in Wisconsin. 

Marcus B. 

Marons B. Churoliill. 

Marcus B. Churchill was born in this to^\•n in 1825. He is a 
farmer, and has always resided in town. He has filled the 



liKKiKAi'iiicAi. ski: r( I IKS. 339 

office of 1 Ii<;"h\\a\' Commissioner two terms. Mr. Churchill 
married Arminda VanCamp in 1849. Their children are : 

Libbie, married Javan Clark, reside in tow n. 

Charles W., married Jennie Adams, reside in tow n. 

I'^mma, marrietl Spencer \\'idri<4\ reside in town. 

Benjamin Criiinp. 

Mr. Crump was born in Hereford count}. En^^land, May 28. 
1800. He was married in 1830 to t{,lizabeth Lewis, in 1835, 
Mr. C. and his wife .sailed from Liverpool, FLngland ; after a 
voyage of thirt\" fi\e days, the}' landed June i6th, at Amboy, 
N. J. They resided about four years at New Brunswick, N. 
J., then about two years in Buffalo and Canada. In 1838, came 
to the nortli part of Concord, where he located. He afterwards 
moved onto the premises where he now resides, which is situ- 
ated parti}' in Concord and partly in Colden ; the dwelling 
house standing on the town line. He, and his son, Robert, 
who resides with him, consider themselves residents of Colden. 
They had a family of four boys and five girls : 

John L., born in England in 1831 ; married Anna Johnson ; 
resides in Concord. 

Benjamin F., born in 1833 ; married Alanth}- Youngs ; resides 
in Minnesota. 

Samuel, born in 1835 : died in June, 1854. 

Harriet, born in 1837; married William Brink; resides in 
Colden. 

Elizabeth, born in 1839; niarried John Corning; resides in 
Buffalo. 

Susan, born in 1841 ; married Charles Chandler ; resides in 
Minnesota. 

Kate, born in 1843; married Charles Cross; resides in 
Sardinia. 

Sarah, born in 1845 - niarried James E. King; resides in Iowa. 

Robert, born in 1847; niarried Irene Williams; resides in 
Colden. 

Vi<-t<>r ('(>ll:ii'<l. 

Victor Collard was born in Rambruck, Luxemburg, German}', 
in 1832 ; came to this country in 1857 ; was fort}'-eight da}'s cross- 
ing from Antwerp to New York. He came from New York to 



340 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Springville and went to work for Stowel Collins in a carriage 
shop for one year. He had learned his trade and worked at the 
business in the old country; he then went to Sardinia and 
worked at the carriage business since that time ; he was drafted 
into the army in 1862. but hired a substitute for three hundred 
dollars to take his place; he Avas married Mayi i, 1865, to Miss 
Barbara Hery, of North Collins (in which town she was born.) 
Their children are : Carl Collard, Lizzie Collard, Victor Col- 
lard, jr., and John Collard. 

J. Li. Cohen. 

J. L. Cohen was born in 1854, in Russia, Poland, near War- 
saw ; came to Buffalo in 1861 ; is a merchant; was married in 
1875, and came to live at Springville, August. 1871 ; his wife's 
maiden name was Rebecca Gumbinsky ; he was naturalized in 
1879. H^s brother, A. S. Cohen, was a soldier in the Russian 
service for eight years ; was on duty most of the time in the 
Calcassia mountains and now resides in Buffalo. His mother's 
brother, Moses Vortensky, was taken by the Russian military 
authorities, at the age of ten years, and kept in the military 
service for twenty-five years. Mr. Cohen came direct from 
Hamburg to New York, in the German steamship '• Cimbria." 
His children are : 

Betsey Cohen, born Oct. 14, 1876, at Springville. 

Abe Cohen, born Jan. 16, 1879, ^^ Springville. 

Anna Cohen, born Aug. 3, 1 881, at Springville. 

Cliapiu Family. 

William Chapin came here and took up land on lot 45 on 
Sharp street, at an early date, and his father and mother's 
sisters and brothers came to reside with him. William was a 
carpenter and joiner by trade. His brother, Roswell Chapin, 
was Surrogate of this county for several years, and his sisters, 
Mary and Lucy, were early school teachers in this town, teach- 
ing on Townsend hill and several other places. Thc\- lived 
here fifteen or twenty years and then moved away. 

W. H. (lose. 

W. H. Close was born Nov. ij,, 1835. His father's name was 
Clark Close ; his mother's maiden name was Jane Powell ; he 



HiodRAniUAr. sKi-yrciiES. 



341 



was married Jul\' 9, 1S57, to I. aura A. Burnai). Thc\- had six- 
children : 

JuHa .\., born June 14, 185S; married Nathan llilh 

Lillie M., born Feb. 7, i ^6o. 

Tracey B., born Dec. 11, i!^63. 

Minnie B., born Sept. 12, 1S67. 

Ada D., born Oct. 4, 1 870. 

Emma A., born Au<;-. 3, 1^77; died Oct. 16, 1S77. 

Ash Cary. 

Asa Cary came to this town in the .Spring of 1 809. He 
bought land on lot four, township six, range six, where Harri- 
son Pingrcy now lives. He built a house and lived there with 
his family that Summer. In the following Autumn he traded 
lands with a man by the name of Calvin Doolittle and moved 
to Boston, where he afterwards lived and died. 

Truman, the eldest of his large family of children, Avas elected 
Member of Assembly in 1839, besides holding many other 
ofifices of trust during his life. He died at his home in Boston 
in 1880. 

Drake. 




COAT OK ARMS OF THK AMIKNT FAMU.Y OF DRAKE. 



Motto: — Aquila Xo)i Capit Miiscas. 

The Drakes are of English origin, and. according to the old 
English genealogists, the famil)- is one of great antiquit)-. As 
early as the Norman conquest (1066) several families of the 
name were possessors of large estates in the County of Devon, 



342 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

England. The coat of arms at the head of this sketch and 
accompanying motto, would indicate an origin perhaps dating 
back to the Roman invasion of Britain. 

Of the EngHsh Drakes, Sir Francis, the distinguished naviga- 
tor, was the most eminent. Of his descendants, two brothers, 
R.obert and John Drake, came to America in 1630. From these 
two brothers descended the Drakes of America. The)' were 
members of the council of Plymouth, and came at first to Bo.s- 
ton, Mass. John finall)^ settled at Windsor, Conn. Of his 
numerous descendants in Connecticut was Ebenezer Drake, a 
soldier of the old French and Indian war. He was born in 
Windsor, Conn., and died there in .'776. He had a family of 
eight children, as follows: Mehitable, Ebenezer, Hezekiah, 
James, Lyman and Clarrissa (twins), Ira and Reuben. Of these 
Hezekiah, Lyman and Reuben e\'entually settled in Concoid, 
N. Y., and from them ha\'e descended all the Drakes now liv- 
ing there. 

The family of Drakes which lived in the earlier histor}' of Con- 
cord, a short distance north of Springville, belonged to a dis- 
tinct branch of the famil}'. 

Lyman Drake came from Otsego county, N. Y., in 18 10, and 
purchased two hundred acres of land near the Eighteen-mile 
creek, in the north part of Concord. The to\\n line subse- 
quently run left half of his purchase in the town of Boston- 
He was an industrious and energetic pioneer ; he planted the 
first orchard in that part of the town ; but his pioneer labors 
Mere brought to a close in 18 18. He was born in 1772. His 
widow whose maiden name was Irena Cole, survived him 
many years. Their children's names were as follows : 

Lyman, Jr., Isaac, Wheeler, Polly, Cordelia, Ebin, Daniel, 
George and Eliza. Of these, Cordelia, Daniel, George and 
Eliza, are the onh" surviving ones 

Wheeler Drake was born Dec. 4, 1799. and came to Concord 
with his father's family in 1810. For ten or fifteen }'ears pre- 
x'ious to his death, which occurred in 1869, he resided on a por- 
tion of his original homestead farm. He was married about 
1833, to Mrs. Sarah Humphrey, daughter of Edward Church- 
ill, Sen. They had three sons, Lyman, Edward C. and Mar- 
.shall C, who reside near the old homestead. 



]U()C;RAriIKAI, SKKTCIIKS. 343 

(ieor^c W. Drake was born March 22, 1S15. in Concord, 
where he resided many years as a farmer. lie now resides at 
{lambur<^, N. V. He married Jane Humphrey, wlio is now 
dead. They had six children, \iz : Austin, married Margaret 
Murrax'; IIumj)hre}', married Alice Mawle\'; Sarah, married 
Walter Chubbuck ; Jennie, married William Olin ; George VV. 
Jr., a talented young man, who died at Fargo, Dakota, in 1883, 
and Ida. 

Hezekiah Drake was born in 1767. Became from Oneida 
count)', N. v., in 1821, to Concord, and located near the Eigh- 
teen-mile creek, in the north part of the town, where he lived 
until his death, in 1848. He was married in Vermont, in 1802, 
to Judeth Prescott, b\- whom he had children as follows: 

Freeman, L\'dia, John, Isaac, Rhoda, Ebenezer H., Ira E., 
and Mar\'. All but the two youngest were born in Vermont. 
Freeman, Isaac and Rhoda are dead. 

Plbenezer H. Drake was born in Vermont, in 1812. When 
a \-oung man he taught school successful!}' in the south towns 
of Erie county, for a number of years and subsequently was 
jailor at the county jail and an overseer in the Buffalo peniten- 
tiar)-. He was married in 1843 to Marj- Goodrich. They have 
two daughters : Amelia, married to Delos H. Townsend, resides 
in Seneca county, N. Y., and Melinda. 

Ira E. Drake was born in Oneida count}', N. Y., March. 
1817, and was consequently four years of age when his parents 
removed to Concord, where he has since lived. He was mar- 
ried in 1840 to Maria Agard, daughter of Joshua Agard, of 
Concord. They have a family of four sons and one daughter, 
as follows; Lauren J., born in 1842, married Mary Anthony; 
was for ten years a railroad conductor in Pennsylvania ; now 
extensively engaged in business at Keokuk, Iowa. Emery A., 
born in 1844, married P'rank Warrington; Walter, born 1846, 
married Sarah Hlakeley ; Lucy, born in 1854, and John, born 
1856, married Anna Williams. 

Reuben Drake was born in 1776. He was married to Nabb}- 
Coole}-, in Vermont, where he was for several years a Captain 
in the Vermont state militia. He removed from Connecticut 
to Jefferson county, N. Y., and from there to the north part of 
Concord, in 1834, where he lived until his death, in 1865. He 



344 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

had a family of three sons and four daughters, as follows : Cy- 
rena, Julia, Reuben Cooley, Jennet, Leonard, Orimul and 
Chloe, all born in Connecticut but the two last. Cyrena and 
Orimul are dead. 

Reuben Coole}' Drake was born in the parish of W'inton- 
bury, near Hartford, Conn., Oct. lo, 1814. When fifteen years 
of age he removed with his father's famil)- to Jefferson county, 
N. Y., and to Concord in the Spring of 1834. In 1838 he 
bought wild lands of the Holland Company, on lot five, town- 
ship seven, range seven, which be cleared up, improved and 
built upon and where he now resides. 

He was married in 1850, to Mary Wood, daughter of Robert 
Wood (a native of W^eschester county, N. Y.), and grand- 
daughter of Jesse How, a Corporal in the Revolution. They 
have one son and one daughter, viz : Jay Drake, born June 
30, 1854, is a teacher and devotes some attention to literary 
work. 

May Drake, born March 29, 1863, is a teacher. 

COPY OF MILITARY COMMISSION, 
Granted to Reuben Drake, by the Governor of Vermont. 
By his Excellenc}', Isaac Tichenor, Esq., Captain-General, Gov- 
ernor, and Commander-in-Chief in and over the State of 
Vermont — 
To Reuben Drake, Greeting. 

You being elected Ensign of the first company of light infan- 
tr)', in the second regiment, second brigade, and fourth division 
of the militia of this state, and reposing special trust and con- 
fidence in your patriotism, valor and good conduct, / do, b}' 
\'irtue of these presents, in the name and by the authority of 
the freemen of the State of Vermont, full}- authorize and em- 
power you, the said Reuben Drake, to take charge of the said 
company, as their Captain. 

You will, therefore, carefulh" and diligentl)- discharge the 
said dut}% by doing and performing ever}- matter and thing 
thereunto relating. You will observe and follow such orders 
and directions as you shall, from time to time, receive from the 
Governor of the State, for the time being, or any other your 
superior ofificer. according to military dicipline and the laws of 



RIOCRArillCAI^ SKETCIIKS. 345 

the state. And all officers and soldiers under your command 

are to take notice hereof and yield due obedience to your 

orders, as their Captain, in pursuance of the trust in you reposed. 

/// Testimony Whereof, I ha\'e caused the Seal of this State 

to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand in Council, 
[l. s.| this fourteenth day of September, in the year of our 

Lord one thousand eight hundred and seven, and of the 

Independence of the United States, the thirty first. 

Isaac Tichenor. 
By His Excellency's command, 

William Page, Secretary. 

Cliristoplior Douglass. 

The subject of this sketch came to this town in 1809. He 
settled on lot twenty-three, township six, range six, and lived 
there about twenty years. He is said to have been the first man 
that ever held the office of justice of tlie peace in this town. He 
was the first captain of the Springville Rifle company, and was 
also a side judge when "The Three Thayers " w^ere convicted 
of the murder of John Love. He removed from this town to 
Wisconsin about 1830. The last knowledge the author has of 
his whereabouts he was running a hotel in Wisconsin, in 
1856. 

Beiijainiu Douglass. 

Benjamin Douglass came to this town and bought hind of 
the Holland Land company in 1809. He lived here two or three 
years and then removed to Fredonia, Chautauqua count}-. His 
son, Daniel W. Douglass, was a member of assembh- from 
Chautauqua count)' in the \'eai" 1 85 I. 

F. K. Davis. 

Mr. Davis' father, Zimri Davis, came from N. H., about 181 5, 
to where the city of Rochester now stands. At that time, 
scarcely a vestige of the city existed. He helped to clear away 
the oak trees standing where the Powers block now is. and 
opened the first meat market. He died in Rochester in 1828. 
The next year the mother, ^hose maiden name was Joanna 
Johnson, with her five small boys, emigrated to Sardinia and 



346 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

bought a small farm with slight improvements on the Cattarau- 
gus creek. 

By the exercise of rigid economy, industry and perseverance, 
with the aid of her little boys, she cleared up and paid for her 
land. Mr. Davis relates how his mother would stake out a 
daily stint of chopping and clearing for each one, and would 
frequently take her sewing work and sit among them to encour- 
age them with their work. She died in Illinois, Sept. 19, 1875, 
aged seventy-eight years; her sons' names were Jerome, David, 
Kidder, Edwin and Clifton. 

Francis Kidder Davis was born in Rochester, Oct. 22, 1822 ; 
came to Erie county when seven years of age, and has been a 
resident of the county most of the time since. His occupation 
has been farming and hotel-keeping. 

Mr. Davis attended school at the Springville Academy forty 
years ago, in the old academy building, when students from a 
distance occupied rooms on the lower floor and cooked their 
own provisions, such as was not brought from home alread)' 
cooked. In those days the principal, if unmarried, also lodged 
and occupied rooms in the academy building. At that time, 
money to pay tuition bills was not as easily obtained as now. 
Mr. Davis speaks of cutting cordwood while attending school 
from heaps of logs drawn up to the door, sled length, on what 
is now Main street, to get money to pay his tuition. 

Mr. Davis was master of the first boat that left Rochester for 
a trip over the Genesee Valley canal. He was proprietor of 
the Globe hotel at Yorkshire ten years, and is now proprietor 
of the Forest house, a first-class hotel in Springville. 

He was married Dec. 31, 1846, to Mary F. Goodspeed, who 
was born March 5. 1830. They have six children, as fol- 
lows : 

Byron L., born March 21, 1849; married in 1866 to Dora 
Bigelow. 

Francis K., born Dec. 11, 1855, married in 1874 to Aggie 
Wade. 
p^Fred G., born June 30, 1858. 

Willie H., born July 27, i860. 

Nettie and Nellie (^twins), born Nov. 14, 1862. 



BIOGRAI'HirAI. SKKTCHES. 34pr 

H. J. Davis. 

H.J. Davis was born in the Town of Concord, Feb. i8, 1838; 
he has always resided in this town; he was married Aug. 13,' 
1863. to Frances M.Wells; they have one child, Archie B.' 
Davis, born July 24. 1867 ; the)' own and occupy a part of the 
homestead of the late Archibald GrifTfith, situated at East Con- 
cord, on lot 35, township seven, range six. Mr. Davis, in com- 
pany with A. E. Hardley, during the year 1872, rented and run 
the American hotel in Springville. They also started and run a 
daily stage line between Springville and Holland, the then ter- 
minus of the Buffalo, New York & Philadelphia Railroad. 
Mr. Davis is at present Deputy Sheriff of Erie count}-. 

♦Taoob Drake. 

Jacob Drake located on the middle part of lot 50. township 
seven, range six, where D. S. Ingals now lives, as early as 
1810 or ■ 1 1, and lived there over twenty years, when he and 
his son. Freeman, went back east where they both died. 

ffohii Drake. 

John Drake, son of Jacob Drake, settled on the south part 
of lot 50, known as the Tice place in 18 10, and died of a fever 
in 1814; his widow married Daniel Tice. His children were : 

Allen, who married May Wheeler, and died in this town. 

Angeline, who married a Mr. Williams, of Chautauqua 
county. 

John, who went to Michigan and died there. 

Sarah Ann, who went to Micjiigan and died there also. 

Kli.jali Diiiiliain. 

Elijah Dunham came about 181 i, and settled on lot 50, on 
the place Zimri Ingals so long li\ed afterwards, he remained 
there about fifteen years and then went west. Those of 
the family still living, reside in the northern part of Illinois, I 
believe. I think the first religious meeting that I ever attended 
was held in Mr. Dunham's new frame barn, between fiftv and 
sixty years ago. There were no meeting houses in those days 
in town, and the school houses were so small that they would 



348 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

not accommodate a large congregation. The barn is old now, 
but it stands there yet. 

Mr. Dunham's children were Edward, Elvira, Laura, Elmira, 
Artemas and Alva. 

Nicholas ^. I>einerly. 

Nicholas R. Demerly, was born in the town of Collins, Erie 
county, May I2th, 1853, and came to Concord to live in the 
year 1856. His father's name was John Demerly, his mother's 
maiden name was Louisa Root. Is a farmer by occupation ; 
was married February 22, 1876, to Miss Mary Emerling. They 
have no chidren of their own, but have adopted a boy, Frank 
Demerly, who is eight years of age. 

John Deiiiutli. 

John Demuth was born in Eschette, Commune of Folschette, 
Canton of Redingen, Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, July 14, 
1843. Came to America in 1867, landing at New York, Decem- 
ber 1st, of that year. He was married in 1879 ^^ Clara Selzer, 
who was born in Baden, Germany, Aug, 11, 1855. They have 
two children : 

John, born Sept. 26, 1869. 

Henry E., born Sept. 25, 1881. 

Mr. Demuth is now a resident of Springville, where he is 
emplo}'ed in a cabinet maker's shop. 

Dr. Carlos Eniinoiis. 

Dr. Emmons was born in Hartland, Windsor county, Ver- 
mont, June 17th, 1799. He studied his profession in his native 
State, and commenced practice in Washington county in this 
State. In 1823 he came to this county and settled in Spring- 
ville, and soon after married Harriet Eaton, daughter of Rufus 
Eaton, Esq., one of the founders of the village anci for over 
fifty years, and to the time of his death he continued to reside 
in this village, and was one of its most respected, influential 
and honored citizens. Over thirty-eight years of his life were 
devoted faithfully and laboriously to the duties of his profes- 
sion. His reputation as a physician was such that his practice 
■extended over a circuit of from ten to fifteen miles around the 



HIOCRAI'IIICAL SKETCHES. 349 

village. No amount of labor, no scverit)- of weather, no sacri- 
fice of bodily comfort i)re\-ented him from promptly answer- 
ing the calls of professional dut)-. During the long time he 
was in acti\e business no patient ever looked in vain for the 
coming of Dr. Emmons, if previously promised. 

By devoting mind and body to the welfare of his patients he 
secured a competency, and the gratitude of those he attended 
— of the fathers and mothers who lived and died — and their 
children who represented them in the homes they had left. 

In all matters of public improvement, educational, material 
or moral, he was among the most active and influential, con- 
tributing liberally of his means and laboring for the advance- 
ment of all the interests of the village. The Academy found 
in him one of its originators. During all the period of his 
acti\'e life, he was foremost among those who sustained it 
and labored for its success. 

Dr. Emmons twice represented the town of Concord on the 
board of Supervisors of Erie count}'. He was twice elected 
member of the State Assembly from the south towns, and was 
once elected State Senator from the eighth senatorial district 
under the Constitution of 1822. He was also postmaster at 
Springville for several years. 

Dr. Emmons was twice married. By his first wife he had 
three daughters who are residents of Nebraska. By his second 
wife, who survives him, he had one daughter who is a resident 
of Springville. All his daughters are married and have child- 
ren. All his children and children's children were a blessing to 
him in his declining years. 

Dr. Emmons died at his home in Springville, Dec. 12, 1875, 
aged seventy-six years, five months and twenty-five days. 

Rufus £ntoii. 

Rufus Eaton was born June 11, 1770. He came from Herk- 
imer county, N. Y., to what is now Springville in 18 10, and 
bought of Christopher Stone the south part of lot three. He 
built the first saw mill in town and started other industries. 
He gave the land for educational purposes where the Academy 
now stands, and was one of the first Justices of the Peace. He 



350 iilOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

was married in 1791 to Sally Potter, who died Nov. 15, 1843, 
aged seventy-six years, Mr. Eaton died Feb. 7, 1845. 

They had eight children : 

Sylvester married Lydia Gardner; died, June 4, 1863. 

Waitee married Frederick Richmond. 

Sally married first a Mr. Eddy, second, VVillard Cornwell. 

Rufus C. married Eliza Butterworth. 

Mahala married Otis Butterworth. 

Elisha married Betsy Chafee ; died, Feb. 25, 1881, aged 
eighty years. 

Harriet married Dr. Carlos Emmons. 

William died a young man. 

Sylvester Eaton was born at Little Falls, N. Y., June 17, 
1792. He had three children by his first wife, viz: 

Peregrine, Judson G., now residing at Smithport, Pa., and 
Mary L., who died young. 

Mr. Eaton was married a second time to Nancy Wilkes, by 
whom he had three daughters: 

Waitee E. and Lucinda who are dead and Rosalie, who 
married a Mr. Prime and resides at Osage, Iowa. 

Peregrine G. Eaton was born July 28, 18 18. He has been 
twice married; first to Alice S. Taylor, who ciied in 1849; a 
second time to Phoebe ^^^ Starkweather. Mr. Eaton has an 
only daughter, Cornelia L., b\' his first wife who married Ches- 
ter Newman. 

Henry Eaton. 

Henry Eaton was born in Springville in the year 1844, and 
was married to Hattie R. Mason, March i, 1882. His father's 
name was Rufus Eaton ; his mother's maiden name was Eliza 
H. Butterworth ; his grandfather's name was Rufus Eaton ; his 
grandmother's maiden name was Sally Potter. 

The Western New York Preserving and Manufacturing Com- 
pany, limited, was organized in 1879, under the laws of the 
State of New York, of which he was Secretary for the first 
three years and in 1 881 was President. ]-5usiness was successful ; 
amount paid farmers for products during the year of 1881 was 
$36,504.09; amount paid for labor in 1881 was $21,675.10. 
Mr. Eaton is also proprietor of a barrel factory in Springville. 



lUOCRAI'HICAL SKKTCHKS. 351 

Rufiis C. Eaton died Ali<^. 15, 1876, aged eighty years. 
Mrs. Eliza H. Eaton, the mother, died Aug. i, iS.So, aged 
eight)-one years, six months and twenty-one days. 

Samuel Eaton. 

Samuel Eaton was a ver)' earl\' settler in this town. He set- 
tled on the north side of the Genesee road on the toj) of the 
hill \\'est of Woodward's Hollow. Here he cleared up a farm 
and lived in the neighborhood until his death which occurred 
about 1838. He was one of the earliest school teachers in this 
town. 

He had four children : 

Fidelia married Stephen Conger and lives in North Collins. 

Samuel W., lives in Rochester, Minn., and has been Judge 
of the Probate Court in that county. 

Dewitt died when a young man, and Horace, whose where- 
abouts are unknown. 

Williaiu L. Emerson. 

William L. Emerson was born Feb. 16, 1809. His father, 
William Emerson, was born in New Ipswich, Hillsborough 
count}', N. H. He served as a soldier at Plattsburg in the war 
of 1812 and '15. His mother, Lydia Pratt, was born in New 
Hampshire. His grandfather's name was James Emerson. He 
came from England and served as a soldier in the Revolution- 
ary war. His grandmother's maiden name was Lydia Walker, 
born in New Hampshire. William L. Emerson was married to 
Maria Chase Feb. 17, 1835. She was born in Dummerston, 
Vt., July 12, 1809. Her father's name was James A. Chase; 
he was born in Guilford, Vt., June 11, 1786. Her grandfather, 
James Chase, was born in Warren, R. I., Nov. 10, I75i» and 
served as a soldier in the Revolution. William L. Emerson 
came from Vermont to Ashford, Cattaraugus county, in 1842, 
and bought of Jeremiah Wilcox, a farm adjoining the Sher- 
man place. In 1850, he bought the Searls place or David 
Goodemote place in the north part of Ashford near the Cat- 
taraugus creek. In 1868, he sold out in Ashford and removed 
to Concord. He has always been a farmer and has followed 
the business successfully. Mrs. Emerson died July 18, 1879. 

Their children are : 



352 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

William F., born April 14, 1836; married July 4, 1856, 
Maryette Wiley ; second wife, Sarah Crawford ; lives in Ash- 
ford and is a farmer. 

Edward, born Aug. 3, 183 1 ; married Ellen M. Carman. Aug. 
27, 1871 ; lives in Sardinia and is a farmer. 

Hiram, born May 22, 1840; married Louisa M. Re}-nolds, 
Sept. 21, 1864; second wife. Laura Wells; third wife, Alice D. 
Marsh ; lives in Concord and is a farmer. 

Mary E., born April 14, 1842, lives in Springville. 

Sylvia A., born Sept. 15, 1845 ; married Levi M. Bond, Sept. 
17, 1863 ; lives in Porterville, Cal. 

Clara J., born March 24, 1841 ; married Origen A. Wilcox, 
Aug. 23, i860; lives in Porterville, Cal. 

Arnold J., born Feb. 4, 185 1 ; married Julia P. Carman. June 
10, 1879 ' lives in Sardinia and is a hardware merchant. 

Amos P. Ellis. 

Mr. Ellis was born in Tioga county, N. Y., in August, 1814. 
In 1835 he came from his native place to Gowanda and worked 
one year at his trade (carpenter and joiner). He then came to 
Concord, where he has since resided. For the last twenty-five 
years his occupation has been farming. He was married in 
1837 to Betsey Curran, who was born Nov. 4, 1 808. 

They have had five children : 

Louisa, born Feb. 5, 1839; married George Priel in 1867. 

Elizabeth, born June 30, 1840; died Jan. 13, 1858. 

Eugene P., born April 2, 1842; married Lizzie Bassett in 
1864; was killed April 2, 1881, in a railroad tunnel at St. Louis. 

Edwin (twin), born April 15, i844,married Irene Wheelock in 
1865. 

Edward (twin), born April 15, 1844. 

Augustus G. Elliott. 

Augustus G. Elliott was an early settler, and had a store on 
the Weismantel lot near the race ; he also at one time managed 
a distillery and ashery ; the ashery stood on the north side of 
Franklin street, on Stephen Smith's lot, and the distillery stood 
on the opposite side of the street ; he also bought cattle and 
drove them to the eastern markets; he took an active part also 



hkh;raphkai. skhtciiks. 353 

ill l)uil(linL;" the SpriiiL;\illc Academy. He was born in Kent, 
Conn., Oct. 20, I77<S, and died Au^-. 26, 1834, at^ed fift)--six 
years. 

Cliarh's Kiiierliiijjj. 

Charles luiierling was born July 31, I(S46. in the town of 
Eden, Erie county. N. Y.; came to Concord in the v'ear 1(858. 
His father's name was Philip Emerling ; his mother's maiden 
name was Marian Lamm; he was married May 15, 1877. to 
Mary Ann Belcher ; he owns the farm of 220 acres where he 
lives. He has two daughters : 

Caroline, born Feb. 14, 1879. 

Sarah, born July 2/, 1881. 

Jesse Frye. 

Eben Frye, the father of the subject of this sketch, was of 
Welsh ancestry, his father coming here at an early da}', and 
settled in what was then known as the Province of Maine. 
Eben P'rye took an active jiart in the struggle for American 
independence from the beginning to the close, serving as a 
Captain, and was also promoted to the rank of a Major. After 
peace was declared he also represented the Province of Maine 
in the legislature when it was a dependency of Massachusetts. 

Jesse P"rye, the subject of this sketch, was born at Fryeburg, 
Maine, in the year 1772. Some time in the year 17S0 his 
father moved to Andover, N. H., where he died four years 
after. Jesse, then twelve years old, was ajiprcnticed to a 
clothier and learned this trade, but he did not follow the call- 
ing long. In 1794 he moved with his mother's family from 
Andover to Bath, in the same State, and engaged in the manu- 
facture of brick with a man b}- the name of Haddock. In 1797 
he was married to Betsey Noyes. Six children were born to 
this union, viz.: 

Enoch Noyes, born March 30, 1800. 

James Sanders, born June 10, 1802. 

Moses McKinster, born Sept. 26, 1804. 

Betsey, born Jan. 4, 1807. 

Sarah, born December, 1809. 

Jesse, born Feb. 18, 18 18. 



354 bioc;raphical skp:tches. 

Of these children three are Hving, Enoch, Moses and Jesse. 
Here he remained in business with Haddock until the year 
1810, when he was compelled to sacrifice his business to satisfy 
an obligation incurred by lending his name to a friend. This 
left him but a meagre sum to start out again in life, but he was 
young and full of energy. The Holland Purchase was attract- 
ing much attention, and flattering intlucements were offered to 
settlers. He purchased a span of horses and fitted up a lum- 
ber wagon ; into this he placed his famih', consisting of a wife 
and fi\'e children, and all the worldl}- goods he possessed, and 
set out for the new Mecca, where he arrived some time in the 
Fall of 1810. Buffalo was his first stopping place. Here he 
began business as a green-grocer, occup}'ing a lot and house 
rieht where Pratt & Letchworth's immense retail trade in the 
hardware business on the terrace is carried on to-day. He 
owned a sail-boat and the most of his stock in trade was pro- 
cured in Canada, and much of his profit came from the Indians, 
who were at that time largely in the ascendant. Here he 
remained until the Spring of 18 12, although he had traded his 
house and lot the Fall previous to John Pollc\- for an articled 
claim of lots thirty and thirty-one, in Zoar. In July, the same 
year, he moved his family to Zoar, having pre\'iously built a log 
house for their reception. Here he remained some four}'ears, 
when this claim was traded off to Luther Pratt for a similar 
one on " Poverty Hill," in the Town of Collins. The soil did 
not suit him, and this claim was sold to Phineas Orr, and he 
made another and his last claim, that of P"rye Hill. 

In August, 1 8 16, Enoch and Mack, then boys of twelve and 
sixteen, began chopping just north of the great orchard; some 
four acres were cleared and got into winter wheat that Fall ; 
the )-ield was abundant, and ever since that time until the pres- 
ent Frye Hill has dispensed that old-fashioned, open-hearted 
hospitality that was proverbial among the early pioneers. They 
lived to a ripe age, the wife dying Feb. 4, 1848, aged seventy- 
six years, one month and twenty-one days; he surviving her 
but a few months, and followed her March 27, 1849, aged 
seventy-five years, four months and twelve days. They lie 
buried side by side in the family burying-ground on PVye Hill. 

Enoch N. P'rN'e, now over eight)'-three years old and still 



BKxjRAi'incAi, sKi-:r( MEs. 355 

hale and hearty, occupies the old homestead, with some six 
or seven hundred acres besides. He was married in i<S2i to 
Margaret Wells ; she died Dec. 12, 1882. Ten children were 
born to them, viz.: 

James, born Dec. 17, 1822. 

Ebenezer, born Nov. 27, 1824. 

Louisa, born in 1826. 

Abbott, born in 1828. 

Jesse, born Aug. 20, 1830. 

William, born, June 18, 1832. 

Mar\' and Betse\-, born May 26, 1834. 

John H., born Dec. 13, 1837. 

Helen S., born Jul\-4, 1840. 

Three of these children are dead : Betsey died Feb. 26, 
1847; Abbott died Oct. 27, 1853, and Ebenezer Sept. 21. 1857. 
Louisa married L. J. Vaughn, and now lives in Ashford. 
Jesse married Miss Maria Davidson. William married Miss 
Josephine L. Burgess ; she dying in 1870, in 1874 he was married 
to Mrs. Amy C. Titus. Mary married John Murdock. John 
married Miss Helen Fowler, and Helen, Daniel D. Nash. 

E. N. Frye is a man of sterling character, and in his younger 
days he took an active part in all that tended to advance the 
.prosperity of the new settlement. At the age of sixteen years 
he began teaching, which he followed more or less until other 
cares absorbeci his attention. He also occupied the office of 
Supervisor, and Assessor of the town for a term of years. 

It is nearh' or quite sixt\'-seven years ago since he began 
with an axe to let the sun-light fall upon that soil which has 
ever since been his home. Hopefully toiling on, at first upon 
the articled claim obtained in boyhood years, until he had 
touched the meridian and found himself the possessor of many 
broad acres, but still onward and upward, and now his years 
are verging upon four-score and ten. and \'et each of these 
many active, useful years have w itnessed some improvement in 
his surroundings. 

F<»s<lH'k Family. 

Stephen Fosdick, the great progenitor of the family, was first 
known in Charlestown, Conn., in 1635. His name appears on 



356 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

church records as one of the first to organize Harvard church. 
He was one of forty to found New London, was proprietor of 
Fosdick's Neck and Inlet, and participated in the sale of Bos- 
ton Commons, with other privileges granted at that age to 
noted men. History also says he was expelled from the church 
and fined i,"20 for reading Ana-Baptist papers ; was afterwards 
restored to the church by paying the fine. 

Solomon Fosdick, a descendant of Stephen, was born in the 
town of Oyster Bay, Queens county, L. L, April 8, 1776; was 
married to Anna Thorn, a member of the Society of Friends, 
at Coeyman's landing; after that resided at Rockaway, L. I., 
\\here three of their children, viz., Samuel, Angeline and Pru- 
dence, were born. He then removed to Amsterdam, where 
two children, Alice and Elizabeth, were born. He then 
removed to Rensselaerville, Albany county, where three chil- 
dren, Mary T., John S. and Jesse T. were born. Morris was 
born at Oyster Bay, L. 1. In November, 18 19, Mr. Fosdick 
removed with his family to Boston, Erie county, renting and 
living on a place owned by Aaron Adams, after by purchase, a 
place on West hill, and in I^22 the place lately owned by Am- 
brose Torr}', adjoining the town line of Boston, in the town of 
Concord, where he lived until his death, Feb. 11, 1838. His 
wife, Anna Fosdick, died in Springville, N. Y., Aug. 8, 1858 ; 
both were buried at Boston, where a suitable monument was 
erected by their son Morris to their memory. 

Of their children. Prudence married Joseph Alger; she died 
in Boston in 1848; her children, Rollin Alger, Mrs. Mortimer 
Adams, Mrs. A. Oatman and Mrs. Miranda Steele, still reside in 
Boston, where they were born. 

Samuel Fosdick died in 11^64, and was buried in Youngstown, 
N. Y.; his son Hiram resides in Salamanca and is cashier of the 
Salamanca National bank ; his daughter, Mrs. Sarah A. Ells- 
worth, resides in Buffalo, and his daughter by a second mar-; 
riage. Miss Dora Fosdick, resides \\ith her uncle, John S. Fos- 
dick, at Westfield, N. Y. 

Morris Fosdick died in Springxille in 1^72. 

Angeline married Nicholas Bonsteel and li\ed and died at 
■Great Valley, N. Y., leaving four children. 



HIOGRArilK'AL SKKTCIIES. 357 

One of them, Dr. A. S. Honsteel, of Cony, Pa., is w ell known 
as a physician and surgeon. 

Alice married Stillman Andrews, and li\'es in Jamestown. 

Ehzabe'h married Camden Lake and lived and died in 
Springville, N. Y., leaving one daughter, Mrs. Laurette Tabor, 
who still resides there. 

Mar\- T. married James Getty, and resides in East Ham- 
burg, X. V. 

John S. Fosdick was a teacher for forty-five )'ears, is now a 
farmer and resides at Westfield, Chautauqua county, N. \'.; he 
was at one time Superintendent of Education in Ikiffalo, and 
for a number of years was Principal of Westfield academy. 

Jesse T. Fosdick, the youngest, now sixt\--four years old, 
resides at Salamanca, N. Y. He has been in the New York, 
Pennsylvania and Ohio railway compan}''s employ (formerly 
known as the Atlantic and Great Western Railway) for twent}'- 
one years, and has been successful as a railroad man. He has 
acquired the knowledge of controlling a large force of men, is 
conceded honest and upright. Jesse T. Fosdick, in speaking 
of his childhood, always brings to mind the fact that Louise 
Carr (afterwards Louise Alger) taught him his letters, and he 
has through Hfe cherished a friendly feeling, second only to 
that of his mother, towards his early teacher. At their last 
meeting, a few years since, they both showed this attachment, 
and when Jesse became a lad again, and she almost fancied 
herself again his teacher, it was with the utmost difficulty that 
the pent up feelings of half a century were restrained. 

Morris Fosdick, Esq. 

Morris P'osdick, son of Solomon and Anna (Thorne) Fosdick, 
was born Dec. 9, 1804, in the town of Oyster Bay, Queens 
county, N. Y.; learned the trade of shoemaker, tanner and cur- 
rier of Hatch & Alger, in the town of Boston ; afterwards 
worked as a journeyman for Mr. Hoyt, of Buffalo, and Hall 
Brothers (father and uncle of Judge Hall), of Wales ; later 
entered into partnership with Griffin Swain, of Otto, Cattarau- 
gus county ; the\- carried on the business to which he was edu- 
cated several j^ears, sold out his in interest the tannery, and 
became a student at Springville Academy under Professor Par- 



358 



BIOGRAPHICAL skp:tchf:s. 



sons, teaching school several Winters of his student life ; entered 
the law ofifice of Elisha Mack ; admitted an attorney in the 
Supreme Court of New York July 13, 1838; commissioned by 
Gov. William L. Marcy Adjutant of the Two Hundred and Forty- 
eighth regiment of Infantry Nov. 9, 1838 ; admitted to practice 
in both the District and Circuit Courts of the United States Oct. 
II, 1842; appointed Judge-Advocate with the rank of Colonel 
in the Twenty-sixth Division of New York State Infantry Feb. 
28, 1843; admitted counsellor in the Supreme Court of New 
York July 14, 1843 ; admitted as solicitor and counselor in the 
Court of Chancery of New York, July 19, 1843; became a law 




MORRIS FOSDICK, ESQ. 

partner with Wales Emmons for a time, and continued to prac- 
tice his profession in Springville up to the time of his death, 
which occurred Feb. 3, 1872, aged sixty-seven years. 

Although a Democrat and living in a town o\-er\\helmingly 
opposed to him politically, he, on several occasions, was elected 
to offices of trust and honor. Elected Justice of the Peace, 
and in 1857, elected Super\-isor and served as Chairman of the 
Board. Served one term as justice of the Sessions. 

With peculiarities and eccentricities, which oftentimes proved 
almost offensive, he, nevertheless, by reason of regard for truth 



li 



RIOf;RAPIII(AI. SKKTCIIKS. 359 

and his strict intci;rit\', hardl)' ever failed in retainin<^ the re- 
spect and confidence of those with whom he had business 
relations. 

In all official positions he was strictly and tenaciously obser- 
vant of his own duties, and was equall)' tenacious in requirin<^ 
from others a due and proper obserx^ance of relations and duties 
toward himself. His fidelity to official trusts was proverbial, 
but was not less so than was his faithfulness to priwate interests, 
entrusted to his care. 

A bachelor throuf;h life he was most eminenth' endowed with 
the most peculiar characteristics of that honorable fraternit)-. 
A good counsellor, an honest man. 

Beii.jaiiiiii Fryo. 

Benjamin Fa\' was born in Athol, Worcester county, Ma.ss., 
Sept 14, 1783. He came here in the Fall of 181 1, to "see the 
country," and settled here in 181 2. His brother, Josiah. had 
been here before he came and selected land, and went back to 
Massachusetts and nev^er returned. Mr. Fay settled on Town- 
send Hill, on lot 59, township se\en, range six, and li\ed 
there till the time of his death, when he owned the whole 
quarter section. When, in his prime, he was an energetic and 
successful farmer ; he served as a soldier on the Niagara frontier 
in the war of i8i2-'i5; he was in several skirmishes and 
engagements on each side of the river, on one occasion a can- 
non ball killed his right hand man. On another occasion at 
Fort Erie, where he and Isaac Knox, of this town, were not far 
apart, a cannon ball passed between them and whirled them 
both around ; he was at the burning of Buffalo, and was com- 
pelled to flee with the others. After the close of the war he 
held several high offices in the militia, was elected Colonel, but 
did not ser\e. He also held several town offices, such as 
School Inspector, Assessor, Commissioner and Justice of the 
Peace. In early days he was one of the leading men of the 
town. June lo, 1819, he was married to Polly Bowler, who 
was born in Guilford, Vt. Mr. Fay died in this town Sept. 17. 
1863, aged eighty years. Mrs. F'ay died in this town Jan. 2, 
1870, aged seventy-one years. There children were: 

Benjamin Albert, born 1820, died in 1822. 



360 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Amos F., born Jan 2, 1822, resides in Indianapolis, Ind. 
B. A., born Sept. 29, 1823, resides in Springville. 
Charles, born April 12, 1826, died Feb. 6, 1863, in this town. 
Ward, born July 28, 1829, is in California. 
Polly D , born Aug. 3, 1836, died June, 1837. 

Neheniiah Frye. 

Nehemiah Fay settled on Townsend Hill in 1816, where he 
lived about twenty-five years, and then removed to Little Val- 
ley, Cattaraugus county, where he and his wife both died, hav- 
ing lived to a good old age. Their children were : 

Nabby, who married Obadiah Russell, and moved to Little 
Valley, where they both died. 

Fannie married Asahel Field, and lives in Little Valle}'. 

James lives in Cattaraugus county. 

Alcander lives in Great Valley, Cattaraugus count}\ 

Solomon Field. 

Solomon Field was born in Uurfield, Mass., on the Connecti- 
cut river, and came from there to Madison count}'. N. Y., 
where he remained a few years. He took up lot three, town- 
ship seven, range seven, in 1809, and located there in the Fall 
of 1 8 10, where he resided until the time of his death. His 
children were : 

Ruth married Royal Twichell, and died several years ago. 

Asahel married Fanny Fay, and died in Little Valle\', Cat- 
taraugus county. 

William married Mary E. Briggs, and died in this town in 
1870. 

Huldah married Isbon Treat, and died in Colden. 

Porter married in this town and removed East. 

James Flemmings. 

James Flemmings was born in Massachusetts in 1786, and his 
wife, Sally Loomis Flemmings, was born there in 1789. They 
came to this country and settled first in Boston, in 181S, and 
afterward came to Concord in 1822. Mr. Flemmings was a 
farmer and carpenter and joiner, and built houses and barns, 
many of which are still standing. He lived for a while on the 



lUoCRAIMIICAI. SKK'ICIIKS. 361 

Genesee road, \vi;st of Townsend Hill, and afteward bought a 
farm on the south part of lot fifty-one, townsjiip seven, range 
six. His house stood near the foot of the hill which was for a 
long time called h'lemmings Hill. The old house still stands. 
After a while he sold his farm and removed to Springville, 
where he was engaged in trade for some time, and then removed, 
to Ashford, Cattaraugus county, where he died Dec. 19, 1866, 
aged seventy-nine yeans and eight months ; his wife died March 
14, 1854, aged sixty-five years. 

Their children were: 

Jane, James, Hannah, Sally, Joseph, Parker and Margaret. 

Jane married E. T. Briggs ; after his death she married Will- 
iam Field, who is also dead. She is living in Springville. 

James married Nancy Norcott and died in Springville, Sept. 
6. 1867, aged fifty-four years and eight months. 

Hannah married Samuel Wheeler and died Sept. 24, 1841, 
aged twenty-five )'ears. 

Sally married first, Adoniram Blake; second, Elam Chandler 
and died Feb. 25, 1880. 

Joseph li\'es in Springville. 

Parker married Susan Babbett and died in Ashford in 1873, 
aged forty-seven. 

Margaret married Horace B. Harrington and died in Ellicott- 
ville in 186 1, aged 31 years. 

.Tosepli B. Floiiiiiiiiigs. 

Mr. Flemmings was born in Concord on Towsend Hill, March 
1 1, 1822. He was a son of James Flemmings, one of the early 
pioneers of the town. His mother's maiden name was Sally 
Loomis. He attended school at the Springville Academy dur- 
ing the year 1840. He was married in 1842 to Harriet Bisby. 
They have one daughter, Mrs. Calvin C. Smith, born Aug. 4, 
1844, and one son Ernest, born Feb. 27, 1856. Mr. Plem- 
mings has resided principally at Springville and Salamanca. 
His occupation is that of architect and builder, in which he is 
ver\- skilled and proficient. Man}- of the finest residences and 
structures in Cattaraugus county and Springville are of his 
planning and building. Of those of which he was either the 
architect or builder or both, ma}' be mentioned the Leland 



362 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

House and the residence of J. P. Meyers, in Springville ; the 
residences of Hon. Commodore Vedder, EHicottville, and Syd- 
ney N. Delap, Mansfield, and the large lumber mill of James 
Fitts at Salamanca. 

Abraiii Fisher. 

Abram Fisher came from V'ermont to this town (Concord) in 
1829, and bought of Peter Tice, brother of Daniel Tice, fifty 
acres of land on the south part of lot fifty, township seven, 
range six. About 1836, he moved from this town to Boston, 
and from there he moved to the West Branch in the town of 
North Collins, from there he moved to Pennsylvania, where he 
died in i860. He was a farmer. 

His children were : 

Acsah, who died about 1850 in Vermont. 

William, the stage driver and violinist, w ho died in Pennsyl- 
vania about 1875. 

Richmond died in North Collins about 1840. 

Sarah Ann died in Buffalo about 1865. 

Nelson died in North Collins about 1840. 

Perry died in North Collins about 1840. 

Roswell lives in Pennsylvania. 

Erasmus lives in Springville. He was born in Concord, the 
other children were born in Vermont. 

Philip Forriii. 

Mr. P"errin's father, Ebenezer Ferrin, came from Hebron, 
Grafton county, N. H., to Concord ( Horton Hill), in the Fall of 
181 5, with his family. The next Spring he located land in 
Concord, where the Warner place now is, lot fift\'-two, range 
six, township seven, where he lix'ed until his death, March 9, 
1852. He was born in Hebron, N. H., Sept. 4, 1777, where he 
was married Nov. 26, 1801, to Lydia Phelps, who was born 
March 9, 1782. She died about 1855. 

Fourteen children were born to them, all but one li\"ing to 
mature years as follows : 

Francis, born May 16, 1803; resides in Minnesota. 

Samuel, born Nov. 12, 1804; resides in Utah. 

Jesse, born Ma}- I, 1806; resides in Allegan}' county, N. Y. 



MIoCkAI'lIICAI, SKKICUKS. 363 

Mary, born Aul;". i, uSoj; resides in Iowa. 

Alice, born March 1<S, i<So<S ; died about i^S^q. 

Unice, born Aug. 9, i.Sio; died about 1857. 

Harvc}', born Aui;-. iS, i.Sii ; died Ma}- lO, 1840. 

Lydia, born Jul\' 19, 1813 ; died about 1863. 

Philip, born June 29. 181 5; resides in Sprin<^ville, N. Y. 

Nathan, born Ju!_\- 12, 1818; resides in Indiana. 

Adna P., born Jul\- 12. 1820. died about 1858. 

Achsa, born Feb. i, 1822: died April 5, 1822. 

Luc}". born l^\'b. 16, 1823 ; died March 7, 1849. 

Lodica M., born jul\' ij , 1825 ; resides in Allegan}' county 
N.V. 

Mr. Philip hV'rrin has al\\a}'s been a resident of Concord, and 
a successful and \er\- industrious farmer. He was married 
Feb. II, 1841, to Kmeline Stanbro. 

Ten children haxe been born to them, \i/,. : 

Charles A., born March 21, 1842; married P^lizabeth Reed. 

Andre\\- Clark, born Nov. 13, 1843; married. I 1st), Georgie 
Long, (2d). Josephine Long. 

Ann, born Dec. i i. 1845 ; died Jan. 30, 1846. 

Ward, born Dec. 21. 1847; niarried. (ist). Lmeline Reed, 
■(2d), Mrs. Amelia Horton. 

Alice L., born Ma}- 19, 1849; ^""^^ Sept. 28. 1850. 

Ella L.. born Aug. 28, 1852 ; married Clark Churchill. 

Horace Lee, born Aug. 21, 1854; married Kate Hurd. 

Nelson A., born Jvd}- 2^^, 1857; married Ella Long-. 

Carrie E., born June 20, 1859; died, 1863. 

Herbert \V., born June 29, 1862 ; married kla J^lackmar. 

.loliii Fe<l<li<*k. 

John h'eddick was born in 1837, in Paris, P" ranee, and is a 
farmer. His wife's maiden name was Margaret Her}-, born 
also in Paris. Came to Buffalo in 1852; was married in 1858. 

His father, Nicholas Feddick, settled in the town of Collins, 
on a farm and lived there until the time of his death, in 1879. 
His family consisted of t\\el\e children, si.\ (^f whom died at 
an early age and a daughter died in 1878; five are now living. 

John Feddick sa}-s : " My two surviving brothers live in the 
town of Collins. One of \\\\ sisters li\es in the town of Flden 



364 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

and the other in Sauk count\% Wisconsin. I left Collins in 
1859, ^^'ent to Iowa, from Iowa to Missouri, from Missouri to 
Kansas, from Kansas to Omaha, Nebraska, thence back to 
Davenport, Iowa. I enlisted in the 2d Iowa Ca\alr}-, Company 
' E,' Captain Kendrick, attached to Colonel Elliott's Regiment. 
Continued in the service from 1862 to the close of the war. 
Was in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Juka, Port Hudson and 
others of lesser note, including the Siege of Vicksburg. Was 
discharged at Eastport, Mississippi ; returned to Gowanda, and 
soon after came and settled in Concord." His children are : 

George, born Dec. 10, 1859. 

Nettie, born Nov. 19, 1861. 

Mary, born Oct. 19, 1862; died April 24, 1876. 

Emma, born Jan. 10, 1866. 

John, born Aug. 2, 1868. 

Peter, born July 5, 1870. 

Victor, born June 16, 1873. 

Helen, born June 21, 1878. 

Lettie, born Jan. 8, 1881. 

The Foote Family. 

Ransford T. F"oote was born in Litchfield count}', Connecti- 
cut, Jan. 6, 1806. Susan Foote, his wife, was born in the same 
count}-, Dec. 2, 1805. They came to Otto, Cattaraugus county, 
in 1826, and to Concord in 1838. In his younger days Mr. 
Foote worked at shoe making as well as farming. He now 
owns, occupies and conducts a large dair}--farm in the north- 
east part of Concord. 

They have one son, Harr}- Foote, who was born in Cattar- 
augus county, March 22, 1832. He was married Feb. 11, 1864, 
to Jane Rollo Calkins, who was born Aug. 23. 1838. They 
have no children. He resides near his father. They are indus- 
trious and prosperous farmers and are highh- esteemed in the 
communit}'. 

Mrs. R. T. Foote's father's name was Wheeler Atwood and 
her mother's maiden name was Susannah Stoddard. I learn 
from the history or her nati\e town in Connecticut, that her 
ancestors on both sides, were among the earliest settlers in 
Massachusetts and Connecticut. Some of them cominu" over 



BIOCIRAI'inCAL SKETCHES. 365 

as early as 1639 ; and I also learn from the same book that 
they were among the first families in the communities in which 
they lived. Several of them were graduates of Harvard Col- 
lege and some of them were ciergN'nicn, and some were doctors. 

STATEMENT OF MRS. HANSFORD T. FOOTE. 

We came to Otto, Cattaraugus count}-, from Connecticut, in 
November, 1826. It took us four days to go from Buffalo to 
Otto. Mr. F'oote went to Otto because he had relatives there. 
The first winter we lived in a log-house with another family, 
named Buttcrfield. The house was eighteen by twent)- feet. 
The floor was split out of bass-wood logs, and there was but 
one six-lighted window. The sash were small slats nailed 
together and paper was pasted over the sash and then greased 
and used as a substitute for glass ; and in the center there was 
a small piece of glass, as large as the palm of your hand, fitted 
so that we could look out. The chimney had a stone back 
up a few feet but no jambs ; the top was finished out with 
sticks. Some time during the first winter, about ten o'clock 
one night I was up and at work hetcheling flax, all the others 
in the house having gone to bed, when I heard my geese 
squall fearfully outside, near the house. I went out and saw a 
long, low animal near the geese. I tried to scare him awa}-but 
he stood there some time, and when he turned up his head to 
look at me, his eyes shown like two balls of fire ; he finall\- went 
away. I told Mr. Butterfield what I had seen and he went the 
next morning and examined the tracks and said it was a cata- 
mount. The wolves then were \ery numerous. I ha\'e often 
listened to their bowlings in the night and the}- \-er}- often 
killed sheep in the neighborhood and in difl"erent parts of the 
town, and the inhabitants generally turned out at different 
times to hunt and destro}- or dri\'e them out of town. 

Deer were very thick then. I have frequently seen them in 
the fields and near the house. One morning I looked out and 
saw five fine looking deer feeding beside the garden fence. 

The second year after we came to Otto, we had managed to 
get two cows, and I made butter and had saved up a consider- 
able quantit}-. I wanted some groceries and Mr. Foote took 
his oxen and carried me and several of the neighboring women 



366 bioc;raphicai. sketches. 

to Lodi, ten miles, to trade. We started before daylight and 
forded the Cattaraugus, and when we arrived at Mr. Plumb's 
store he asked us what \\e wanted to get for our butter. I told 
him I would like to get some groceries ; he said he could not 
sell groceries for butter, but would let me ha\'c shelf goods; 
hs said he was then paying six cents for butter (just previous 
he had paid but five cents). So I had to sell my butter for 
shelf goods and go home without an}' groceries. Since that 
time we have sold butter for fifty cents per pound cash, and 
have kept and milked between thirty-fixe and fort)' cows at a 
time. 

The second year after we came to Otto our tax was one dol- 
lar and fifty cents, and when Mr. Allen, the collector, came for 
it Mr. Foote told him he had no money and he knew of no 
way that he could get any. Mr. Allen said to him that he had 
some money that he had received from the town, and that he 
would pay the tax, and Mr. Foote, who was a shoemaker, 
might come over to his house and make up some shoes for 
his family, which he did. One year in the time of the Rebel- 
lion, Mr. Foote paid as much as $140 tax, and he said he 
could pay that tax easier than he could raise that one dollar 
and fifty cents in money at that time. 

W. Wallace Fieiioli. 

W. \\\ P^rench was born in the year 1828, in the Town of 
Bennington, Vt.; came to Concord in 1831 ; is railroad agent; 
was married to Celestia Pratt, who was born in Willink, Erie 
county, N. Y., September, 1837. ^^'^ father's name was Rus- 
sell French ; his mother's maiden name was Julia Catlin ; both 
living at Waverly, Cattaraugus county, N. Y. His grand- 
father's name was William French : his grandmother's maiden 
name was Lydia Esterbrook : both buried in Springville ceme- 
tery: grandfather died Jan. 27, 1840, aged sixty-one years; 
grandmother died May 21, 1849, '^ged sevent}' )'ears. 

They had one daughter, Nettie D. P'rench, born at Buffalo. 
N. Y., Oct. 26, 1862 ; died at Springville, June 13, 1881. 

Frecleriok Fox. 

P'rederick P\)x was born in 1833, ''"' P^rlah-Baden. German)', 
and worked at farming until he came to this count)'. He 



luocRAi'iiicAL SKi:r(M[i:s. 367- 

started to come here Nov. 7, i860; his brother Leo and sister 
Mary M.came with him. Tiiey embarked at tlie Cit)-of Havre, 
in France, and were ft)rt)' da)'s on the ocean to New York. 
They came from New York to Huffalo. and from Buffalo to 
his brother Christian's, in Ashford. He worked for him one 
year and for George Hughey three years. He was married 
June 1, 1865. to Mary M. Utrich, of Ashford (her native place 
was North Collins). They moved to Springville and com- 
menced keeping hotel in 1865. The\' have since re-built and 
enlarged the hotel, and continued to keep the same until 1883, 
when he sold out to Theodore Frew. 

Their children are : Frank G., Mary L., CTara L.. antl Fred- 
erick William. 

("asiKT Faurliiij'". 

Casper Faulring was born May 27, 1839. in the State of Sax- 
ony, 'Germain' : is a farmer b}' occupation ; was married March 
I, 1868, to Barbara Foster; his father's name was Frederick 
Faulring; his mother's maiden name was Margaret Taff ; his 
fatlier's famih' came all together frcMii Germany in 1854;. 
shipped on a sail vessel at Hamburg, Germany, for New York, 
and landed in New York Jan. 9, 1854; they were sixty-four 
days in making the passage; it was a long, cold and rough time. 
They settled on the farm where he now lives. 

They have seven children : 

John, born Dec. 9, 1868. 

Frederick, born April 9. 1869. 

Mary, born Jan. 1, 1871. 

Ferdinand, born Sept. 4, 1873. 

Chris, born March 6, 1876. 

Casper, born Jan. r, 1878. 

Louisa, born May 7. 1881. 

fianu's l>. Fiilh'r. 

Mr. b\iller's father, John (i. Fuller, was born in Drx'den, 
Madison count}-, N. Y., ^Liy 11, 1805; from there he went to 
Penns\-lvania ; from Penusyhania he came to Ashford, N. Y., 
in 1825; he died in Sardinia Sept. 24, 1881. He was married 
to Florilla Studley. 



368 BIOORAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

James D. Fuller was born in Ashford, Cattaraugus county, 
N. Y., Feb. 28, 1845 ; about 1850 his father's family moved to 
Sardinia. In 1868 Mr. Fuller moved to Concord, where he has 
since resided; his occupation is farming. Mr. F. enlisted Aug. 
9, 1862, in Company F, One Hundred and Sixteenth regiment, 
New York State volunteers, and participated in all the battles 
and campaigns in which his regiment took part ; he was mus- 
tered out of the service June 26, 1865. Mr. Fuller was married 
in 1866, to Emily N. Crosby. They have four daughters : 

Alice M., born Feb. 10, i^yo. 

Myrtie, born Feb. 3, 1873. 

Gertie E., born Sept. 5, 1874. 

Nettie, born March 29, 1876. 

Benjamin C. Foster. 

Benjamin C. Foster came and located on lot fifty-one, town- 
ship seven, range six, before the war of 18 12, and was the first 
on that lot ; he set out the orchard that still stands a short dis- 
tance up the side-hill on the old Amos Stanbro place, and there 
is where his log house was located. His children were Otis, 
Susan, who married Stukely Stone, Polly, Adaline, Lucy, Delia, 
Benjamin and Samuel. 

Benjamin C. Foster and Stukely Stone went from this town 
to Cambria, Niagara county, sixty years ago, and finally to 
Hume, Allegany county. 

John S. Foster. 

John S. Foster, brother of Benjamin C, came here after the 
close of the war and built him a house beside his brother's on 
the same lot and remained a few years and then removed to 
Hartland, Niagara county, where he died. His children were: 

Frelove, who married Whitman Stone. 

Lovica, who married Levi Palmer. 

Sally, who married Ephraim Needham, and now resides in 
Brant, this county. 

Amanda, who married Uriah Chappel and lives in Kendall 
county. 111. 

John S.. lives in Brant. 

George W., lives in Elkhart, Ind. 

Amy and Alma, dead. 



BIOCRAl'llUAI. SKETCHES. 369 

Theodore Frew. 

Theodore Frew is a son of Joseph Frew and Christina (Bru- 
der) Frew, who emigrated from Baden, Germany, in 1831. 
Theodore was born Oct. 13. 1833. in Boston, Erie county, N. 
Y.; at fifteen years of age he went to Boston, Mass.; was there 
six \'ears, and in 1858 he went to New Orleans, where he 
remained until the occupation of that city by the Union army, 
under General Banks, in 1863, when he joined Banks' army as 
member of the engineers' corps, and returned north at the 
close of the war. Mr. F"rew was a merchant and Postmaster at 
East Eden, N. V., for eight years, and removed from that place 
to Springville, N. Y., in 1883, where he became proprietor of 
the Farmers' hotel. He was married Jan. 10, 1865, to Frances 
^^'ebber; they have five children. 

Seth W. Godard. 

Seth W. Godard, a son of Nathan Godard and Bertha Briggs 
Godard, was born in Massachusetts, in 18 14, and was brought 
to this town by his parents in 1816. In his boyhood days he 
worked at farming, and chopping and clearing land. He after- 
wards learned the shoemaker's trade and worked at that several 
years. He bought and sold cattle, and he also drove cattle to 
the eastern market. He also owned and bought and sold 
farms, and he was for a time in the dry goods trade. 

He studied law, and was several times elected to the ofificeof 
Justice of the Peace. He was elected to the office of Super- 
visor of Concord for ten terms, and in 1855 he was elected a 
member of the Legislature. He was a good financier and 
acquired a good property. He was liberal and public spirited, 
and was highly esteemed b\' all who knew him. He never 

married. 

James Ooodeiiiote. 

The Goodemotes came to Ashford, Cattaraugus count}-, from 
near Kinderhook, Columbia county, N. Y., where James' 
father, Philip Goodemote, was born in 1796. He came to Ash- 
ford about 1816, and bought land of the Holland Land com- 
pany near the Cattaraugus creek. He was then unmarried and 
was accompanied by his brother John. In the Fall of 1820, 
their father, John Goodemote, and their brothers, Baltus, Harry 
and William came, all settling in Ashford. 

18 



370 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Philip, father of James, a soldier of 1812, was married in 
1820 to Harriet Vosburg. They had four sons and four 
daughters: James, EHza, PhiHp Jr., Ann, John, Sally, David 
and Sophia. 

James Goodemote was born in Ashford in 1821 ; was mar- 
ried in 1846 to Maria Wilcox. They have two children living : 
Linda married Warner Bond, and James P. Mr. Goodemote 
lives on the first farm cleared in the Town of Ashford ; it was 
cleared about 181 5 by Nathan Sanders. Mrs. Goodemote's 
father owned the farm fifty years ago, and it has been in pos- 
session of the family since. 

C'orneliiis Ciraif. 

Cornelius Graff was born in Concord, in 1837, where he now 
resides. He enlisted August, 1861, in company F, One Hun- 
dred and Sixteenth New York volunteers; was with the regi- 
ment until he was mustered out at Washington, in December, 
1863. He took part in the storming of Port Hudson, the Red 
River expedition, etc. In August, 1863, while crossing the 
Shenandoah river, he was wounded. 

He was a son of Barney Graff, who was born in 1796, and 
came to Concord from Montgomery county, N. Y., about sixt}-- 
six years ago, and settled in the vicinity of East Concord where 
he lived until his death, in 1867. 

Aioliibald Griffith. 

Mr. Griffith came to this town from Rhode Island in 1S15, 
and located in the northeastern corner of lot thirty-fixe, and 
was the first settler on that lot. Although he was by occupa- 
tion a farmer he also taught school in early times and also sur- 
veyed some for the settlers. He was a successful business man 
and acquired quite a large property, and at one time held the 
ofifice of Justice of the Peace. In 1867, he made a liberal dona- 
tion to the Springville Academy, in consideration of \\'hich its 
name was changed to Griffith Institute. Mr. Griffith after- 
wards bequeathed over ten thousand dollars to the institution 
as a permanent fund, to be used mainly for the education of 
orphan and indigent children of the Town of Concord. 

He had no children, and died Jan. 8, i87i,aged seventy-nine 



I 



HKXJRAi'IFKAI. SKKTCIIKS. 37I 

years and four months. His wife Sarah died March 13, 1875. 
aged eiy^hty x-ears and seven months. 

I>avid E. Griffith. 

David E. Griffith's father, Hezekiah Griffith was born in 1790 
m Stephentown, Rensselaer county, N. V.. from which place he 
came to Concord about 1830, and settled at Waterville, on lot 
thirty-eight, where he lived until 1865. He died in West 
Seneca, in 1872. 

He was married in Stephentown to Millicent Beers ; she died 
in 1870, aged seventy-seven years. They had ten children viz • 
Jonathan, William, Esther, Lydia, Simeon, Robert, Electa 
David E. Peter and Alvira. 

Esther married Arnold Wilson, and died in Boston, Erie 
county. 

Lydia married Philander Flint ; died in 1843, aged twenty- 
four years. 

Simeon — dead. 

Electa died in 1849, aged twenty-one years. 
Alvira died in 1841, aged four years. 
The remaining f^ve are living at the present time. 
David E. Griffith was born Sept. 3. 1830 ; he has always b^en 
a resident of Concord. He has been twice married ; first in 
1857, to Sarah Ackerson, of Orleans county ; she died in 1869 
aged thirty-four years, leaving two daughters. Flora and Alice' 
I\Ir. Griffith was married a second time to Gelana Farman by 
Avnom he has si.x children-Fred, Nina, James, Hattie, Robin 
and Susie. 

Yates Gardinier. 
Vates Gardinier was born Dec. 12, 1839 ; his father's name is 
Abram Gardinier; his mother's maiden name was Anna Yates 
I hey came to Concord from Fultonville, Montgomery county' 
V \. His wife's maiden name was Selinda Smith, dau-hter 
of Calvin Smith; was married July 23. 1862. Their children'are 
Stephen A., born June 16, 1865. 
Hattie B., born Jan. 25, 1866. 
Leslie, born Oct. 26, 1868. 

Mr. Gardinier was called in the military service in the war of 
the rebellion, at the time Gen. R. E. Lee invaded Pennsyl- 
vania ; was on dut\- but a few weeks. 



372 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Albert S. Oaylord. 

Albert S. Gaylord, son of Horace and Rebecca Gaylord was 
born in Broome county, N. Y., Sept. i. 1839. When young his 
parents removed to Concord, where he has since resided, now 
owning and conducting the saw mill west of Springville, known 
as the Gaylord mill, and is also engaged in farming. He built 
the mill in 1867. At one time the mill was principally used for 
manufacturing cheese boxes ; a planing mill is now connected 
with it. Mr. Gaylord was married May 8. 1861, to Mary Jane 
Fuller, daughter of Ira H. Fuller. 

They have a family of five children : 

James G., born Sept. 8, 1862. 

Vinton D., born May I'j, 1864. 

Clinton D., born Oct. 7, 1869. 

Albert, born June 7, 1872. 

Mary Grace, born Oct. 21, 1878. 

Stephen B. Gaylord. 

Stephen B. Gaylord was born in Homer, Cortland county, N, 
Y., April II, 1807. ^t seventeen he was apprenticed to the 
cabinet makers' trade in his native town ; at the close of his 
term of serx'ice he set up in business for himself, which he fol- 
lowed until 1847, ^vhen he came to Springville and engaged in 
an extensive cabinet and undertaking business which he carried 
on until a few years since, when he relinquished it. He was 
married in 183010 Huldah Brewer. 

They have had six children : 

Henry, married to Mary Belden ; is a book-keeper in Chi- 
cago. 

Caroline, died in Cortland county, N. Y. 

Franklin S., married Louise Shankland ; is a farmer and fur- 
niture dealer at Brighton, Mich. 

Manlc)', married Maria liutterworth ; is a photograph artist 
at Medina, N. Y. 

Mary E., married liarry Townsend, a dentist at Pontiac, 111. 

John B., married to Ella Webber; is a commercial agent in 
Chicago. 

Allen Goorteiiiote. 

Allen Goodemote was born in .Xshford, Cattaraugus county, 



IJRXiRAl'llRAl, SKKIVHKS. 373 

Feb. 12, 1 83 1. His father's name was David Cioodemote, and 
his mother's maiden name was CaroHne V'osbur^h ; his Ljrand- 
father came from Cokimbia count}', N. Y.; his fatlier died in 
Ashford in 1S33 : his mother married J. G. Searle and went to 
Ilh'nois in 1844. In i850he went across the phiins to Califor- 
nia, and returned in 1862: went back in the I^^ill of 1863 and 
came home in the Fall of 1864; he built the first mill in Ne- 
vada for crushing the quartz of the Comstock lode ; he built a 
steamboat at LaCrosse, Wis., on the Mississippi, in 1865, and 
commanded it for a while, and then sold it and removed to 
this place. In the Fall of 1865 he came to Springville and 
bought the farm of W. P. Mills, lying south of the village and 
moved on to it in July, 1866: in June, 1879, '""-' ''^ent to the 
mining regions of Colorado ; returned in January, 1880. Was 
married June 10, 1866, to Miss Aurelia I. Golden, of Hancock 
county. 111. Their children are Jessie, Lysander C, Gracie and 
Cora (twins), and Greeh' R. 

Abram Garclinier and Family. 

Abram Gardinier was born in Fultonville, Montgomery 
county, N. Y., May 9th, i8oo. Piis father's name was Thomas 
Gardinier and his mother's maiden name was Mar\' Harden- 
burgh. In 1828 he was married to Anna Yates. Eight years 
later he came to Concord and after casting about for some time 
in search of a desirable location he purchased of Reuben Wright, 
240 acres of land situated one and one-half miles north-east of 
East Concord, on lot twenty-nine, township seven, range six. 
about fift)' acres of which had been partially cleared. He set 
vigoroush' to work, making impro\-ements, clearing land, etc. 
He built what was considered in those days, a model residence, 
in which he resides at the present time. Their children were : 

Thomas, born Oct. 11, 1830. 

Joseph Y., born Oct. 13, 1832. 

Mary E., born Sept. 5, 1834. 

Isaiah H., born May 3, 1837. 

Yates, born Dec. 12, 1839. 

Elias, born April 7, 1842. 

Robert, born Jul\- 31, 1844. 

John H., born Now 13, 1846, 



374 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Mrs. Anna Gardinier died Nov. 12, 1882, aged seventy-five 
years, five months and eight days. 

Isaiah Gardinier. 

Isaiah Gardinier was born in the town of Concord, May 3, 
1837. His boyhood days were spent in his native town, of 
Avhich he was a resident until the year 1861, when he went 
west and purchased land located near Blue Earth City, Fari- 
bault county, Minn. In the Fall of 1862, occurred the mem- 
orable Sioux outbreak, which was the signal for a general and 
immediate exodus of the settlers from the scene of danger. 
His description of the affair is very vivid. 

This outbreak was the most bloody of any that ever occurred 
in the United States. It is estimated that a thousand or more 
whites were slain. Ten days after the outbreak a company of 
Wisconsin soldiers were sent to the relief of the settlers and 
under their protection Mr. Gardinier, with others, returned to 
his and their farms. 

After securing his crops Mr. Gardinier came to this town, of 
which he has since been a permanent resident. He resides one 
mile north-east of P^ast Concord, on what is commonl}- known as 
the Freeman farm. He was married March 18, 1868, to Harriet 
E. Hemstreet. They have two children, Annie and Allie. 

Mr. Gardinier has been Assessor of Concord two terms. 

George W. Goodell. 

George W. Goodell was born Feb. 22, 1816, near Lake 
George, N. Y.; came to Concord in 1823. He ^\•as a farmer 
and was married Sept. 15, 1847, to Martha A. Luck, who was 
born in Buffalo, May 7, 1829. His father's name was Ezekiel 
Goodell ; his mother's maiden name was Lydia Carpenter. 
George W. Goodell died March 30, 1879. His father came to 
Concord in 1825, and lived there until the time of his death, 
which occurred August, 1857. Mrs. Martha A. Goodell, his 
wife, survives. Their children are : 

Charlie E., born April 11. 1852 ; died July 28, 1878. 

Ida L., born Oct. 25, 1855 ; died Nov. 5, 1862. 

Leighton M., born Sept. 20, 1857. 

Mary A., born April 18, 1859; died Oct. 24, 1862. 

Henry, born Sept. 5, 1864. 

John \V., born Feb. 5, 1865. 



HKXJRAI'MICAr, SKKTCIIES. 375 

Elijali (ii-jivi's. 

Elijah Graves was born in Hatfield, Mass., in the year 1814, 
and came to this state from Amherst, Hampshire count}-, 
Mass.. in the year 1841. His father's name was KHjah Graves ; 
his mother's maiden name was Eunice Smith. His occupation 
isfarmin<,^; was married in the year 1837, to Miss Sally A. 
Sanderson, who was born in Massachusetts. He removed to 
the town of Burton (now Allegany) Cattaraugus county, N. 
Y., forty-one years ago. It was then a wilderness. He says, 
" my farm was all woods. Cleared a small place and built a 
log-house. We had a hard time ; made shingles for a while 
and then built a saw-mill, and after running it for a while sold 
out and came to Erie county, where I now live." Family 
record : 

Jane E., born April 21, 1839, in Amherst, Mass. 

Matilda A., born Nov. 29, 1845, '» Allegany, N. Y.; married 
to Daniel Tarbox Oct. 16, 1866. 

Hattie A., born April 26, 1853, in Concord, N. Y.; married 
to Luzerne D. Hemstreet. 

Horace Gaylord. 

Horace Gaylord was born Nov. 15, 1847, i" the town of Con- 
cord ; he is a farmer. Was married April 3, 1869, to Candace 
M. King, who was born in the town of Collins, May 29, 1847. 
His father's name was Horace Gaylord, his mother's naiden 
name was Rebecca Powers, his grandfather's name was James 
Gaylord, his grandmother's maiden name was E.xperience Law- 
rence. He says: " My father, Horace Gaylord, came to Con- 
cord from Broome county, N. Y., June, 1839. '^Vas married in 
Broome county. May 20, 1829, to my mother, Rebecca Powers. 
They had ten children, seven of whom survive. Father died 
the 19th of August. 1880; m\- mother survives. My brother 
James enlisted in the hundreth New York regiment ; served 
three years ; was wounded at Fort Wagner, and also on Morris 
Island. Died April 11, 1870, of consumption, induced by his 
wounds and exposure in the service." 

George H., born Aug; 9, 1830; married Jane Woodbury, and 
resides in Missouri. 



3/6 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Joel, born April 17, 1833 ; married Eupheme Louk ; resides 
in Springville. 

Charles, born Feb. 9, 1836 and died in the state of Kansas. 

Albert S., born Sept. I, 1838 ; married Mary J. Fuller, 
and lives in Concord. 

Juliette, born Aug. 5, 1843 ! married Ansel Blasdell and 
resides in Concord. 

Mary E., born Aug. 27, 1850; died Nov. 15, 1865. 

Paoli M., born Jan. 12, 1854; married Church Harris, resides 
in Springville. 

Jennie, born Sept. 30, 1858; married Court Harris, and 
resides in Concord. 

Horace has one child, James A., born March 5, 1872. 
Beiijaniiii Garduer. 

Benjamin Gardner came here at a ver)- early day and built 
the first grist mill ever built in this town in 18 14. He lived 
on East Hill on the south side of the street where Orange 
Parmenter lived for a long time. He died about three years 
after he built the mill. 

John tirittitli. 

John GrifTith was born in Stephentown, Rensselaer county, 
N.- Y., in 1796. Came to Concord about 1833 and settled in 
Waterville, where he died about 1864. He was Justice of the 
Peace in Concord at one time. He was married in 1827 to 
Harriet Sanford. 

They had nine children : 

Catharine, married Henry Stanbro. 

Cyntha Eudora, born 1839, married Charles Cornell. 

Nancy Eveline, born 1831, married John F. Morse. 

^lartha Esther, born 1832, married Fayette Treat. 

Elnathan, born 1835, married Thankful Meyrs. 

Sarah Ellen, born 1838, married Charles Spencer. 

Caroline E., born 1841, married Corydon Steele. 

William Henr}\ born 1844, married Cora Tabor. 

Eugene, born 1850. 

Hoi'toii Urotlier.s. 

Truman and John Horton, brothers, came on foot from New- 
Lebanon, Columbia count)', N. Y.. where they were born, to- 



mOGRAI'UKAL SKETCHES. 37/ 

Concord in 1817. They located land on the northwest corner 
lot in Concord, which had been articled at the land office sev- 
eral years before by Jacob Horton, their father, who never 
resided here, but returned to Columbia count)'. The brothers, 
Truman and John, went back on foot, and on Feb. i, 1818. 
they set out for Concord with their families, with two ox teams. 
They were twenty-five days in making the journey, and it 
snowed every day but one, the snow having fallen to such a 
depth that the last stage of the journey was made with diffi- 
culty. When they reached their destination they found by 
measurement that the snow had accumulated on the fallen trees 
to the depth of four feet. The only settler in Concord in the 
neighborhood of their new home was Comfort Knapp, who 
had been there four or five years. Sylvester and William 
Knapp came the same year. William Owens lived just across 
the line in Boston. The first school was taught on Horton hill 
in 1823, in a log school house. The Hortons built log houses 
on their land and lived there four years when they moved 
across the town line into Boston. Truman died in Boston in 
1869. He married Betsy Carr, who now lives in Boston. 

Their children were : 

Thurston, Hiram, Eliza A., Sabra, Spencer, Thomas, Mar\ . 
Nathan and Asenath. 

John Horton died in Eden about 1873. He married Mercy 
Carr; by Whom he had children as follows : 

John Jr., William. Mercy Ann, Jacob, Henry, Ira, Edwin, 
Annis, Maria, Lorenzo, Lafayette. 

Mercy Ann married Almon Perkins. 

Annis married Sterling Titus. 

Maria died unmarried. 

By his second wife, Mrs. Rachel Lord, he had three sons : 

Orando, Elgera and John. Jr. 

William Horton, son of John Horton, was born March 18, 
1 82 1, in Concord, and is by occupation a farmer. He was mar- 
ried March 31. 1842. to Miss Amanda M. Chase, who was born 
in Girard. Erie county. Pa. In 1823, with his parents, he 
remo\ed to Boston and remained there twenty }'ears. He 
married and lived in Concord, and after eleven years moved to 
Boston and settled on the old homestead where he lived seven 



3/8 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

teen years. March \, 1869, removed to Concord and settled on 
the farm where he now resides. 

Family record : 

Frank W. Horton, born Dec. 16, 1843 '' niarried Jan. i, 1866; 
died Sept. 17, 1878. His wife's name was Sarah A. Fuller. 

Irving M. Horton, born July 16, 1850; married Feb. 19, 
1873 ; died Sept. 2, 1877. His wife's name was Amelia 
Underbill. 

Arthur B. Horton, born Oct. 19, 1859; died Oct. i, 1878. 

Mary A. Horton, born May 4th, 1850, in Columbia county, 
N. Y. ; married to L. G. Sweet, Dec. 24, 1874. Her husband 
died Jul)' 15, 1 88 1, aged thirty-five years. 

Thaddeiis Hickok. 

Thaddeus Hickok was born at Ph'mouth, Grafton county, N. 
H., in the year 1787, Oct. 14. He first visited the Holland 
Purchase in company with a brother-in-law, in 18 16. That 
Summer he worked in a brick yard in Buffalo. Being very 
robust and athletic, his work was to wait upon the brick mould- 
ers and carry the brick to the drying ground. In this he per- 
formed double the work of any other hand on the yard and 
received pay accordingly. After the season closed he again 
came to Concord and he and his brother-in-law bought out 
James Pike, who had located 200 acres on lot thirty. Soon 
after he and his brother-in-law visited New Hampshire, and Mr. 
Hickok was married early in the new year to Miss Rhoda Pike 
and their bridal tour was made to their claims on the Holland 
Purchase, both families took up their abode in the log cabin or 
house built by Pike, but they soon after divided their claim. 
Mr. Hickok taking 100 on the south side. A few apple trees 
grew on the claim, and apples were so scarce and rare that the 
two young housekeepers counted the apples and made an equal 
division. After building a house and doing other work, he sold 
this claim and bought another, on lot thirty-eight, of a man by 
the name of Putnam. After living here a few )'ears his wife 
w as taken sick and died. 

He had two children by this wife, viz. : 

Jacob P., and Rhoda Alvira. 



niO(;RAPHICAL SKETCHES. 3/9 

A few years after he was married to Miss Polly Spauld- 
ing, and he sold his farm to Ambrose Torrey. Again he 
bought, this time on lot thirteen, and for about fifteen years 
this place was his home. Then this place was sold to George 
A. Moore, and he invested again in the farm just west of Ver- 
non Cooper's. On this place the last days of the toil-worn 
pioneer were passed. He died on the 20th day of February, 
1875. His wife survived him only about a year. 

By the last marriage three children were born, namely: 

Emory P., Jennette and Charlotte. 

Joseph J. Hakes. 

Joseph J. Hakes was born in Washington county, N. Y., 
May 23, 1809. His father's name was Josiah Hakes; his 
mother's maiden name was Betsey Gennings ; they moved to 
Madison county, N. Y., in 1813, and in the Spring of 1824 Mr. 
Hakes came to this town, where he lived till the gold fever 
broke out in California, when he went there and remained four 
or five years ; he then came back and purchased a farm two 
miles south of Springville, upon which he resided until six 
years ago, when he moved into the village. Mr. Hakes was 
first married in 1834 to Olive Crosby, who died in 1838, leaving 
one son, Ira Hakes, who lives in Minnesota, where he was in 
the midst of the great Indian massacre there. He was married 
again to Mary Ann Barr, who died in 1877, leaving three chil- 
dren, as follows: 

Seraphine, married Benjamin Templeton ; resides in Cali- 
fornia. 

Manley, engaged in sheep raising in California. 

Orlando, married Ada Cutting; resides on the old home- 
stead. 

George Holland. 

George Holland was born in Massachusetts, Sept. 27, 1805. 
His mother's maiden name was Clarissa Ashley ; his father. 
Luther Holland, was a distinguished inventor; among the 
results of his inventive genius are : the first force pump ever 
brought into use and the horizontal movement in fire engines; 
he died in Springville about 1850, where he had resided a few 
years with his son. 



380 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

George Holland was married in 1827 to Mary Ann Gra\'es ; 
in 1835 they came to this town and Mr. Holland purchased a 
large farm near what are now the corporation limits on North 
Buffalo street. Springvnlle. In 1868 he sold his farm and 
moved to the village, where he has since resided. Mrs. Hol- 
land was born Feb. 5, 1804. They reared a famil)' of ten chil- 
dren, viz.: 

Nelson, born June 25. 1829: married Susan B. Clark ; resides 
in Buffalo. 

Elizabeth, born Feb. 5. 1831 ; died in 1850. 

Dwight G., born Dec. 3, 1832; married Anna M. Nash; 
resides at Saginaw. Mich. 

George H.. born Jan. 28. 1835 ; married Sarah Cochran : 
resides in Florida. 

Eliza H., born June 28. 1837; married Charles J. Shuttle- 
^vorth. 

Charles H., born April 2, 1839 ' married Sarah Turner: resides 
at Saginaw, Mich. 

Luther, born March 24. 1842 : married Nellie Blood; resides 
at Saginaw, Mich. 

Margaret E.. born Nov. 20. 1843: married Morris L. Hall. 

Mar}' Ann Ursula, born Sept. 20, 1845. 

Richard B.. born April 23. 1849. 

Cliarles House, M. D. 

Dr. House ^\'as born in Madison county. N. Y., Feb. 28, 1820. 
He came to this town when four years of age and attended 
school at Griffith Institute until the age of eighteen, when be 
went to Washington and engaged in teaching for two years ; 
he then commenced the stud}' of medicine with Dr. Barrett, of 
Forestville, N. Y., teaching at intervals to defray expenses. 
After completing his studies with Dr. Barrett he entered the 
Alban}' Medical College, and graduated in the Spring of 1846. 
He practiced medicine in Buffalo. Warsaw and Springville, 
where he was also engaged in the druggist business. He was 
married in 1851 to Esther Cornwall. He died in .Springville in 
1854. Fie left one son : 

C. Willis, born in 1852 in Springville; married in 1879 to 



BIOGRAlMIICAl, SKKTCIIKS. 



;8i 



Jennie Rosier; the)' now reside in Holland, X. \'.. where Mr. 
House practices dentistry. 

Philip Herbold. 

Philip Herbold was born in German}\ near h"rankfort-on-the- 
Main, April 21, 1829. June 12, 1849, l^*-' embarked at the city 
of Havre, in France, on a saiHng vessel, the (lovernor Marcey, 
and was fifty-six days crossing to New York ; he came to Buf- 
fahx went to Aurora and worked for Deacon Marrow six 
months and came to Spring\-ille Jul\- 10. 1850: he went to work 




"^V 





PHII.ir HKRBOLD. 



MRS. HERBOLD. 



for William Barclay at the cabinet business, having worked at 
that business in the old countr}- ; he worked for Barclay and 
Barcla}', Da}-ton & Rider eleven years, and finally bought out 
Dayton ; also the building the}' now occupy on Main street, of 
Hiram Barton, who had become the (nvner. In the year 1861 
he formed a partnership with James Prior, and since that time 
the firm has been engaged in the manufacture and sale of 
household furniture, and have also carried on the business of 
undertakers, and in the last few years have extended their busi- 
ness, and manufacture doors, sash, blinds, flooring, etc. In the 
Spring of 1881 he dissolved partnership with Mr. Prior, and 
since that time has carried on the same business as before in 



382 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

his own name, and also has been quite extensively engaged as 
a builder, having built as many as fifty buildings in Springvillc. 
In 1863 he went as a soldier to Harrisburg, Pa., his regiment of 
militia having been called out by a proclamation from Governor 
Seymour. Mr. Herbold says that when he came to this town 
there were only two Germans living here, George Kopp, now 
of Hamburg, and Andrew Burger now of Waverly. At that 
time there was one German in Ashford, and all those living in 
this town and Ashford have come in the last thirty years. Mr. 
Herbold was married in 185 1 to Miss Ann Mary Eggart, of 
Aurora, formerly of Baden, Germany. 

Their children were : 

Charles, M-ho died Nov. 29, 1861, aged 9 years and 2 months. 

Julius, who died Nov. 8, 1864, aged 11 years and 4 months. 

Cora, who died Nov. 8, 1866, aged 3 years and 4 months. 

Margaret M., now living with her parents in Springville. 

Clinton Haninioncl. 

Mr. Hammond's father, Joseph Hammond, came from near 
the Susquehanna river, in Northern Pennsylvania, to Concord 
in 1 8 18, and located near the "Big Spring," north of Spring- 
ville. He died in Kane county. 111. 

He married Sarah Middaugh. They had a family of eleven 
children, viz.: 

John, Samuel, Betsy, Joseph, Abram, Robert, Clinton, Wash- 
ington, Napoleon, Louise and Cordelia, four of whom are dead, 
viz.; 

John died in Kane county, 111. 

Robert died in Iowa. 

Betsy married first, Michael Oyrer ; second, John Morrer ; 
she died in Ashford, N. Y. 

Cordelia married William White and died in Collins, N. V. 

Clinton Hammond was born in Concord, April 2, 18 19. His 
occupation has been hotel-keeper, farmer and drover. He en- 
listed in August, 1862, as Second Lieutenant of company F, 
One Hundred and Sixteenth New York volunteers, and on 
account of ill-health, resigned the following December. He 
married Sophia Ballou. They have five children living and two 
dead, viz.: 



ii 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 383 

Ursula, born April 6, 1844; married Norman Crandcll. 
Josephine, born May 30. 1H46; married Henry Deet and 

since died. 

Eunice, born Nov. 2, 1848; married Frank Chase. 
P:ila, born Dec. 13, 18 15; married Charles Odell. 
Clinton, Jr., born July 1853 ; dead. 
William, born Aug. 5, 1856. 
Agnes, born Nov. i, 1858. 

Joel Holinan. 

Joel Ilolman came to Springville. N. Y., from Brandon, Ver- 
mont, in 1836. His father, Samuel Holman, a Revolutionary- 
soldier, came to Springville the same year, where he resided 
until his death, in 1840. 

Joel Holman, upon locating in Springville engaged in 
blacksmithing, which he followed successfully for about thirty- 
f^ve years. In 1869, he bought a half interest in the Pike, Wy- 
oming county, flouring mills, which he held about four years. 
He died in Springville, June 16, 1878. 

Mr. Holman was one of Springville's most substantial citizens. 
Although frequently offered office by his townsmen, he declined. 
Although not a member of the church, he contributed liber- 
ally both of money and efforts in building the First Presbyterian 
Church of Springville, and was one of the building committee. 
Mr. Holman was married in Vermont to Mrs. Amelia Farring. 
ton, by whom he had seven children— two died infants— as fol- 
lows : 

Frank, born in 1836; he was one of the well-known firm of 
Richmond & Holman, in Springville. He died in Springville, 

in 1865. 

Charles, born in 1839, died in Buffalo in 1S80. 

Charlotte, born in 1844, died in 1866. 

Ella, born in 1847, died 1872. 

Alfred L., born in 1849, ^^^^ always been a resident of Spring- 
ville, where, in 1877, he engaged in the boot and shoe trade, 
which he pursues up to this date. In 1879, he was elected Jus- 
tice of the Peace. Mr. Holman was married in 1874, to Addie 
J. Mayo. They have one son, Mark, born in 1876. 

Mrs. Amelia L. Holman, wife of Joel D. Holman, died May 
2"], 1880, aged seventy years. 



384 ' BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Peter Heiii. 

Peter Hein was born in Luxemburg, Germany, in the year 
1847. His father's name was Peter Hein, and his mother's 
maiden name was Barbara Wagner. His grandfather's name 
was John P. Hein, and his grandmother's name was letronell 
Gebell. He started to come to this country Feb, 14, 1868 ; 
came to England, and from England to New York, and from 
New York to Springville, where he arrived April 22, 1868. He 
is a merchant tailor, and his place of business is Nos. 127 and 
129 Main street, Springville. 

He was married Dec. 24, 1863, to Miss Elizabeth M. Kneip, 
from Luxemburg. Their children were : 

Elise M., Adolph N., who died April 12, 1878, aged two 
years, and Susan J. 

A. E. Hartley. 

A. E. Hadley was born in this town in June, 1845. In 184G, 
his parents moved to the Town of Alexander, Genesee county, 
where his boyhood days were passed. His father's name is 
Clark M. Hadley ; his mother's maiden name was Alvira Love- 
lace. In 1865, he was employed by J. Chafee & Son as clerk 
and salesman in their hardware store in Springville. At one 
time he, in company with B. J. Davis, ran the American hotel ^ 
and a "tage line from Springville to Holland. He was at one 
time conductor on the Springville & Sardinia R. R., and is at 
present engaged in the grocery business with his father in 
Springville. 

He was married in 1868 to Miss Ella Wilson. They have 
one child — Lottie. 

Morris L. Hall. 

Mr. Hall was born in Java, Wyoming county, N. Y., Oct. 
28, 1845. Became a clerk in the dry goods store of J. N. 
Richmond, in Springville, in May, 1861. and remained there 
five years, when he engaged in the drug trade in Springville. 
in company with Henr}- Eaton, The partnership lasted two 
years, after which ivii. Hall mtinued the business alone until 
January, 1874. Since which time he has been engaged in 
building and real estate business. In 1876 he built a fine 
structure on Main street, Springville, known as Hall's Opera 



RHKJRArillCAL SKKTCHFS. 385 

House, which was burned in 1879. I" 1880, in coinpan\- witli 
I. B. Childs, he re-modeled the old Universalist Church in 
Springville, into a commodious Opera House. 

Mr. Hall was married in 1868, to FAla. M. Holland, daughter 
of George Holland, of Springville. 

Joseph H. Holt. 

Mr. Holt's grandfather, Joseph Holt, and Judge Cooper, 
were the first settlers of Cooperstown, N. Y. His father, Ben- 
jamin C, was born Jan. 14, 1793, and was the second child born 
in Cooperstown. He married Betsy Graham and came to Con- 
cord in 1820. His occupation was that of a carpenter and 
joiner. 

Joseph H. Holt was born in Concord, May 22, 1833, where 
he has since resided. He is unmarried and lives with his cousin, 
Abbie Graham. When eleven years of age he met with a sad 
misfortune, by which he received injuries from which he never 
recovered. In attempting to catch a ride on a land-roller he 
fell off in front, the roller passing over him. 

.Fohu House. 

John House came to Townsend Hill in 1826, where he lived 
about twenty-eight years. He lived in Yorkshire a short time 
and then removed to Iowa, where he died. His children were : 

John G., who was a physician and practiced medicine in 
Springville and Buffalo, and also in Iowa, where he died. 

Milton is a farmer and lives near Independence, Iowa. 

Charles was a physician and practiced medicine in Spring- 
ville and Buffalo and died in Spring\'ille. 

Mrs. John House died Sept. 16, i860, aged seventy-eight 
years. 

K. 1j. Hoopes. 

E. L. Hoopes was born in 1847, in the town of Bethany, 
Genesee county, N. Y.; came to Springville in the year 1880; 
was married in the year 1868, to Mary E. Roberts, who was 
born in Trenton, Oneida county, N. \'. His father's name was 
Lewis Hoopes, who w as a natixe of Delaware ; his mother's 
maiden name was Clara S. Slay ton. His occupation is that of 
a miller. Served in the war of the rebellion in the Army of 



386 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

the Potomac, in Hancock's Corps. Went through the penin- 
sular campaign. Was wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor, 
Virginia, and was present at Lee's surrender. Family record : 

Charles L. Hoopes, born at Lima, Livingston county, N. Y., 
March 3, 1869. 

Florence E. Hoopes, born at Akron. Erie county, N. Y,, 
Nov. 19, 1877; died Nov. i, 1881. 

Deacon Riifus Iiigalls. 

Deacon Rufus Ingalls came from Worcester, Otsego county, 
N. Y., and settled in the valley of the Eighteen-mile creek, in 
the north part of Concord at a very early day. Here he after- 
wards lived and died. He had six children. 

Betsey married William Dye. 

Polly married Joel Gilbert, and died many years ago. 

Jared died when a young man. 

Sally married Martin Winslow. 

Henry married Mary Bisb\', and both died in Minnesota. 

Sibyl married Elam Booth, and died in this town in 1872. 

Ziinri liig-alLs. 

Zimri Ligalls was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1802. 
He came from there to this town in 1825, and purchased land 
of the Holland Company, two miles northwest of Springville, 
which he always owned and occupied up to his death in 1872. 
He was married to Patty Sprague, by whom he had four chil- 
dren, viz.: 

David S. 

Hannah. 

Ann married Edwin E. Smith ; resides at East Otto, N. Y. 

Helen married Rev. Smith Williams, first husband ; Joseph 
Chaddock, hardware merchant, at Allegan, Mich., second. 

Oavid S. Ingalls. 

D.i\'id S. Ingalls was born in this town in 1828. After reaching 
his majority, Mr. Ligalls went to Buffalo and engaged in mer- 
cantile pursuits, which he continued until 1862, when he 
retired from business. He now resides in Concord, and is at 



KIO(;RArHICAL SKETCHES. 38/ 

present a capitalist and real estate owner. He was never mar- 
ried. His mother, Mrs. Patty Ingalls, died Oct. 25, 1882, aged 
seventy-eight years, three months and seventeen days. 

Daniel Ingals. 

Daniel Ingals was a very early settler in this town. He was 
a physician and practiced here several years and then moved 
away. He lived in the first frame house ever built in this vil- 
lage, it stood just south of where the Presbyterian church now 
stands. He died a few years after he moved away and was 
brought back to Springville for burial. 

Dr. A'ariiey Ingals. 

Dr. Ingals was also a very early settler here. He practiced 
medicine here in early times and also kept a store where the 
Free Baptist church now stands, and acquired considerable 
property. He had three children : 

Eunice, married Edwin E. Williams. 

Selena, married C. C. Severance, and died June 7, 1856. 

Marinda, married Moses Lane and lives in Milwaukee. 

Dr. Ingals died Nov. 20, 1843 » aged forty-nine years. 

William H. Jackson, M. D. 

Dr. Jackson was born Aug. 26, 1841, in Clarkson, Monroe 
county, N. Y. His father, William Jackson, was born in Her- 
kimer count)', N. Y., in 18 10. His mother, Elizabeth Cornes, 
was born at Kent, England, in 1816. The Doctor graduated 
at the Albany State Normal school in 1861 ; at Eastman's Busi- 
ness college in 1862, and at the medical department of the Uni- 
versity of South Carolina, at Columbia in 1873, after which he 
taught in the university and practiced in the city until 1877 
when he came north. In 1878, he began the practice of medi- 
cine in Springville. He was married in 1863 to Mary Hyde, 
who died in 1870. 

Their children were: Mabel, Willis H., and Lucien C. 

Dr. Jackson was married again in 1877 to Frances Rockwell, 
they have one child. 



388 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

Hiram Jeftersoii. 

Hiram Jefferson was born June i8, 1807, in the town of 
DoLU^lass. Worcester county. Mass., and came to the town of 
Concord in the year 1825. his occupation is fanning. He was 
married in 1832 to Matilda Hinman, who was born in Manhus, 
Onondaga county. N Y., and died May 22, 1842. He was 
married to Deborah Grover, in the year 1844, '^^lio died April 
21, 1857. He was married to Clarinda Seward, March, 1858. 
who died in October, i^'6i. His fourth wife was Sarah Ann 
Bishop, 1863, who died Oct. 31, 1874. Mr. JefTerson came to 
Concord in 1825, and has lived within half a mile of where he 
now lives fifty-seven years. The entire country around was al- 
most an unbroken wilderness. He could hear the wolves howl 
ni^dits as they killed his neighbor's sheep, and bears and deer were 
plenty. They had no roads nor wagons, and they went to mill 
and to meetings with ox sleds, and often went to mill several 
miles carrying the grist on their backs. 

Mary, born Feb. 1 1, 1834 ; married to Abel Sweet. 

Willis, born Feb. 7, 1838; married to Lydia Ann Hulburt. 

Welcome, born July 4, 1846; died Sept. 8, 1862. 

Sylvia, and Matilda, twins, born Feb. 27, 1850. Sylvia died 
Aug. 26, 1862; Matilda died Sept. 18, 1862. 

Hiram, born July 9, 1852 ; died Sept. 18, 1862. 

Henry, born July 27, 1859. 

John Jack.soii's Stateiueiit. 

The first grist mill in Concord was built b)' Benjamin 
Gardner, in the year 1814 He died three or four years 
afterwards. 

The first saw mill was built by Rufus Eaton. 

The first distillery was built by Frederick Richmond, near 
where Franklin street crosses Spring Brook. 

The first merchants were Stanard & Jenks, their first store, a 
hewed log building, stood north of the Opera House. 

The first tannery, built by Jacob Rushm, a frame building] 
stood where Hugh McAleese hou.se and shop is. 

First bkicksmith, Elijah Perigo, 1814. log building where 
Orville Smith's house is. 

First shoemaker, Ira Eddy. He kept shop part of the time, 



IJlOCKArinCAI. SKK'RHKS. 389 

part of the time took his kit and went amonc;' the farmers and 
did their work. 

WiUiam Earle brought the mail to SprinL;\ille from Buffalo 
before there was a postof^ce, and distributed it to whom it 
belonged. 

Rufus C. Eaton was the first Postmaster. 

William and George Shultus built the second saw mill in 
Springv^lle on the site where the Bloomfield mill stands. 

Mrs. George Shultus was the first Sabbath School teacher in 
Springville. 

Wales Emmons was the first cabinet maker; his shoj) stood 
where the Baptist church now stands. 

The first woolen factory was erected by Samuel Bradley. 
The first tailor's name was Thompson. 

Thomas T. Sherwood was the first lawj'er; came about 1823 
or 1824. 

David Lero)' and David Bensley were the first fiddlers that 
played at " Fiddler's Green." 

Ichabod Brown had the first cooper shop. 
Abel Holman was the first axe-maker. 

The first local preacher's name was Ingalls, a Presbyterian. 
William Shultus, Peter Sampson and Urial Torry ran tiie 
first stage to Buffalo ; coach and four horses. 

P"rederick Crary was the first showman ; men, women and 
children came on foot for miles around to see his elephant 
came, 1823. 

The first hatter's namew^as Herrick ; he lix'ed and kept shop 
about where the post office is. 

The first harness-maker's name was Tibbitts; shop stood 
north of the park. 

The first trip-hammer sho]), erected b\' David Kened)-, stood 
opposite Ransom's Hill. 

The first dentist's name \\as Gates. 
Joel White was the first wagon-maker. 
Samuel Lake the first insurance agent. 
. A. G. Elliott the first cattle droxer. 
Francis White built the first cider-mill. 

Robert Augur manufactured linseed oil ; commenced about 
1 82 I or 1822. Also owned and run a saw -mill. 



I!I()(;kai'Iikal skktchks. 391 

Stary King's Statement. 

My father and his family came from Rhode Island to this 
town in the fall of 18 14. He came through with two span of 
horses and located on the Steele place on lot twenty-six, town- 
ship se\en, range six, on the east side of the road. (Jur shanty 
stood back b)' the orchard ; it was built without boards and 
without nails ; there were no glass windows and no door ; the 
roof was of split logs hollowed out. The next year we 
built a log-house on the west side of the road. At that time 
there were no settlers in the north-east part of this town north 
of us. There ^\■as no road cut out or laid out on Vaughan 
street and the Genesee road was not cut out. William Wright 
hved on the Bloodgood place and Hale Matthewson had put up 
a log-house on the Horton place. Douglas lived on the corner 
and old Mr. Matthewson lived on the Byron Wells place. 
James Henman lived where Harrison Pingry does and Deacon 
Jennings lived on the William McMillan place. In Springville 
David Stickney kept taxern in a small log-house near where the 
Opera House stands now. Benjamin Gordon's grist-mill was 
built before w^e came. Besides Stickney and Gardner there 
were the Eaton family. Stanard and Jenks, David Leroy, Dr. 
Daniel Ingals, Samuel Cochran, Joseph Yaw, General Knox, 
and Samuel Burgess. Deacon Russell lived a mile out Frank- 
lin street. John Albro and (liles Churchill li\ed three-fourths of 
a mile north. Father lived two years on the Steele place and 
then sold out to Nathan Godard. We sold because our crops 
were destroyed b}- the frosts. Wc then located on the Cattar- 
augus side of the creek by the Hake's bridge ; remained there 
four years and then bought Captain Wells' place on Vaughan 
street. 

After two years father sold out on Vaughan street and located 
on the south-east part of lot fifty-one, since known as a part of 
the Stanbro farm. Afterwards removed to lot forty-four on 
Sharp street, and then to lot sixt}'-one, on the Boston road, 
where hedied. 

When we lived on the Steele place the cold seasons occurred 
and our crops were destroyed b\- the frosts and there was little 
or no grain to be bought here, and father went out to Geneseo 
and paid five dollars for two bushels of corn and brought it 



392 bi()(;raphical sketches. 

home from there on horse-back. The corn was of poor quaHty 
but, under the circumstances, it rehshed well and helped us to 
live throu<^-h. 

A PANTHER STORY. 

Soon after we came to the Steele place a school was started 
down at the Liberty-pole corners and I and brother Windsor 
used to go down through the woods to school. The road was 
not cut out and it was woods all the way and only a path to 
follow. We were about seven and nine years old at the time. 
One morning we had got down about where Mr. Weber now 
lives, when a panther rushed across the path ahead of us, going 
from the east t*^ the west with a young deer in its mouth and 
the old doe was following behind and bleating in great distress. 
The panthc undoubtedly had young ones down by Spring 
brook and Wd.. leading the old deer to her destruction. We 
told our folks what we had seen when we went home and they 
kept us out of school for some time, but finally allowed us to 
go again by taking our large dog along for a protector. 

BEAR PENS. 

Bears were plenty and they often foraged on the pig-pens of 
the settlers. Various means were used to trap them, but one 
of the most simple ways adopted was to build a pen out of 
poles some four feet wide, eight feet long and high enough to 
allow a bear to stand. Now the bait, most generally a quarter 
of a deer, was affixed in one end of the pen and ingress for the 
game was had at the other, that was closed or shut by a falling 
door. The bait was fastened to a spindle that communicated 
with the door by means of a cord, and the moment the bear or 
other game touched the bait it sprung the trap or door and 
bruin was caged. 

Father secured an old bear and her two cubs in one of these 
pens near East Concord. The trap had been set for several 
days, and it was my brother Windsor's duty to guard it ; for a 
time he was very faithful to his trust, but after awhile it became 
an old stor)% and the trap was not looked to for several days. 
It coming to father's mind one morning, he spoke to Windsor, 
saying, "You are not very anxious about your trap, but I guess 



BIOCKAl'IIICAI, SKKTCIIKS. 393 

you had better visit it this niorniiiL;"." Brother started off very 
reluctantl)-, but it was not h)n<4- before he came running back, 
his hair all on end and so excited that he could hardly speak. 
Why the woods or the trap was full of bears, he did not hardly 
know which. Father. Windsor, myself and the old dog has- 
tened back and sure enoui;h. we found an old bear and one cub 
in the pen, and another cub on the outside, l^^ather soon dis- 
patched, by shooting, the two in the pen and the other, which 
l)ro\'ed so tractable that we concluded to spare its life, to meet 
in turn an ignominious end. l^^ither took the cub down to 
Dave Stickney's log-tavern, where it became a great favorite. 
Upon a certain occasion, when a lot of boon companions were 
having a conxixial time, the tempter's cup was placed to bruin's 
mouth (rum and molasses). He tasted, liked and whined for 
more, and it was given. The night waned and the fun grew 
hilarious, but alas for poor bruin. When the morning dawned 
he was not only dead drunk, but he was dead as a door nail. 
When we lived on the same place an old bear came one night 
imd killed a hog and ate it nearh" half up. The next day 
father built a " dead fall " and baited it with the remains of the 
hog, and the second night after he caught the old bear. 

Father owned a large bull-dog that weighed some two hun- 
dred pounds. He came home one night covered with blood 
and terribl)' chewed up. We took his trail and followed him 
back to the carcass of a horse that lay near the run at the top 
of the Richmond hill. Here we found evidence of a deadl}' 
struggle for he had encountered wol\-es and two of these la\' 
dead upon the field. 

Windsor and I often \isited the " deer licks" upon one occa- 
sion we started out and became separated. I heard him shoot 
and upon my going to him, I found he had killed a large bear. 

Brother James also hunted a great deal here and in Pennsjd- 
\;uiia. Upon one occasion, and while hunting in the above 
named State, he had the good luck to kill three elk, and this 
being done just as fast as he ccnild charge his rifle. He had 
seated himself near a " lick " and their visiting the place sealed 
their doom. 



394 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Family record of Nathan King : 

Nathan King died Feb. 20, 1871, aged ninety-one years and 
five months. 

Polly, his wife died March 20, 1867, aged eighty-five years. 

Their children were : 

James, who married Lucy Brooks and died in Golden in 1852. 

Alva married Hannah Carney and died in Iowa in 1854. 

Windsor married Nancy Carney and lives in Springville. 

Stary married Sylvia Briggs and lives in Springville. 

Martha married Pliny Wheeler and lives in Little Valley. 

Mary married Samuel Vance. 

Freelove married J. H. Ashman and died (3ct. 10, 1S40. 

Nathan died in 1847. 

Susan married Archibald Preston and died July 15, 1850.. 

Enoch died in Concord in 1878. 

Joshua lives in Little Valley. 

Family record of Stary King : 

Stary King, born F"eb. 21. 1808. 

Sylvia Briggs King, born Aug. 5, 181 1. 

Their children were : 

Allen King, born April 4, 1834; died Sept. i, 1854, aged 
twenty years and five months. 

Diantha, born June 18, 1838; married Aaron Ostrander and 
lives in East Concord. 

Diana, born Aug. 29, 1844. 

Calvin Killom's Stateineut. 

My father's name was George Killom. He came to this town 
from New Hampshire in 1809. built a house, slashed four acres 
of timber, burnt the brush and raised some corn. The land 
he located was on lot twenty-nine, township ssven, range seven, 
where Hiram Curran now lives. My grandfather, Cal\-in Stev- 
ens, moved our famih' here in 1810. He came through with a 
span of horses in twenty-two days. He returned to New 
Hampshire that Fall. I was about six years old when we came 
to this town. My father served as a soldier on the Niagara 
frontier in the war of 18 12. The first school I attended here 
was kept in a house owned by Calvin Doolittle, half a mile 
north of Boston Corners, where the road turns west and crosses 
the creek. Then the school was kept at the Corners a while. 



HIOCKAIMIICAI. ski: ICIIKS. 395 

till the school house was built up at Cobble hill. The first 
school teacher I remember was Rider Cyrus Andrew ; after him 
Robert Pike taught, also Joshua Ai^ard, Archibald Griffith, 
Elder Clark Carr, Sophia Howard and a Mr. Conklin. Among 
the scholars I remember Eri Beebe, Mary Torry, Calvin Cary, 
Truman Cary, Richard Cary, afterward the preacher. Miss Rice, 
who married Richard Car\-, \\ R. Cary, Charles Johnson, Elihu 
Johnson, Alva Bump, Anna Chafee, Lyman Algar, Fanny 
Algar, who married Truman Cary, Margaret Algar, Morris Fos- 
dick, John ]*\:)sdick, Alice Fosdick, Eben Drake, Cordelia 
Drake, Salena Swain, Mary Yaw, Patt)' Swain, afterwards mar- 
ried Alanson Palmer, Jonathan Swain, Abagail Smith married 
Benjamin Dole, Almira Smith married Dr. Bosworth. Mary 
Clark married Otis Horton, Hannah Killom married J. L. Haw- 
ley, Clark H. Carr, Louisa Carr married Willard Algar, Laura 
Carr married Ambrose Torry, Delia Torry and Ethan Howard. 
We moved over to Waterville about 1822 and located on 
lot thirt}--eight, township seven, range six, on what has since 
been known as the Whelock place. Our house was on a small 
flat on the north part of the farm. There were no settlers in 
the northeast part of the town when we came ; there was no 
road along the creek nor in an\- other direction. Isaac Beaver 
came two years after and located on Ransford Foot's flats. 
Robert PTiut came in 1826 and settled on the Treat place. 
Homer Barnes and his father came about 1830 and built a saw- 
mill. Abner Wilson came, and he and Barnes built a grist 
mill. Hezekiah Griffith came about 1832; John Griffith and 
Lewis Whelock about '^^■. Joseph Lewis about '34: John 
Treat in 1838. The first school-house was built in about 1833 
or 1834. Paris A. Sprague came in '29 or '30, Bela Graves in 
■32. Homer Barnes went to Wisconsin, his father died here ; 
Abner Wilson, Paris A. Sprague and John (iriffith tlied here ; 
Jared Pratt worked for Aaron Cole making reeds; he was 
coming over to our house one day and came across two bears 
just west of where John Morse now lives ; he shot one and the 
dog treed the other; he came to our house and we went back 
and shot the other. 

One time the wolves killed some sheep on the hill northwest 
of John Morse's, and Pratt heard them howl and went up there 



396 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

with his dogs and gun and I went with him ; the dogs went 
after the wolves, and the wolves turned upon the dogs and chased 
them close to Pratt, who had his gun in his hands, but was so 
excited that he did not attempt to shoot, but called to me to 
bring him the axe. 

One time we built a bear pen and caught two large cubs 
alive ; the old bear did not go in, but she gnawed the poles 
partly off of which the pen was made, trying to release her 
cubs ; the old bear got away but the cubs were killed. One 
time we tracked two large bears four miles northeast, but failed 
to catch them. 

David Kiiigsley. 

David Kingsley was born in Massachusetts, in 1822. He 
came to this country in 1834, with his parents; he came on the 
Erie canal and was eleven days coming through ; he has lived 
in this vicinity since that time, and has lived in Springville for 
the last twenty-four years. 

In the Spring of 1845, he was married to Rebecca Cooper. 
Their children are Marshall Kingsley and David Kingsley. 

David Kingsley's father's name was James, and his mother's 
maiden name was Esther Canady. When they came to this 
town they purchased and occupied for several years the Goode- 
mote farm on Cattaraugus creek. In 1856, he soid it to Wil- 
liam Ballou. In 1854, he built the brick house on the Rich- 
mond place in the east part of the village. James Kingsley 
died in 1868, and his wife died in 1853. 

Their children were David and Nathaniel. 

A BEAR STORY. 

Not long after David Shultus had located on the Cattaraugus 
in this town he had been up to Springville and was returning 
home with several pieces of meat in a basket. He met a bear, 
which stood up to greet him ; he threw a piece of meat towards 
it and started on a run. After awhile he looked back and saw 
the bear coming after him ; he dropped another piece of meat 
and kept on. He continued to do so till he got home, when he 
had but one piece of meat left. He lost his meat but " saved 
his bacon." 



1!I(J(;rai'III(AI. skktciiks. 397 

Jacol) Kern. 

Jacob Kern was born Oct. 12, 1844, in the Town of Boston ; 
came to Concord in 1868; is a farmer; was married Sept. 8, 
1868, to Zelina M. Tatu, who was born in Concord Nov. 30, 
1848. His father's name was Peter Kern ; his mother's maiden 
name was Harbary Ineer. 

Jacob Kern enHsted in company F, One Hundred and Six- 
teenth rei^iment — Capt., Dr. U. C. Lynde, Dr. Geor<;e G. Stan- 
bro, First Lieutenant. Served three years, and until discharged. 
Was at the battle near Port Hudson ; made a chart^e on Port 
Hudson May 27, 1863; was at the Battle of Donaldsonville, 
Battle of Pleasant Hill, Battle of Winchester and Cedar Creek. 

He has five children : 

Emma L., born Sept. 20, 1870. 

John W., born Feb. 4, 1873. 

Mary E., born June 8, 1876. 

Eugene L., born Jan. 15, 1878 ; died March 29, 1878. 

Edward C, born May 28, 1881. 

George Kiiiginau. 

George Kingman came here with his parents in 1840, and 
was married to Aurora A. Nelson, in 1852. The first two years 
after his marriage he lived on the Richmond farm in Sardinia. 
i^Vom here he moved to Ashford, Cattaraugus county, where 
he lived a few years; he then moved to Springville, where he 
now resides. 

They have one child, George. Jr., who lives with his parents 
in Springville. 

" Cieii" I.saae Knox. 

Isaac Knox came to this town in 1810. and bought 150 acres 
of land of the Holland Land Company, on the north part of 
lot eight, township six, range six, on which he settled ; here he 
resided about twenty x'ears. This he then sold and bought 
land on lot one, township seven, range seven, where he lived 
several years ; from here he removed to the north part of lot 
fift\--two, township seven, range six, where he died about 1856. 

He was a nephew of Gen. Henr)' Knox, of revolutionary 
fame, afterwards Secretary of War under Washington. Lsaac 
Knox served as a soldier under General Anthony W'ayne, in 



398 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

his campaign against the Indians on the Maumee river, in 
1794; he also served on the Niagara frontier during the War 
of 1812-15. He was a brave, patriotic soldier, and public- 
spirited citizen. 

His son and daughter are both dead. There are some grand- 
children living. 

Charles H. King. 

Charles H. King was born in Concord Aug. 27, 1845. His 
father's name was Windsor King ; his mother's maiden name 
was Nancy Carney Spencer ; his occupation is farming ; vv^as 
married Sept. 19, 1875, to Althea Spencer; has two children: 

Madge, born June 4, 1873. 

Thomas, born July 29, 1876. 

His father came to Concord with grandfather's family, from 
the town of Foster, Providence count)', R. I., in the Fall of 
I S 1 4. 

William Kellogg'. 

William Kellogg was born in Massachusetts Sept. 4, 1800; 
his father's name was Benjamin Kellogg, and his mother's 
maiden name was Amelia Trask ; his grandfather's name was 
Samuel Kellogg; his grandmother's maiden name was Lucy 
Snow. William Kellogg was married Feb. 23, 1826, to Rebecca 
Brewster, in the Town of Sodus, Wayne county, N. Y., and 
removed to Ashford, Cattaraugus county, Feb. 13, 1827, and 
settled on lot fifty-two, at that time all wilderness, and from 
that time to the present he has lived in Ashford and Concord, 
except about four years which he passed on Grand Island 
engaged in getting out ship timber. 

His children were : 

Polly, born Oct. 2, 1827 ; married Samuel Holman, who died 
in the year 1848 in Erie county ; she married C. Fuller in 1850 
and has since lived in Machias, Cattaraugus count}'. 

Belinda, born April 30, 1832 ; married J. Wilcox and li\es 
in Kansas. 

Charles B., born Sept. 30, 1837; died at Petersburg, Va., in 
the hospital in 1865, death being caused by a shell wound. 



Hio(;KArnuAL sketches. 399- 

II. (;. l.olaiHl. 

H. (i. Lcland was born Aug. ]8, 1847, at Hinsdale, Cattarau- 
gus county, N. Y.; came to Springville in March, 1866; occu- 
pation a banker; was married Oct. 3, 1 871, to Bianca Pierce, 
eldest daughter of Kmmons S. Pierce, and has two children liv- 
ing, Claude (i. and Guy H. 

He engaged first in the banking business at Cuba, N. Y., in 
the Cuba National bank ; organized the Springville bank ( Leland, 
Chamberlain & Co., bankers,) May 12, 1866, which was suc- 
ceeded, in 1877, by Leland & Co., banker, and, April 2, 1883, 
by The First National Rank, Mr. Leland being Vice-President, 
and one of its active managers. He has interested himself in 
all public enterprises for the benefit of Springville, contributing 
of his time and means liberally, having aided materially in giv- 
ing Springville its telegraph lines and railroads. His father, 
William O. Leland, President of the First National bank, 
resides at Hinsdale, N. Y., and has been engaged in the mer- 
cantile business nearly forty years. His grandfather came from 
Vermont in an early day, and settled at Leland's Corners, in 
the Town of East Otto. His uncles and aunts, Cephas R 
Marshall, Sarah Ann and Marian Leland, all attended the 
Springville Academy many years ago. 

Cephas R. became a lawyer and died at Milwaukee, Wis. 

Marshall became a Baptist clerg}^man and died at Rochester, 
Minn. 

Elmer O. Iceland. 

Mr. Leland was born in Hinsdale, Cattaraugus count)-, N. Y., 
Oct. 7, 1849; attended school at Griffith Institute during the 
years 1866 and '67; was married June 7, 1876, to Augusta A. 
Potter. Have two children living : 

Lloyd, born May 17, 1880. 

F'lorence, born May 5, 1883. 

Mr. Leland has been connected with the Si)ring\'ille bank for 
the last thirteen years; is now cashier of First National bank 
of Springville. He was the chief projector of the Western New 
York Manufacturing and Preserving company, organized in 
1879, ^""^ 1^^^ been its treasurer ever since. 

Mr. Leland takes an active part in Christian and benevolent 



400 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

work. Dating- from the present (1883), l"*^ ^^^^ been a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church in Springville fifteen years, 
and for three years superintendent of its Sabbath School. In 
1880, he was President of the Young People's Christian Asso- 
ciation of Springville. 

Jacob Lai))p»i<m* 

Jacob Lampman was born in the Town of Ashford, Cattarau- 
gus county, N. Y., Sept 25, 1827, and came to Concord in the 
year 1844. His father's name was John Lampman; his 
mother's maiden name was John Hufstader, daughter of Jacob 
Hufstader, of Ashford. He was married June 30, 1848, to 
Julia A. Nichols, daughter of Isaac Nichols, who came to Con- 
cord at an early day, and settled at Nichols' Corners in West 
Concord, where he continued to reside until the time of his 
death, which occurred Dec. 8, 1864. 

They have no children. 

U. C. Lyiide, M. 1>. 

Dr. Lynde was born in a log house on Townsend Hill, March 
26, 1834. At the age of se\'en, he mo\'ed with his parents to 
the northwest corner of the Town of Concord ; here he 
attended school in a log school-house, and was taught the rudi- 
ments of reading by Orville S. Canfield. His teachers here 
were John Lynde, Gilbert Sweet, Almond Nichols and Alonzo 
Pierce. He attended school here until he was fourteen ; about 
this time, his parents moved to Townsend Hill, and he left 
home and worked for a time in a pail factory at Niagara Falls. 
Returning in the Fall, he attended school taught by Jonathan 
Briggs, at what is known as the " Block School-house " in Con- 
cord. Mr. Briggs was a student himself and a thorough 
teacher, and took a warm interest in young Lynde's success. 
At the age of sixteen, he tauglit at Machias, his first school ; 
after the close of his school, he attended the Yorkshire Institute. 
After leaving the Institute, he taught his second school at the 
forks of the Cattaraugus ; he then taught at Paris, Kentucky; 
returning, he taught in the institute wliere he had before 
attended as a pupil. 

While engaged as a teacher, and before he was twenty-one. 



hi()(;rai'iikal SKErciiHS. 401 

he had read law one year and medicine one. h\)r a time lie 
ijaxe up the study of both, but resumed the study of medicine 
at the suggestion of Dr. (jroodyear, of Holland, now of Buffalo. 
He attended lectures at the Geneva Medical College, and 
clinical lectures in New York, where his time was mostly 
spent at the hospital. After this he practiced medicine a 
while at Glenwood, Erie county, where he again attended 
lectures at the Buffalo University, graduating in 1859, ^^ 
soon after located in Springville, N. Y., where he practiced 
until the fall of 1862, when he recruited Co. F., Ii6th Regiment 
N.Y. State Volunteers ; was commissioned first assistant Sur- 
geon. In the Fall of 1863 his resignation was accepted and he 
again commenced the practice of medicine in Springville, The 
two following winters he spent at the Jefferson Medical College, 
graduating in the Spring of 1865. He continued his practice 
in Springville until the Fall of 1872, when he moved to Buf- 
falo, where he has practiced ever since, making surgery a spe- 
cialty. For some time he has had onejof the largest practices 
of any surgeon in Western New York. 

Alausou Lovelace 

Came to this town about 18 16. He was, by occupation, a 
farmer; he married Patience Chafee in 1819. He died in 
April, 1878, aged eighty-four years. Patience Lovelace died in 
1872, aged seventy-six years. Their children were : 

Alonzo L., not known whether living or dead ; was a sailor. 

Daniel M., died in Michigan, in 1863. 

Alvira, born in 1824; married Clark M. Hadley, Sept. 5, 
1844, and lives in Springx'ille. 

Louisa M., married Allen Mott ; died in 1854, in .Vlexander. 

Mary E., married Luther Chaddock : died in 1854, in Alex- 
ander. 

Samuel L,ake, Esq. 

Samuel Lake was born in Vermont, in the year 1790, but 
during the period of his boyhood his parents resided in Wash- 
ington county, this state. His education was such as the com- 
mon schools ot those days afforded, aided afterwards, however, 
b\' acute powers of observation and a taste for reading. When 

just entering upon manhood he came west to Batavia, Genesee 
19 



402 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

county, where he taught school. When the last war with Kng- 
land broke out he entered the army and participated in the 
battle of Lundy's Lane and was at the memorable contest at 
Fort Erie. 

After the \\ar he was employed several years in the County 
Clerk's office at Batavia, and in the office of the Holland Land 
company. On the 6th of January, 1821, he married Helen 
Phelps of Batavia, who still survives her partner of over sixty 
years. About that time Mr. Lake sold off his property around 
Batavia and moved to Springville, where nearly thirty years of 
his life were passed. He built a small store where the Ameri- 
can Hotel now stands, about 1 821, and about two years after 
built the store now owned and occupied by R. W. Tanner. 
He built the upright part of the Dr. Emmons' house, on Main 
street, and also built the house where Sanford Mayo lives. He 
had a general store and ashery and manufactured pot and pearl 
ashes. 

About this time he built the store now occupied by 3ates & 
White, in Collins' Center, and stocked it with general mer- 
chandise and gave the management of it to his clerk, H. H. 
Matteson. But a time of adversity came. A period of finan- 
cial depression found Mr. Lake with a considerable stock of the 
articles of his manufacture on hand : values depreciated and he 
failed. Mr. Lake removed to Buffalo in 1849, where he began 
business as a pension agent, which business he followed until 
his death, and during that time acquired a comfortable com- 
petency. He was a public spirited man and took a very active 
part in raising the means to build the Springville Academy, and 
was always ready to assist in any work for the public good. 
Mr, Lake died in Buffalo Nov. 26, 1882, aged ninety-three years. 

Orriu Loveridge. 

Orrin Loveridge came to Townsend hill at an early day and 
settled on lot eleven, township seven, range seven, and from there 
he afterward removed to lot two, township seven, range seven, 
where he died Jan. 27, 1845, aged fifty-two years and five 
months. His wife died April 2, 1857, aged sixty years and six 
months. 



BIOGRAnilCAL SKETCHES. 403 

They had three children : 

Ames died April 16, 1 839, aged fifteen years and eight months. 

Charles M. attended the Normal school at Albany and 
taught school and died Aug. 13, 1849, aged twenty-three years 
and two months. 

Harriet M. married Harlow C. Perham. They had two chil- 
dren. She died Feb. 2, 1854, aged twent)'-three years. 

Amasa Loveridge. 

Amasa Loveridge settled on Townsend hill at an early day. 
He was killed in 1855 by a saw-log rolling over him. 
He had seven children : 
Austin, who married and died in Buffalo. 
Edwin D. is married and lives in Buffalo. 
Luana married Ward Fay and died in Buffalo. 
Gary married Lucy Hall and died in Pennsylvania. 
Chester was married and died in Minnesota. 
Everett and Olney are living in Ohio. 

Lorenzo 1). Lucas. 

Lorenzo D. Lucas was born in the town of Cato, Cayuga 
county, in the year 1S12. His father's name was William and 
his mother's maiden name was Fanny Graves. His grand- 
father Daniel Lucas, was a soldier in the Revolution and was 
in the battles of Bunker Hill and Saratoga. He drew a sol- 
dier's right for land of the Government, located it in Cayuga 
county and settled on the same. His father was a physician 
and settled in the town of Clarence, afterward Newstead, in 
1816, and here Lorenzo spent his boyhood days and received 
his education. When he lived in Clarence he lived in the same 
neighborhood and was acquainted with Asa Ransom, Sr., 
Archibald S. Clark, Peter Vandeventer, Col. James Cronk, Elias 
Osburn, Stephen Osburn and Otis R. Hopkins, who were 
among the most prominent men of the county at that time, 
and he went to school with their children. Mr. Lucas remem- 
bers seeing the old Revolutionary pensioners, when they came 
to Mr. Clark's store to receive their pensions, which he obtained 
for them, sitting in the store each with a small cup of spirits 



404 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

before him, the preacher among the rest. He came to Sar- 
dinia in 1835, and was married in 1837 to Miss Mary Ann 
Sherman, who died in 1842. 

Her children were: 

Theodore S., born March 14, 1838, went to Ohio and mar- 
ried there. He entered the army, but was discharged a short 
time afterward on account of sickness and died in 1864. 

Ehzabeth F., born Nov. 3, 1839, ^'""^ ^^i^^ Dec. 23, 1858. 

Mary L., born May 30, 1842, and was married in 1862 to 
John C. Bump and hves in Buffalo. 

His second wife was Poll)' Wilcox, who died July 14, 1853. 

Her children were : 

Sarah A., born Aug. 20, ic^5 ; married John M. Clo\er and 
died in Minnesota April 2, 1867. 

Charles W., born June 21, 1851, and died Oct. 25, 1863. 

Alice B., born May 6, 1853, and married Frank H. Cratcy 
and lives in Minnesota. 

His present wife's maiden name was Caroline Stone. She 
has had one child, Delila M., born July 19, 1864; married 
Charles F. Timms and died Oct. 4, 1882. Mrs. Lucas is a 
niece of Christopher Stone the first settler in Concord. 

William McMilleu's Statement. 

When we came to Springville in 1823, the families living 
here according to my recollection were, Rufus C. Eaton, lived 
near where Peter Weismantle does, there was another house 
north of the Opera House. Wales Emmons and O. D. Tibbits, 
lived north of the park ; Widow Tanner lived where Moon 
does ; Sylvester Eaton lived on the Shepherd place : John 
Albro lived on his farm, on north side of corporation ; Squire 
Eaton was building a house where Joslin lives; the George 
Arnold house, corner of Buffalo and Church streets was built; 
a Mr. Wright kept the hotel on Franklin street, opposite the 
park; Dr. Daniel Ingals lived just south of the Presb)'terian 
church ; Varncy Ingals kept small store on Franklin street. 
They were building the school house that stood near where 
Mr. Tabor lives; Joseph Yaw lived up Franklin street at the 
foot of the hill ; there was a house on the corner of West and 
Main streets ; Samuel Cochran lived and kept hotel where 



HIOORAI'IIICAL SKKTCIIES. 405 

Byron Cochran now lives ; General Knox lived in a log house 
on Waveriy street, south side; Samuel Burgess lived in a log 
house about where George Weeden lives now ; Samuel Lake 
had a small store where American hotel is ; Samuel Bradley's 
factory was built, he lived near it ; Jarvis Bloomfield lived down 
by his mill ; Robert Auger had a saw mill and li\ed below 
Bloomfield ; Truman White lived on the southwest corner of 
the Well's farm ; Francis White lived on the Allen Goodemote 
place ; the Shaw famih' li\-ed in that neighborhood ; Mr. Sim- 
mons lived near where Mrs. Melvin lives now. There was a 
log house where Orvil Smith lives, and a small house near 
where George Crandalls now lives, no other house on north 
side of Main street, east to Newman street ; Jacob Rushmore 
lived in old yellow house on side hill, just above John P. 
Myers's house ; Abel Holman had house and shop on the Shut- 
tleworth lot; Joel White had shop and lived on the Badgeley 
lot ; the Benjamin Gardner house stood about where Orange 
Parmenter lives, no more houses east to corporation line ; 
Samuel and William Lake were here. 

The McMilleii Family. 

Joseph McMillen was born Jan. 14. 1783. In i<Sii, he mar- 
ried Betsey Haskins. He removed from Manlius, Onondaga 
county, to this town in March, 1823. He had been here the 
Lall before and jnirchased of Rufus Eaton the Eaton Grist- 
mill, and the land on the north side of Main street, and from 
Mechanic street and the park east to Newman street, except 
three or four building lots that had been previously sold. The 
land extended north from Main street about one hundred rods. 
He paid for the mill and the land two thousand five hundred 
dollars. He run the grist mill about fifteen years. About 
1828, he built a saw mill a little south of, and near the grist 
mill. The grist mill stood by the race and nearly east of the 
Leland hotel barn, and saw mill stood nearly east of Victor 
Collard's shop. During his life time he sold nearh- all the land 
along Main street to Newman street out into village lots, 
reserving the land back from the street. He ga\-e a piece to 
his son-in-law, Wells Brooks, and two lots to his son, William. 
About 1835 he, in company with William Watkins, built the 



406 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

tannery, which stood east of the Spring Brook, and north of 
Frankhn street. He also bought of Jeremiah Willcox, fifty 
acres of land on the southwest corner of lot thirty-three, town- 
ship seven, range six, lately known as the Palmer lot. Mr. 
McMillen died March 15, 1846; his first wife died March 29, 
1823 ; his second wife was Rachel Jones, who died March, 1863. 
His children were: 

William. 

Helen, died in Olean. 

Henry, died in infancy. 

Julia A., 

Marcus G., died in Olean in the Fall of 1882. 

Betsey R., died Oct. 30, 1845. 

Stewart G., lives in Monticello, Miss. 

Eugenia, died May i, 1843. 

Williaiii McMillen'.s Family. 

William McMillen married Lydia Sherman, Jan. 8, 1849. 
Their children are: 

Clark S., Adelaide E., Charlotte R., Sarah E., and Emma L. 

Clark S., married Francena Eastwood and lives in Saginaw, 
Michigan. 

Adelaide E., married William McDuffie, her second husband 
was Wallace McMaster. 

Charlotte R., married George McMillen, of Gowanda. 

Jonathan Mayo. 

Jonathan Mayo came to Concord in the Fall of 18 16, from 
Oxford, Worcester count)', Mass., with his family of six sons 
and three daughters, four of whom are now living. His oldest 
son, Jonathan, was killed while felling trees in 1825, and was 
the first person buried in the " Block School House," cemetery. 

Hiram, Orrin, George and Nancy are dead. 

Erastus married Nancy Curtis. 

Harriet married the late Calvin Smith, senior. 

Lucy married Orra D. Curtis. 

The first night after Jonathan Mayo arrived in town with his 
famil)', he staid with Captain Wells on Vaughan street, then 



lUOCRAPniCAL SKKTCHES. 407 

there was no road north to Griffith's Corners, except by follow- 
ing a line of marked trees. After a year or two of pioneering, 
he located on lot thirty-five, township seven, range seven, where 
he lived until his death in 1859, aged eighty-two ; his wife hav- 
ing died several years before. During the early days of Mr. 
Mayo's residence in town, he one day captured, while walking 
along, a young fawn, which he took home and domesticated. 
It was given its liberty and used to associate with the wild 
deer, which were very numerous. This fact lead to its being 
used by hunters as a decoy to facilitate the approach to wild 
deer, and as it wore something about its neck, it could be dis- 
tinguished from its wild companions ; but one day a careless 
hunter found it with two other deer and not recognizing it, shot 
all three of them. 

Sanford Mayo. 

Mr. Mayo was born in Oxford, Worcester county, Mass., in 
1812; came to this town with his father's family, as before 
mentioned. He succeeded his father in the possession of the 
homestead, which he now owns. *He was married in 1839 ^o 
Lucy Stanbro, daughter of Amos Stanbro. 

They have had six children : 

Eveline, born Nov. 3, 1840; married in 1867 to Henry 
Palmer; died in 1868. 

Harry A., born Aug. 11, 1843; died in 1863. 

Orrin D., born Oct. 8, 1847; married in 1872 to Emma J. 
Titus. 

Hattie, born July 18, 1850; died in 1865. 

Addie J., born Aug. 14, 1856; married in 1S74 to Alfred 
Holman. 

Nellie P., born Dec. 28, i860. 

Sanford Mayo died from injures received by being struck by 
a railroad car Oct. i, 1883, aged seventy-one years, five months 
and twenty days. 

Cleorg"e Mayo. 

George Mayo was born in this town in 1822; he was married 
in 1845 to Minerva Minor. 
They have two children : 
Libbie L., who was a successful teacher ; she was at one time 



408 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Preceptress in Grififith institute ; she is now married to Mr. E. 
J. Foster, and resides in Collins. 

Charles Mayo, a cheese maker. 

Mr. Mayo always resided in town, and nearly all of his ma- 
ture years have been spent in some official capacity. He was 
for twenty-five years a Constable, was Deputy Sheriff six 
years, and has been Collector. George Mayo died Oct. 17, 
i<S8o. aged fifty-eight years and two months. 

William L. Mayo. 

Mr. Mayo was born Dec. 10, 1832, in Concord, of which town 
he has since been a resident, with the exception of four years 
spent at Portsmouth, Ohio, from which place he enlisted April 
25, 1 861, in the First regiment Ohio volunteers, Co. G. He 
served four months in this regiment and then enlisted with the 
commission of First Lieutenant in the One Hundredth regiment 
New York volunteers. Company A; mustered into service Sept. 
23. 1 861, his commission dating from October 1st of the same 
year. He was in the hard fought battles in which his regiment 
took part. At the battle of Fair Oaks he was slightly wounded ; 
for gallant service he was commissioned Captain of Company A 
Oct. 1 1, 1862 ; he resigned his commission May 25, 1863, and in 
June following was mustered out of service and returned home. 
Mr. Mayo has served one term as Assessor of Concord, He 
was married in 1864 to Clarinda Williams; they have three 
children. 

Joshua Matliewson. 

Joshua Matliewson was born in P'ebruar)', 1 771, in Massa- 
chusetts; came to Sardinia from Vermont in 181 1; his occu- 
pation was a farmer ; was married in 1 791, and died March 6, 
1823 ; his wife's maiden name was Margaret Hale, who was 
born about 1772 in Massachusetts, and died April 14, 1821. 

They had twel\-e children : 

Hale, was born in the }'ear 1798; was married to Pruda 
Williams, and died in Aurora in 1875. 

Elijah, was born in 1795 ; married to Polly Palmer in 18 18 ; 
died in Orleans county, N. Y., Nov. 31, 1876. 

Jonathan, was born in June, 1796. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, 4O9 

Joshua, was born in 1797; was married to Almira Flagg ; 
died in March, 1864. 

Bcthia, died youn<j^. 

Anna, was born in 1801 ; married Asa Wells; died in June, 
1820. 

Laura, was born about 1804; married Asa Wells; died in 
September, 1846. 

Daisey, was born about 1809; niarried Delos Birdsley ; died 
at Arcade in 1880. 

Phebe, born in 1810; died in Illinois. 

George, born in December, 1812; married Patience Starks ; 
she died ; he married a Mrs. Damon ; he died at Springville. 

Frederick B., born in October, 181 3; married Phoebe Squires, 
who died ; he married for his second wife Eliza Gibbs ; he 
lives in Concord. 

May, born May 29, 181 5 ; married to George Baker, who died 
in 1879; ^1^^' lives in Iowa. 

Joshua Mathewson settled where Byron Wells now lives, in 
1812. 

S. H. McEwen's Statement. 

My father Timothy McE\\en came to Buffalo in 1806 from 
Utica, where he was married. My mother's maiden name was 
Huldah Ho\'t. Father was a shoemaker and leather dealer, and 
carried on that business in Buffalo on the east side of Main 
street, between Seneca and Exchange, where he owned an acre 
of land in the center of the block. He lived there and carried 
on business until the burning of Buffalo. (3n tiie morning of 
that day they packed up so much of their most valuable prop- 
erty as they could load into a one-horse sleigh, and my father 
bound me on his back with a blanket, and my mother took my 
sister Susan — fourteen months younger than I — on her back in 
the same way, and they drove the horse and walked in the 
snow through the woods to what is now Abbot's Corners, in 
Hamburgh. My father left his family at Mr. Titus' and 
returned to Buffalo on the evening of the next. day and found 
his propert)' all burned up. He set to work immediately col- 
lecting materials for re-building. The next season he volun- 
teered and went over to Canada and assisted in taking; Fort 



4IO BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Erie. I was born Nov. 14, 1809. When I was six or seven 
years old, the Indian chief Farmer's Brother came to our house 
sick, and remained there sick till he died ; I used to carry 
water to him. My mother died in the Spring of 1818; the 
next Fall I went to live with my uncle, Joseph D. Hoyt, and 
lived with him till I was twenty-one years of age. He carried 
on the tanning business in a tannery between Exchange and 
Carroll streets, and I learned my trade with him. I then went to 
Chippeway, Canada, and carried on the tanning and leather busi- 
ness during the years of 1834 and 1835. In the summer of 1836, I 
carried on the pelt and wool business with John Bush, father 
of Myron P. Bush. In the Fall of 1836 I came to Springville 
and bought an undivided half of the tannery ai.J stock of J. 
D. Hoyt. The tannery stood on the Shuttleworth lot, east of 
the mill race and between Main and Franklin streets. We ran 
the business together till 1845, ^vhen I sold out to the Hoyt 
estate. I then bought the old Lake store on Main street and 
ran the hide and leather business till 1 366, when I sold the 
property to Ozro Churchill and went into partnership in the 
tanning business with Sampson & Willcox, and remained 
therein ten months, when I sold out to them and retired from 
the leather business. Since then I have been in poor health, 
and have occupied my time mainly on my small piece of land. 

Mr. McEwen married Julia Ann Shultus; she died Dec. 5th, 
1845. He married his second wife, Eliza Jane Smith, Jan. 5th, 
1853. Their children are : 

Ida Ann, born Dec. 22, 1853, and died Nov. 13, 1862. 

Addie Jane, born Sept. 16, 1858, and died Sept. 21, 1872. 

Blanche, born Jan. 14, 1862. 

Carrie H., born Feb. 16, 1864. 

Seth H., born April 2, 1866, 

Earle S., born Feb. 10, 1872. 

Stephen McEwen died March 26, 1882, aged seventy-two 
years, four months and twelve days. 

Joliii H. Melviii. 

John H. Melvin was born in Springville, N. Y., [an 5, 1847; 
at an early age he was adopted into the famil}' of Amos Mel- 
vin ; in i860 he entered the ofTfice of J. B. Saxe. publisher of 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, 4I I 

the Springville Herald, as an apprentice to the printers' trade. 
After leaving the office of Mr. Saxe he worked as a journe)'- 
>Tian printer in various localities in New York, Pennsylvania 
and Virginia, and in the cities of Buffalo and New York, ex- 
periencing during the meantime the vicissitudes incident to the 
craft, until he associated himself witli W. W. Rlakeley on the 
Springville Jour)ial mid Herald in November, 1867 ; sold out 
his interest in 1873 and started the Pioneer printing office in 
Hamburg; from there he opened a job office in Buffalo in 
1876, which he conducted, together with engraving (he is also 
an artist and engraver), until the Fall of 1879, '^vhen, in connec- 
tion with T. G. Meyers, he commenced the publication of the 
Local Neivs in Springville, N. Y. He was a member of the 
Seventy-fourth New York State National Guard, and accom- 
panied his regiment to Pennsylvania at the time of Lee's inva- 
sion. Mr. Melvin was married in 1872 to Zelia ]\I. Smith, 
daughter of Calvin Smith. They have one child : 

Lizzie, born June 5, 1874. 

Mr. Melvin's mother, Mrs. Amos Melvin, was born in Pl\- 
mouth, N. H., June ii, 1797 ; her maiden name was Relief 
Blodgett ; she was married in her native town in 1822 and five 
years after removed to Wayne county, N. Y., and from there 
to Spring\-ille in 1833, where she has ever since resided. She 
retains her physical and mental powers remarkabl}' well, and 
relates many interesting incidents connected with the pioneer 
history of that part of her native state where she lived ; among 
others she speaks of her father's going a distance of forty miles 
to the cit\' of Concord to mill, with a hand-sled, it being the 
nearest mill at that time — ^1760. 

Weiidel Morton. 

Wendel Morton was born May 1st, 1781, in the town of 
Stoughton, Mass. Here the years of his minority were passed, 
and after attaining his majority he was married to Miss Polly 
G. South worth, of his native town, who was born April 14, 
1779 ; iri 1804 he moved to Onondaga county, N. Y., where he 
remained until the year 1826, when he disposed of his effects 
there and came to the town of Boston, Erie county, N. Y.; 
here he resided with his famil\- for ten y^ears, when he trans- 



412 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

ferred his property and bought again at West Concord, which 
has since been known as Morton's Corners. 

W endel Morton was a man far above mediocre, and possessed 
much native abiHt}' that rather tended to the humorous, which 
under more auspicious circumstances would have brought him 
before the pubhc a prominent character. He was an own 
cousin to the indomitable Governor Morton, who for twenty 
successive years was the Democratic candidate for executive 
honors in the Bay state before he succeeded, and then only 
elected by one majority. Before leaving Onondaga county he 
filled several positions of an official character, and among these 
was that of Deputy Sheriff. During the preliminary examina- 
tion of the Thayer brothers before a Justice for the murder of 
John Love in the town of Boston, Dec. 24, 1824, Wendel Mor- 
ton was their keeper ; one day the Court was adjourned for 
dinner, leaving Morton, the prisoners and a few spectators in 
possession of the room; Israel Thayer stepped to the Justice's 
desk, and taking the Bible he presented it to Morton, saying with 
much bravado, " Elder, you preach us a sermon from a text." 
Morton received the book and deliberately opened it, when the 
first thing that his eye rested upon was this impressive pas- 
sage : which he rendered in a low and solemn voice " He 
that sheddeth man's blood by man his blood shall be 
shed." This fell upon the culprit's guilty conscience like a 
clap of thunder from a clear and cloudless sky, all his assumed 
stoicism fled at the just accusation, and he spitefully snatched 
the Bible from Morton's hand, saying with an oath, " You are 
a poor preacher and I don't want to hear any more of your 
talk." Morton said, " From the very looks of the accused one's 
face upon my reading this passage I became convinced that the 
right ones had been apprehended, as the sequel proved." 

During the later days of his life he became partially blind, 
but this affliction did not destro}- his genial nature, and almost 
up to the closing scene, he had alwa\'s recourse to a fund of 
rich and racy anecdote to entertain his friends He died Oct. 
4, 1868, after having compassed nearh' four score years and ten. 

Mrs. Morton was of the old school of gentlewomen, whose 
every day deportment made the humblest of homes a paradise, 
and not onlv this but it carried consolation to the homes of 



BIOORAI'IIICAL SKKTC IIKS. 413 

-cUhci's in life's darkest hours. She cheerfully accepted each 
situation and made the most of it without a murmur. Mer 
identic, uniform kindness, combined with a nature that entered 
largely into the burdens and sorrows of others, won for her 
hosts of friends who mourned her death as a mother. She 
departed this life Aug. 7, 1858. 

Five children were born to this union, v\z. : 

Eliza S., born Sept. 14, 1804; died Dec. 28, 1877. 

Otis C, bom 

Alanson P., born April 14, 1811 ; died March 4, 1872. 

Mary A., born 1816; died 1848. 

Samuel A., born May 8, 18 18. 

Saiuiii'l A. Morton. 

Samuel A. Morton was born in the town of Manlius, Onondaga 
county, N. Y., May 8, 18 18, and came to this town (Concord) 
in the year 1830. For a term of years, he in company with 
his brother Alanson, carried on the business of hotel keeping 
at Morton's Corners together with that of farming. Mr. Mor- 
ton held a commission as Postmaster at Morton's Corners, 
under the administration of Franklin Pierce and also of James 
Buchanan, Sept. 27, 1853. He was united in matrimon\- to 
Miss Ursula P. Ostrander, who was born Nov. 5, 1827, in the 
town of Hoosic, Rensselaer county, N. Y., and he took his bride 
to the very place that has since been their home. Mr. Morton 
is what might be termed a progressive farmer, who, being fully 
impressed with the belief that the comforts of life may be 
enjoyed by those who till the soil as well as by those who live 
at careless ease on an assured competence, has surrounded his 
home with every convenience that the age affords, and thouo-h 
his years now number more than three score, time has dealt 
leniently with him and finds him in possession of health, 
strength and vigor to prosecute the labors ef his favorite and 
chosen calling. 

Four children were born to this union, viz. : 

Mar\' A., born Aug. 24, 1854; died Oct. 9, 1854., 

Laura F., born Aug. 23, 1855. 

Wendell J., born March 30, 1859. 

Carroll G., born Dec. 25, i860. 



414 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

John P. Myers. 

John P. Myers was born in the town of Hume, Allegany 
county, July 4, 1843. He came to Springville in the year 1877 
from Sardinia. He is a merchant and one of the firm of Beebe 
& Myers, extensive dealers in dry goods. He was married in 
the year 1870 to Miss Florence A. Beebe. They have had two 
children both of whom died young. 

In October, 1861, Mr. Myers enlisted in the one hundred and 
fourth regiment, New York State Volunteers, to serve three 
years. He was engaged in nearly all the battles of the Army 
of the Potomac until the battle of Antietam, where he \\as 
wounded by a musket-ball shattering the bone near the ankle. 
The ball was taken out seven years afterward, which he has 
preserved in remembrance of Antietam. Was in the hospital 
five months A\hen he was offered his discharge, but refused it 
preferring to rejoin his command. Was taken prisoner at Get- 
tysburg, July I, 1863, and was taken to Belle Island near Rich- 
mond, where he remained about seven months, from there to 
Andersonville, where he remained until Sherman on his march 
to the sea, came so near to them that they were taken to Camp 
Millen, from there to Savannah, from there to Jacksonville, 
Fla., and from there back to Andersonville on Christmas day, 
where he remained until the close of the war, making him a 
prisoner twenty-two months. What he suffered during his long 
confinement in Rebel prisons, helps to make up one of the 
darkest pages in our American history. 

Elisha Mack. 

Elisha Mack came to this town in 1827. He was a la\\}-er 
and held the of^ce of Justice of the Peace in the town a num- 
ber of years and also was Post Master in Springville twelve 
years. He engaged to some extent in the mercantile business 
and built a store and dwelling house where the Presbyterii.a 
Church now stands. He was also a farmer and managed a farm 
on the east part of lot nine. He sold out his business in this 
town and moved to Illinois in 1846, and settled near Xauvoo, 
where he died soon after. He had four children : 

Sarah, James, Helen and Benjamin, who are all li\ing in the 
west. 



BIOCrRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 415 

Andrew McLin. 

Andrew McLin settled on lot thirteen, on Townscnd Hill, 
in 1 8 17. He died a few years afterwards, leaving three children. 

Jacob, was killed when a young man, by a falling tree while 
felling trees in the woods. 

Polly, was a school teacher and married Asa R. Trevitt and 
died in the town of West Seneca. 

Martha, married Levi Ballou and died in Buffalo. 

fJac'ob Mar.siolja. 

Jacob Marsielja was born in Holland, Europe, Dec. 22, 1837. 
Came to America when about eight years of age, and to Con- 
cord about 1865 ; married Margaret C. Baker in 1866. They 
have five children : 

Sarah A., born May 22, 1872. 

Charles E., born Feb. 26, 1874. 

Ella M., born May 21, 1876. 

Clyde J., born Aug. 27, 1877. 

George A., born May 9, 1879. 

Mrs. Marsielja's father, William Baker, one of Concord's 
early pioneers, was born in Orange, Franklin county, Mass., 
March i, iSoi. He came to Concord in 18 17, and located near 
East Concord, and has been a resident of the town ever since. 

He was married in Concord to Anstris Edwards, who was 
born in Providence, R. L, Nov. 9, 1798. She had been pre- 
viously married in New England, to Ansel Norcott, with whom 
she came to Concord about 1820. Mr. Norcott died leaving 
two daughters : 

Nancy R., married James Fleming. 

Catherine, married Dr. Henry D\'e and since died. 

l-5y her second marriage, with Mr. Baker, they had eight 
children : 

Lyman P., born 1826; married Matilda Strickland. 

Cynthia, born 1828; married Rev. Charles Shelling. 

Ansel, born 1830; married Jennie P^irman ; died 1869. 

Eldridge, born 1833 • died young. 

Ovanda, i| . , n ) married Frank Kester. 

„ . , ■ twms, born 1835, ,- . , ,w-,i- it-t 

Uvmda, ', ) married William Wilcox. 

Margaret C, born 1838 ; married Jacob Marsielja. 

Mary E., born 1842; married William Power; died 1866. 



41 6 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

Frederick Meyer. 

Frederick Meyer was born May, 1836, in the City of Buffalo, 
and came to Concord in 1858. Was married June, 1856, to 
Magdalena Derrinberger, who was born in 1837. He is a 
farmer by occupation. His father's name is George Meyer; 
his mother's maiden name was Magdalena Haas. His father 
has lived in Boston seventeen years. Family record : 

George, born March 27, 1857. 

Frederick, born Aug. 13, 1859. 

William A., born March 26, 1863. 

Henrietta, born July 16, 1873. 

Albert, born June 12, 1879. 

William P. Mills. 

William P. Mills was born Jan.. 8, 1822, in Middletown, 
Orange county, New York. His father's name was Ebenezer 
Mills ; his mother's maiden name was Maria Coleman. For 
several years before reaching his majority, Mr. Mills was a mer- 
chant's clerk in his native village. He was married in May, 

1845, to Deborah Clark, and, in the following December re- 
moved to this town with his father-in-law onto Townsend Hill. 
He has resided at different places in town ever since, and has 
been extensively engaged in farming, dairying and cheese-buy- 
ing. They have three children, viz.: 

H. Eugene, married in 1873 to Lottie Crary, ^\•ho has since 
died. Mr. Mills' present business is selling carriages. 

Frances M. married Ralph Greene, dentist ; resides at Fre- 
donia, N. Y. 

Clark W., drug clerk. 

Saiiford Mathe"vi'SOii. 

His father's name was Charles Mathewson ; his mother's 
maiden name was Cordelia French ; his grandfather's name 
was Jonathan Mathewson ; his grandmother's maiden name 
Lucy Crosby. He was born in the Town of Sardinia, Aug. 3, 

1846. He was married in the year 1874 to Miss Jennie L. 
Otis, daughter of James Otis of Sardinia. He has resided in 
Sardinia, Yorkshire and Concord, and has followed the business 
of farming. 

Their children are Gracie E. and James C. 



IJIOCKAI'IIICAI. SKETCHES. 417 

Abraliaui Mi<ldeauj;Ii. 

Abraham Middcaugh came here, bou<^ht and took a deed of 
lot nine, consisting of the south part of theVillage of Springville, 
in 1817. He also articled other lands and returned home and 
began making preparations to move here. He had sent on a 
part of his goods, and while preparing to follow himself with 
the remaintler; he liad occasion to stay one night at a hotel ; he 
got up early and went out to the barn to take care of his horse, 
which kicked him, causing his death a short time after. Some 
of his friends came here and disposed of the goods alread)' 
bought and also the land he had bought. 

He was a brother of Mrs. Daniel Tice and Mrs. Joseph Ham- 
mond. 

Hugh McAleese. 

Hugh McAleese was born at Ballymana, County Antrim, Ire- 
land, in 1832. His father's name was Daniel and his mother's 
maiden name was Eliza Quinn. He came to this country on 
a sailing vessel in 1848; w^as nine weeks and three days cross- 
ing to New York ; went to Kinderhook, Columbia county, and 
learned his trade in Kinderhook and Albany. He came to 
Springville in i860, and has carried on the blacksmithing busi- 
ness here since that time. 

His brother, John who was killed by the cars in Canada in 
1859, came here before he did and run a blacksmith shop. 

Hugh was married to Miss Hannah Feigh in 1863. Their 
children are John E., James, Hugh, Sarah and Jessie. 

Lewis Nichols. 

Lewis Nichols was born June 12, 1773. He married Betsy 
Hovell, who was born July 18, 1774. They came to this town 
from Scipio, Cayuga county, N. Y. in 181 8, and located at what 
has since been known as Nichols' Corners, where Mr. Nichols, 
always lived until his death in 1862 ; Mrs. Nichols having died 
in 1854. Their children were: 

Abijah,born March 5. 1792; married Anna Pixly ; died about 
1872, in town. 

Lucy, born March 9, 1794; married Stephen Knight, F. W. B. 
minister; died about 1871. 



41 8 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Polly, born July 3, 1796; married Arza King; died about 
1865, in Cayuga county. 

Sally, born Sept. 3, 1798; married William Elliot; resides in 
Cayuga county. 

Isaac, born March 12, 1801 ; married Zilpha Ford; died 
in town. 

Betsy, born April 29, 1803; married Orrin Lewis; died 
about 1844, at Dubuque, Iowa. 

David, born May 28, 1805 ; was a M. E. minister; died about 
1876, in Kansas. 

Lewis, born Feb. 14, 1808 ; died in Illinois about i860. 

Aner, born April 28, 1810; married Joshua Steele; died 
about 1 87 1, in town. 

John, born Aug. 11, 1817; married Clarinda Richardson in 
1 840. 

Nancy, born Sept. 5, 1820; married Orrin Lewis, resides in 
Dubuque, Iowa. 

John Nichols. 

John Nichols come to town with his father and alwa}'s 
resided upon the homestead until 1869, when he moved to 
Springville, where Mr. Nichols died in 1875. He has held the 
offices of Assessor and Overseer of Poor. Their children are : 

Betsy, died when a child. 

Charles H., married Elva Styles in 1870; resides on the 
homestead. 

Levi L., married Elizabeth Carroll in 1869; resides in Buf- 
falo ; cattle dealer. 

Carlos J., married Addie Campbell in 1870; resides at Rich- 
wood, Ohio ; dentist. 

Lawrence, married Addie Davis ; have one son, Arthur ; drug- 
gist in Springville. 

Isaac Nichols. 

Isaac Nichols, son of Louis and Betsy Nichols, was born 
March 12, 1801, in Huntington, Conn. When seventeen years 
of age, he removed to Concord, where he resided until his 
death, Dec. 10, 1864. He was married Dec. 24, 1820, to Zil- 



HIOCKAl'IIICyVL SKETCHES. 419 

pah Ford. The following;" is the faniilx' record of their cliil- 
dren : 

Luther r\, born, Oct. 3, 1822; married, first to Juha Ann 
Woodbur)' ; lives in Iowa. 

Harriet P., born Nov. 5, 1823 ; married Dewe}' Tift ; died 
June 1 1, 1882. 

Martha H., born June 25, 1825 ; married Alanson Ford ; 
h'ves in Iowa. 

Julia Ann, born July 19, 1827; married Jacob Lampman. 

Lucy M., born Nov. 21, 1829 ; married William Woodbur\- ; 
lix'es in Hamburg-. 

Alvin L., born June 26, 183 1 ; married, first to Lllen Hyde, 
second, to Maria Styles. 

David B., born Feb. 3, 1835 ; died July 23, 1856. 

Isaac N., born Sept. 18, 1837; married Helen Smith; killed 
by a falling tree March 7, 1862. 

Mariette, born Nov. 5, 1841, married Jasj^er Luther; lixes in 
Collins. 

Aliuoii Nichols. 

Almon Nichols was born March 12, 18 19, His father, Abi- 
jah S. Nichols, was born in Connecticut, and removed to Scip- 
io, Cayuga county, N. Y., and subsequently came to the town 
of Concord in the year 1818; his mother's maiden name was 
Anna Pixley. Almon Nichols is a farmer by occupation; was 
married in the year 1842 to Melissa Griswold, who died in the 
year 1847 ! "^"^'^^ married to Clarinda Webster Feb. 10, 1850, who 
died April 15, 1851, and was married to Diana Richardson, his 
present wife, Aug. 25, 1851, who was the daughter of Jeremiah 
Richardson, and was born July 4, 1824. Mr. Nichols has taught 
fifteen terms of school in this and other towns. He was elected 
Justice in 1S70. 

His children are : 

Wallace, born Feb. 16, 1845 ; married Jenette Briggs. 

Betsey Clarinda. born April 12, 185 i; married LcKo\- Mil- 
lington. 

Helen, born June 4, 1852; married I-Ldward Hatch. 

Manley, born Aug. 14, 1854; married Ilattie Sherman. 



420 KIOCRAI'IIICAL SKETCHES. 

Beiijaiiiiii Nelson. 

Benjamin Nelson came to this town from Brandon, Vt., about 
1818; his wife's maiden name was Annie Morton. He settled 
on the Cattaraut^us creek on the farm now owned by H. T. 
Wadsworth ; from there he moved to the place where John 
Vosburg now lives ; this he soon after sold and bought the 
place where Charles Pingrey now lives ; he then moved to the 
Horton place on Vaughan street, where his wife and three chil- 
dren died ; he afterwards moved to Springville, where he died 
April 14, 1861 ; Mrs. Nelson died Sept. 12, 1850. 

They had ten children: 

Wilbur A., died Sept. 21, 1850. 

Jonathan M., died in 1846. 

Aurora A., married George Kingman and lives in S[)ring- 
■ville. 

Abercia, married Damon Dodge; lives in Minnesota. 

Alberto O., lives in Michigan. 

Franklin J., lives in Dansville, N. Y. 

Wells C, lives in Machias. 

Julius G.. died in 1850. 

Maria A., married William Josh'n ; lives in Si)ringville. 

Harriet M., died in 1850. 

Labau A. NetMlham. 

Mr. Needham's father, Oliver Needham, was born in Massa- 
chusetts; was married there in 181 3, to Lodisa Green ; came 
from there to this town in the Fall of 18 19, and settled on lot 
six, range seven, township seven, where he always resided until 
his death in 1873. In the earlier days of our town he was 
Supervisor several )X'ars, and afterwards served as Assessor a 
number of terms. 

He had five sons, viz.: 

Laban A. 

Charles, married Eveline Martin ; resides in Boston. 

Aaron (j., married Melissa Blanchard ; resitle in town. 

Da\id, married Lovina F^ields; resides in Wisconsin. 

Warren, resides in Florida. 

Laban A. Needham was born Nov. 6, 181 3, in Massachusetts. 
He came to this town with his ])arents w hen si.x years of age ; 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 421 

in 1.S27 he i)iircliasccl land of the 1 lollaiul C(jmpan)- on the same 
lot that his father localetl on, A\hich he has ever since owned 
and occupied; between 1830 and 1840 he tau^^ht seven terms 
of scliool in Concord ; he was Captain of Mihtia four )X'ars, 
from 1839 to 1843. In 1843 !''<-' was married to Mariam Twich- 
ell. Mr. Needham has served tlie town as Assessor tweh'e 
years in succession, from 1859 ^*' 1871. 

Theodore 15. Norri!-. 

Theodore B. Norris was born Au^. 3, i8z^., in Oneida count)', 
N. \'., and came to Springville in 1847 : he enlisted under the 
call of Jul)- 2, 1862; was mustered into the service at RufTalo 
Aug. 18, 1862, Compan)- F, One Hundred and Sixteenth regi- 
ment. New York volunteers; left September 15th and went 
into camp near Baltimore, under command of (leneral Wool ; 
left for Louisiana November 5th ; on arriving at New Orleans 
his regiment was transferred to General Banks' command, first 
dix'ision of the nineteenth army corps, under Brig. -Gen. Wil- 
liam H. Emory; he was a member of the volunteer stornnng 
party known as " The Forlorn Hope," which was selected for 
the storming of Port Hudson ; in this siege he lost an eye; he 
participated in the Red river expedition and the battles result- 
ing from it; he left Louisiana for Virginia July 5, 1864, arriv- 
ing in time to take part in opposing General Early's raid upon 
Washington ; his regiment next joined Sheridan in the Shen- 
andoah Valley campaign, and took part in the battles of Win" 
Chester, Cedar Creek, &c.; after doing three months guard 
dut)' at the national capital, he was mustered out of the ser\-ice 
June 5, 1865 ; he was Corporal of his compan)-. 

Mr. Norris was married in 1872 to Lucinda Hazard; they 
have one child, Mabel Norris. Mr. Norris has been Town 
Clerk and Collector, and on Jan. 9, J 875, he was commissioned 
Postmaster at Springville, which position he has ever since ably 
filled. 

Ei»lii'aiiii Nee<lhain. 

Ephraim Needham was born in Massachusetts in 1791 and 

came to this town in company \\ith William and Lucy Chapin. 

He settled on lot forty-five, township seven, range six, in 



422 bio(;raphical sketches. 

1817. He was married to Sally Foster, April, 1820, and went 
to Illinois in 1847 ^'""tl died there in 1855. They had five 
children : 

Huldah, Lysander, Albert, Roana and George, all of whom 
are dead except Lysander and Albert; who live in Illinois. 
Mrs. Needham is living with her son Lysander, in Brant. 

Lysander Needham. 

Lysander Needham was born in Concord, Jan, 12, 1823, and 
was married to Almeda Cranston June 16, 1834. After her 
death he was married to Catharine Tabor, Aug. 30, 1837. By 
his first wife he had two children : 

Roana, born Jan. 17, 1847; died Aug. 24, 1871. 

Ephraim A., born .Sept. 18, 1853 ; is now^ living in Brant. 

The children of his second wife are : 

Josie, born June 16, 1868. 

Emma, born April 3, 1874 ; died Sept. 12, 1874. 

Mr. Needham was Captain of Co. E, 67th Regiment and was 
at Harrisburg, Pa., in 1863. 

Solomon Ostraiider. 

Solomon Ostrander came to this town from Montgomery 
county, N. Y., in 1848, and settled in East Concord on lot 
thirty-five, township seven, range six, where Lyman Smith now 
lives. Here he lived until his death, which occurred April 18, 
1862. He had fourteen children, three of whom died acci- 
dental deaths. 

Tunis, married Alida Veder and lives near East Concord. 

Margaret, married Christopher Bradt ; died east. 

Maryctte, married a man by the name of Cool ; he died in 
the east , she afterwards married Berlin Hurd, of Springville. 

John, married Rachel Graff; after her death he married Kate 
Odell. He died May 10, 1883. 

Peter, lives in Montgomery count}', N. Y. 

Albert, died April 21, 1871. 

Catherine, married Vincent Cole. 

Jacob, died June ii, 1864. 

William, ilied in Montgomery count)', N. Y. 

Solomon, Jr., married Margaret Williamson and lives in Ohio. 



lilOdRAl'IIKAI. SKKTCIIKS. 423 

AarSn, married Diantho Kin^ and lives near East Concord. 
Cornelius, died in Montgomery county. 
Sarah, died in Montgomery county. 

Jacob Oyer. 

Jacob Oyer was born in the town of Ashford, Cattaraugus 
county, in 1823. His father's name was David Oyer, and his 
mother's maiden name was Mary Elizabeth P^-ank. His grand- 
father, Jacob Oyer was taken prisoner by the Indians and taken 
to Canada and sold for one crown. His great-grandfather was 
killed at the battle of Oriskany. He has lived in Ashford, 
Sardinia, Checktawaga, West Seneca and Concord. He has fol- 
lowed the business of farming most of his lifetime. He was 
Justice of the Peace in West Seneca for eight years. In 1847, 
he was married to Amanda J. Spaulding. 

Their children are : 

Clara E., married to Dr. R. S. Hambleton and resides in 
Buffalo. 

Eddy Jay died in West Seneca, Nov. 5, 1867. 

Margaret Ann lives in Basel, Switzerland, and teaches 
English. 

Frank E. 

Ella De Emma. 

Harlan E. is now in a drug store in Buffalo. 

C'liaiio.s W. Piiigroy. 

Charles W. Pingrey was born March 11, 1843, '" the town of 
Sardinia, came to reside in Concord in 1866; is a farmer; he 
was married to Sarah A. King, daughter of Alvah King, March 
7, 1866, and now lives on the old Homestead farm one mile 
east of Springville ; his father's name is William Pingry ; his 
mother's maiden name was Mary Ann Wilder. For particulars 
of his ancestry record is had to the record of his father, Wil- 
liam Pingrc}-. 

The}- had three children : 

Albert L., born P^eb. 3, 1869. 

Frank E., born Aug. 17, 1873; died Jan. 7. 1877. 

Clarence A., bom Now 8, 1878. 



424 BIOCrRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

AVilliain Piugi-ey's Statement. ^ 

I was born Aug. I, i8o6, in the Town of Mt. Holley, Rut- 
land county, Vt.; came to the Town of Concord (now Sardinia) 
in 1817 ; am by occupation a farmer; was married May 15, 
1839; '"^"^y ^vife's name was Mary Ann Wilder, daughter of 
Charles Wilder, late of the Town of Sardinia ; she was born in 
Wendall, Franklin county, Mass ; my father's name was Jona- 
than Pingrey ; he removed to Concord (now Sardinia) in 1816; 
was born in Rowley, Mass., in 1765; died May 4, 1840; my 
mother's maiden name was Eleanor Pease ; father and mother 
were married in 1794; mother died June 4, 1850. 

My ancestors removed from England as early as 1O41, and 
settled in Ipswich, Mass., and engaged in active military ser- 
vice in the several wars that occurred at their time, and what 
was known as the French and Indian war and fighting Indians 
generally as circumstances required, and in the Revolutionary 
war one of my uncles was in command as colonel at the battle 
of Lexington. 

When my father moved from Mt. Holley, Vt., he came with 
a two-horse wagon heavily loaded with furniture, farming tools 
etc.; was twenty-one days on the road ; left part of his load at 
Canandaigua, and returned afterwards for it. We moved into 
a log house 18x20 feet, built by Horace Ryder; the floors 
were made of split basswood ; the roof was made of shakes 
rived from elm timber; this apartment accommodated the fam- 
ily (nine persons) until we raised the upper story and made 
sleeping room up stairs. Our furniture consisted of a cross- 
legged table 3x4 feet, three chairs, some benches and a loom ; 
we had two iron bake kettles ; these served us very well until 
we built a stone oven on top of a hemlock stump that stood 
near the house ; at one time for a few days we were out of 
bread while father was gone to Canandaigua after provisions ; 
but one of our neighbors, Mr. Charles Wells, furnished us with 
flour and venison. 

Our farming tools were better than those of most of our 
neighbors, as we brought some with us. 

The woods were full of deer, wolves and bears and other 
smaller wild animals, so we had wild meat \-ery often ; and I 
being the small boy, it was my business to bring in the cows. 



KIOGRAPIIICAI. SKETCHES. 425 

and it was often after dark before I found the cows ; one nii^ht 
I was dri\'in<^ the cows home and a wolf howled near me, and 
then he went off a distance and howled to get other wolves to 
come, but soon returned and followed me near the house; my 
sister hearing the wolf howl, blew the tin horn to guide me 
towards home. 

We had raised a fine crop of r)X', and having one new-milk 
cow we calculated to live well, but while our first grist of rye 
was at the mill to be ground we lost our cow by an accident in 
the woods; this made us rather short, and mother looked sol- 
emn. 

The cause which led father to leave Vermont and come to 
the Holland Purchase was that to assist a young man to start 
in business ; he became responsible pecuniarily and met with 
such a loss as compelled him to sell his farm and leave his old 
home, and his advice to me on a subsequent occasion perhaps 
saved me from a similar disaster ; when father moved into the 
Town of Concord the Town of Concord embraced ^vhat is now 
Collins, North Collins, Concord and Sardinia, but when the 
Town of Concord was divided our location \\as in the Town of 
Sardinia ; before the division town meetings were held some- 
times at one point and then at another, to suit the people. 

Religious meetings were held by Methodist circuit preachers 
at Ezekiel Smith's ; I recollect that the name of one was 
Locke ; the Freewill Baptists held meetings at Uncle George 
Richmond's ; Elder Richard Carey and a man named Patchin 
and some others from Boston of^ciated at these meetings. 

Two schools were kept about equi-distant from us — four and 
half miles each wa}'- — one at Dr. Colegrove's Corners and one 
at Liberty Pole Corners, one and one-fourth miles east of 
Springville ; I first attended school taught by Patty Long in 
Jerry Wilcox's horse stable, six miles east of Springville; my 
next school, the Winter following, was kept by Benjamin 
George, father of Rev. Isaac George, at Morton Crosby's, on 
the Cattaraugus creek, five miles east of Springville ; the schol- 
ars ranged from. fi\-e to twenty-five >'ears of age. 

Ail my father's famil)' but two settled in Sardinia and one 
settled in Yorkshire. My oldest brother, Jonathan, went to 
Texas, and we ha\-e ne\er heard from him. 



426 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

I lived on the farm I first took up fifty years ; began with 
sixty acres, and when I sold out I had three hundred ; I settled 
where I now live in 1866. 

My children are : 

William H., born June 5, 1840. 

Charles W., born March 11, 1843. 

Orange Parineiiter's Stateiueiit. 

Was born Sept, 4, 1817, in the Town of Concord; am a 
farmer ; was married to Sally Andrews, daughter of Harvey 
Andrews ; my wife died. My father's name was Elijah Par- 
menter; my mother's maiden name was Sally Miles; my 
father came from Rutland county, Vermont, in the year 18 10, 
and made a beginning on the farm now owned and occupied by 
Harrison Pingrey, three-quarters of a mile east of Springville ; 
after living there about one year, he removed to what is now 
the Stephen Tefft farm on Cattaraugus creek, about three miles 
west of Springville ; he moved from Vermont with an ox-team ; 
subsequently settled on a farm in Ashford, Cattaraugus county^ 
near Scoby's mills, where he lived until the time of his death, 
being a period of fifty years or more. He was drafted into the 
military service and served in the War of 18 12 until dis- 
charged. 

Peter Prior. 

Peter Prior was born at Back's Hill, in Sussex county, 
PLngland, in 1831 ; came to this country in 1834, on the brig 
Emma ; was nine weeks crossing the ocean. His father was 
lost overboard on the voyage. Came to Buffalo on the canal, 
and came to Springville in the year 1865. In 1863, enlisted in 
the army, in the One Hundred and Fortjvseventh New York 
volunteers, from Oswego ; afterwards was transferred to the 
Ninety-first regiment ; was in the Army of the Potomac, and 
was in most of the engagements from the Battle of the W^ilder- 
ness to the close of the war; was in Wadsworth division, Fifth 
corps, when he was killed. His occupation is carriage painting. 
In the year 1852, he was married to Mary Ann Meachan, of 
Mansfield, Cattaraugus county, N. Y. 

Their children are: 

Levi, a carriage painter; married to Loretta Pratt in 1879. 

Mary, Emma, Lucy and Jennie. 



BIOCIKAl'lUCAI. SKKTCHES. 42/ 

H. Evans Potter. 

H. Kvans Potter's <,n-andfather, Ilosca Potter, married Mar- 
cia Latten, and came from Cooperstown, Otsei^o county, N. Y., 
to this town in the Fall of 1816 or '17, and located on lot seven, 
township seven, ran^e seven. He resided here until his death, 
in 1862. 

H. Evans Potter's father, Theodore H. Potter, was born in 
1813 ; he was first married in 1836 to Sarah Stancliff, by whom 
he had two daughters : 

Marcia P. married David P. Hale ; resides in Michigan. 

Harriet married Osero Churchill ; resides in town. 

Mr. Potter was married a second time in 1843 to Naomi Can- 
field, by whom he had four children : 

H. Evans. 

Mary married Lorenzo Vaughan ; reside in town. 

Augusta married Elmer O. Leland. cashier in Springville 
bank. 

Willie S. died in 1861. 

H. Evans Potter was born in this town in 1844; he has 
always lived in this town with the exception of five years that 
he resided in North Collins. He was married in 1866 to 
Eunice Hale. Their children are : 

Eva M., Willie H.. Beulah N., Lizzie N. and Hugh E. 

James Prior. 

James Prior was born in the Village of Hollington, Sussex 
county, England, in 1826. His father's name was James E. 
l^rior, and his mother's maiden name was Babcock. He came 
to this country in 1834, on the brig Emma ; was nine weeks on 
the ocean to New York ; his father, during the voyage, was 
lost overboard ; his mother being left with a family of nine 
children. They came to Buffalo on the Erie canal, and, owing 
to the death of his father and the circumstances of the family, 
he was immediately put to work— at the age of eight years — 
and was deprived of the privilege of attending school. When 
of proper age, he learned the trade of carriage and sign paint- 
ing. He came to Springville in 1849, ^"<^ worked at his trade 
until 1861 ; in that year, he formed a co-partnership with 
Philip Herbold, and since that time the firm has been engaged 



428 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

in the manufacture and sale of household furniture, and have 
also carried on the business of undertakers. In 1874, they en- 
larged their business, and have manufactured and sold doors, 
sash, blinds, flooring, etc., and have also been engaged to some 
extent as builders. 

In 1848, he was married to Elizabeth Bath, who was born in 
London, England. Their children are : 

Frank H., who married Helen Wadsworth, lives in Spring- 
viUe. 

Thomas B. married Mary Stanbro ; carriage and sign painter, 
Springville. 

Edith. 

Thomas Pierce. 

The ancestors of our family came from England in 1634 and 
settled in Massachusetts. My father came to this state in 
1793 and settled in Fairfield, Herkimer county, in. 1807 ; he 
removed to Frankfort a short distance east of Utica, where he 
lived with his family of eight children until they became separ- 
ated b}' marriage. I was born in the year 1800, and in 1829 
married the daughter of Jacob Weber, late of Ashford. In 
1837 we removed to a farm that I had purchased in Ashford, 
where we lived nearh^ thirty years. My father and mother and 
oldest sister, myself and wife and two daughters, became mem- 
bers of the Baptist church in this village, where those of us still 
living now retain our membership. My father died in Ash- 
ford, in 1850; m}' mother in 1842. In April, 1865, I buried 
my first wife in Ashford and in October, 1866, removed to 
Springville and married Miss Maryette Scoby of this place. 
My oldest daughter married B. A. Lowe, and resides in Spring- 
ville. My second daughter, Ann H. Pierce, lives at home. She 
is an artist and her place of business is on the south-west corner 
of Main and Buffalo streets. My son Weber T., resides in Min- 
nehaha county, Dakota Territory, near the village of Sioux 
Falls, where he purchased a homestead of 160 acres. My old- 
est brother, Chauncex', died in Ashford, in 1842 ; my youngest, 
(jifford, resided in this town a number of years; he married, and 
buried two wives in this town ; he married a third time and 
remoN'ed to Kansas, where he died two \-ears ago. He left a 
d.iughter, Helen A., who lives in East Pike, Wyoming county. 



iu(.)(;rai'Iii(Ai. sketciiks. 429^ 

Joliii Prill. 

lohn Prill was born in Schcrber, New Stcrlits, Mcchlcnbcrf,^, 
Germany, in US26 and worked at farniin;^ in the old country. 
He embarked at Hamburi,di, May i, 1850, and came on a sail- 
vessel ; was seven weeks crossinL( to New York : went to East 
Otto, CattarauL,ais ccninty, and staid two years ; came to Concord 
and settled near Morton's Corners, in 1852, and lived there 
twenty N'ears. He bought a small farm, improved it, and added 
to it until he had 225 acres. 

He sold his farm and cows to Emery D. Albro in 1872, for 
$1 1, OCX), and came to Springville to live. In 1875, he purchased 
the farm lying one and one-half miles east of Springville, on 
which he has since resided. 

He was married in 1859, to Miss Mary Tardell. in Hamburg, 
Erie county. She was born in Germany in 1832, and came from 
near the same place in the old country, that he did. Their 
children were : 

John, who died in 1852. an infant. 

Mary, who died in 1867, aged twelve \ears. 

Lena. 

Emma. 

Meina, died in 1863. an infant. 

Albert G. 

Lena, married Horace Van Slyke ; the}' have three children. 

Emma, married George H. Kuchner; they live in Port Alle- 
gan}- ; the}' ha\e one child. 

The Pike Family. 

Isaiah Pike was one of Concord's ver}- earliest pioneers. He 
was born at Plymouth. N. H., Aug. 12, 1786. His father's 
name was Uriah D. Pike, who came from England ; was a rev- 
olutionar}' soldier, enlisting when sixteen }'ears of age. In 
18 10, Mr. Pike walked all the way from his native place, with 
knap-sack on his back, to this town and located lands on lot 
twenty-two, range seven, township seven. Here he encoun- 
tered those privations and incidents which only the pioneers 
of a forest country experience. He was an active ]Darticipant 
in that part of the war of 1812 which wasenacted in the vicinit}- 
of Buffalo and the Niairara frontier. He was Ser<>:eant. In 



430 iilOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

1816 he returned to New Hampshire, married Charlotte Hickok, 
and came back to his land, upon which he always resided up to 
his death, in 1866. He kept hotel at the Pike homestead from 
1821 to 1837. Their children were : 

Almira, who died in 1843; Uriah D., Albert, Sofina, Cyrene, 
Isaiah N. 

Cyrene married Loran Vanderlip ; the}' now reside at Cedar 
Falls, Iowa. 

Isaiah N., married Isabclle Ross ; they now reside at Evans- 
\-ille, Wisconsin. 

Uriah D. Pike. 

Uriah D. Pike was born Aug. 25, 1821, upon the farm which 
his father took up in 18 10, and upon which he has ever since 
resided. He was married in 1846 to Julia Chase, who died in 
1869. Their children are: 

Charles, Isaiah and Ida. 

Charles was married in 1873 to Cornelia Doty. 

Ida is a graduate of the Buffalo State Normal School and 
was married in 1880 to Dr. E. A. Vaughan. 

Mr. Pike was re-married in 1872 to Caroline Trevitt. Mr. 
Pike is a farmer and in his chosen calling has been very suc- 
cessful. 

Mrs. Joshua Pike. 

Whose maiden name was Esther Sharp, was born in Rutland 
county, Vt., in the year 1799, and came with her father's family 
to Wyoming county, N. Y., in the year 18 12. In 18 16, she 
was married to Joshua Pike, came to Concord and settled on 
the farm now owned by John Ballou. Mrs. Pike was the 
mother of thirteen children, of whom there are but five liv- 
ing. Her life has been a checkered one and if duly written 
would fill a volume, gifted by nature, with a strong consti- 
tution, she has far outlived the alloted span, yet posses- 
sing a happy disposition and remarkable powers of memory, 
she belongs to the past and \'et lives to enjo)- the present. 
Hardly any incident of note has transpired ciuring the past 
three-fourths of a century, but what she has some knowledge 
of it, and upon local affairs she can recite incidents that belong 
to another age, that there are but few who li\'e to remember. 



lUnCRAl'IIICAI. SKKTCIIKS. 43 1 

Mrs. Pike tells of the first burial in the woods at Morton's 
Corners. It was that of a youn<^ man that committed suicide. 
His name for certain, was never ascertained, but it was sup- 
posed to be White, and the son of a widow. This was some 
time in May, 1822, for Mr. Richardson said the trees were in 
full leaf. He came to Mr. Battle's and put up a few days. 
There was nothing in his demeanor that would create any sus- 
picion that he contemplated such a rash act. A day or so be- 
fore he left here he made a trade with Battles, and became the 
owner of a pocket knife, with which he scv^ered the veins of his 
arms. This was done on the trail between this place and 
Springville. There was no road then, only a bridle path and 
he just stepped from the trail, and when found b\' Roswell 
Olcott, he was bleeding profusely. He was discovered sitting 
upon a log near where the steam saw mill of Watkin & Gay- 
lord now is. Mr. Olcott aroused the settlement and he was 
brought back to Battles' tavern and medical aid called, but the 
flow of blood had been so great that he died of prostration. 
He would not reveal anything of his history. A plain pine 
cofifin was constructed by Caleb Knight. There were no under- 
takers then, and even if there had been, it would have been 
hard work for them to have reached here. The settlers gath- 
ered and bore him through the woods up to the grave yard, 
though it was not thought of as a church yard then. They 
buried him at the foot of the great maple, which then was but 
a sapling, not as large as a person's thigh. The)' thought if 
his friends should be found, this tree would mark his grave. 

The next the settlers were called upon to carr)' there was 
Uncle Battles, mine host of the inn. The\- made his grave by 
the side of the other, and they have kept on carr}'ing them 
there until there is left out of that pioneer band only m\^self 
and Uncle Luke Simmons, and it w ill not be long before you 
will have to take us there. 

Now I have to recite the darkest day of my life's history, for 
it did appear as though the sun had been blotted out to me for- 
ever. That morning I had been called upon to go a few miles 
and visit the sick. My husband and three of the boys, Oliver, 
Marsden and Franklin, were to engage that day in getting out 
rails, and they had engaged the services of John Millis to assist 



432 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

them with his team. This was on the 23d day of January, 1845. 
It was a clear bright day, with just snow enough to make sleigh- 
ing good. Oliver and Marsden were splitting and Franklin and 
his father were piling and also aiding Mr. Millis in loading to 
haul out to the road. They were at work on lot eighty-three, 
now owned by T. J. Kerr ; just how it happened it was so long 
ago, it is hard for me to remember now. I know that a great 
many supposed that Oliver glanced his axe, but this was not 
so. The boys had quartered the cut, and Oliver, who was intent 
upon his work, was cutting away the slivers ; his father had 
taken an axe to cut a small sapling that stood in the way near 
where Oliver was engaged, with his back towards Oliver, as he 
struck low on the sapling, he threw his hips back just in time 
to receive the fatal blow of Oliver's descending ax, in his left hip. 

The wound was not large, but it was nevertheless fatal, for 
it had severed the main artery. As he received the blow he 
remarked to Oliver, " Look and see, I believe you have cut 
me." Oliver, unconscious of what he had done, replied, " I 
guess not." Mr. Pike was a man very easily affected at the 
sight of blood, and he spoke up quickly and told the boys to 
throw snow in his face as he was very faint. My boys hurriedly 
laid him down and tried every means to staunch the blood ; 
they put snow upon it, and then Oliver and Marsden pressed 
the wound together with their hands, but the blood shot up 
in a jet clear over their shoulders ; every means they tried were 
fruitless. Mr. Pike made the remark, " Boys, now do not be 
frightened, when I tell you this is my death blow." 

By this time Mr. Millis had come for another load of rails, 
and he was tenderly placed upon the sleigh and carefully 
driven to the house. In the mean time a messenger had been 
dispatched for Dr. Bruce, who arrived in due time and began 
to sew up the wound, two or three stitches had been taken 
when he fainted and was gone — yes, dead. I did not get home 
in time to see him alive. He who had left me that morning 
so full of life and hope would never speak again, and I full)' 
realized that my heart was widowed. Since then the shadows 
of death have crept thick and fast into my famih' of stalwart 
sons and daughters. There were thirteen of them, and I spun 
and wove and cared for them all once. 



15I()(;RAI'I1I( Al. SKETCHES. 433 

Five are left now, eiglit having passed away. Jane went 
first, then Marsden ; Irving I gave to my country, and he sleeps 
where Southern vines creep o'er his grave. Oliver died in Illi- 
nois ; the rest of them near me here, and they lie buried up 
here. Yes, death is very cold and desolating. At times the 
past conies back to me as though it were but yesterday. I 
know it was the night that the Morton boys opened their new 
house by giving a grand ball. For weeks had the event been 
talked up and the young came from far and near, and I sup- 
pose it was a grand affair for that time. But for me, \\hat a 
night ; how I looked ahead into the great black future and my 
heart cried out in the bitterness of its agony. How the tink- 
ling of those old-fashioned sleigh-bells smote my heart as the 
merry-makers went dashing by. I would not have anyone infer 
that I was neglected in my sorrow. Mr. Morton's people were 
more than kind, and they would have been glad to have post- 
poned their ball if they could. All my neighbors and friends 
stood by me then and tried to lighten my burden. 

Harrison Piiigry. 

Harrison Pingry was born in the Town of Sardinia, June 5, 

1840. His father's name is William Pingry, and his mother's 
maiden name was Mary Ann Wilder. He lived in Sardinia 
until 1866, when he purchased what has long been known as 
the Henman farm, on lot four, township six, range six, in this 
town, on which he has resided ever since. This farm was 
selected by Asa Gary, in 1809, who occupied it one season, and 
then traded for land in Boston, with Calvin Doolittle. Gov- 
ernor Smith occupied it in 1810; then it was owned and occu- 
pied by James Henman for many years. 

Harrison Pingry was married, in May, 1863, to Josephine E. 
Wells, daughter of Asa Wells ; she was born in this town in 

1841. Their children were: 
Glara J., Mary E. 

William Wells, who died in infancy. 
H. Lee. 

Nicholas Peters. 
Nicholas Peters was born Nov. 29, 1882, in Luxemburg, 
Germany; came to Concord in 1875 ■ '^ '^ farmer by occupa- 



434 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

tion ; was married in 1867 to Mary Zihen, who was born in 
Prussia. His father's name was John Peters ; his mother's 
maiden name was Margaret Oberlinkels. Nicholas Peters was 
in the Luxemburg army from nineteen years old until he was 
twenty-seven years of age ; previous to settling where he now 
lives, he lived near Collins Center about nine years. 
Has one child, Nicholas, born June, 1867. 

Frank Prior. 

Mr. Prior was born Jan. 31, 1850, in Springville, N. Y., of 
which village he has always been a resident and where Jan. i, 
1874, in company with Richard Holland, he engaged in the 
drug business. After an interval of three years, he purchased 
Mr. Holland's interest and still continues the business. He 
married Helen Wadsworth. 

They have three children: Benjamin, John and Elizabeth, 

Isaac Palmer. 

Isaac Palmer was born in the year 1800. His father moved 
from Vermont to this town in 1 817. A few years after, Isaac 
was married to Lucy Palmer, of Gowanda. They had five chil- 
dren : 

Helen married Joseph Tice and moved to Wyoming county; 
after his death, she married Henry Thyng. 

Hiram married Jane Mayo, and lives in Springville. 

Harriet died young. 

Henry married Eugena Briggs ; after her death, he married 
Evaline Mayo ; she died, and he married his present wife, 
Clemantine Hurd. 

Marion married Jeremy Smith. 

For a number of years, Mr. Palmer held the office of Town 
Collector, and was also Assessor, and was Captain of the Spring- 
ville Rifle company for many years. He died Dec. 2, 1869, 
respected by all. 

Daniel Persons. 

Daniel Persons was an carh' settler in this town and lived on 
the Genesee road, lot twent}'-seven, township seven, range seven, 
for a great man)' years and here cleared up a good-sized farm. 



ItlOCKAl'inCAL SKF/rCIIKS. 435 

After he ^ot to be an old man he sold the farm and moved to 
Nichols Corners, bought a lot and lived there until his death. 
He was a great many years Deacon in the Baptist church 
of Springville. He died Aug. 28, 1877, aged eighty-seven years, 
and his wife died Feb. 5, 1874, aged eighty years and ten 
months. They had two children : 

Truman, lives in Golden. 

Mary E., died when a young woman. 

AVilliaiii Speiioer Perigo. 

Mr. Perigo's father, Lyman Perigo, was by occupation a 
tanner, currier and shoe-maker, and served as a soldier in the 
war of 1 8 12. He was born in Rutland county, Vermont, Oct. 
I, 1792. He was married about 18 18, in Vermont, to Susan 
Jones, who was born Feb. 3, 1798, in Rutland county, Vermont. 
They had three sons and three daughters, all born in Vermont, 
viz : 

Susan A., born 1820; married P'rancis White ; reside in 
Springville. 

Martin A., born 1823 ; died in Iowa. 

Mary V., born 1827 ; married John Ballou ; reside in Concord. 

Alvira E., born 1830; married Abram Naudau. 

William Spencer, born 1833 • unmarried ; resides in Concord. 

Samuel W., born 1836; died Dec. 27, 1837. 

The family removed to Springville, N. Y., about 1850, 
where the father, Lyman Perigo, lived until his death, April 12, 
1880; his wife having died July 3, 1877. 

James Quinii. 

James Quinn came to Concord from Vermont in 1848. He 
was born in the County of Antrim, Ireland, Aug. 18, 1832. His 
father's name was James Quinn, his mother's maiden name was 
Sarah Butler. He was married in 1861, to Miss Charlotte Pal- 
mer, who died Nov. 15, 1872, after which he married Mrs. Lydia 
Perkins, April 8, 1880. He is a farmer and lives on his farm 
one mile south-easterly from Morton's corners. His father died 
nine days after their arri\-al in America. His mother lived to 
eighty-four years of age and died in Wisconsin Nov. 28, 1881. 



436 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Life of Jereniiali Richardsou. 

Jeremiah Richardson was born at New Port, N. H., Dec. 30, 
1796. Here was his home until his fifteenth year, when, upon 
the death of his father, he was sent to Hve with his grandfather 
at Milford, Mass. The summers were devoted to the labors 
on the farm and the winters to attending school. Mr. Rich- 
ardson remained here until his seventeenth birth-da}', when he 
went to the town of Hubbardton, Rutland county, Vermont, 
where lived an uncle. This was in 181 3, and the country was 
much disturbed over the prospect of a long and bloody con- 
flict with the mother country. Mr. Richardson says when he 
left the protecting care of his ancestors he left with the deter 
mination of being the architect of his own fortune. The most 
of young men at this age knowing that they were free agents, 
would have been allured by the enchantments of pleasure to 
have marked out a far different course of life, but his ambition 
was to be independent, and his ambition was laudable, for in 
after years it enabled him to build up every cause that was to 
better the condition of men. Mr. Richardson says that he had 
decided to follow the business of farming, and that the Hol- 
land Purchase with its cheap lands and easy terms of payment 
attracted his attention, and he left Massachusetts with the 
intention, after his visit in Vermont, to go directly to Batavia, 
the headquarters of the compan)'. Through the entreaties of 
his friends there and the war-like aspect along the border, he 
consented to remain two years. The first year he found a 
home with his uncle, assisting him on the farm, and the next 
year he served a neighboring farmer in a similar capacity ; and 
he says, " At the end of my engagement, or when the Septem- 
ber sun was ripening off the corn, I tied up my scanty ward- 
robe in a pocket-handkerchief and set out on foot and alone to 
accomplish a journey of three hundred miles. I was fourteen 
days on the way, and every foot of it I had walked. At Bata- 
via I could have secured land, but I found one great objection, 
in almost every house I found a victim of the ague. Much of 
the land in the immediate vicinity of the village was under cul- 
tivation, and the crops far superior to anything I had ever seen 
before, but the fever sickened me of that place, and I inquired 
if there was not some part of the company's domain that was 



]UUt;RAriIlCAl. SKETCIIKS. 437 

not afflicted with this scourge. I was told that there was in 
the Cattaraut^us countr\', but it was only fit for Indians and 
wild beasts to lixx- in. l^ut I feared the fe\'cr more than I did 
these, and I went to the company's office, where, for the first 
time, I met Ebenezer Mix. He was then a j'oung man, very 
familiar and genteel in his manners. I made known to him 
my business and asked him to show me a plot of the Cattarau- 
gus region. This was readily done, and I selected one hundred 
acres on the southeast corner of lot ninety-one, and I got a 
contract by paying ten dollars, which was at that time all the 
wealth I possessed. 

I knew that it would not do for me to go out there penniless, 
so I hired out to chop wood a few days for the distillery at 
twenty-five cents per cord. I was something of a chopper, and 
about the middle of October I had saved up a few dollars. I 
bade my new-found friends good-bye and set out to find my 
claim. I came by the way of Buffalo and Boston. I found a 
very good road for footmen until I reached Townsend's mill, 
now Wheeler Hollow. Here I was directed to a trail that led 
me to Colonel Cook's, on lot thirty-three. Mr. Cook had been 
in there some time, for he had improvements, and I helped 
him to harvest some four acres of corn. At Cook's I was 
greeted with a warm welcome, and the friendship we formed 
then and there has been unbroken, and that was nearly or quite 
sixty years. 

A man by the name of Nehemiah Paine had made a begin- 
ning on the corner of lot forty-one ; his log cabin stood near 
the residence of Nelson Nichols. 

The next morning after partaking of my new-found friend's 
hospitality, I, in company with the Colonel, started out to look 
over my claim. We found it very heavily timbered by beech, 
maple and elm, and to most young men the task of redeeming 
these acres to a state of cultivation would have appeared her- 
culean ; but I was young and inured to toil and strong in hope 
and determination. So after assisting Mr. Cook for a few days 
I began work for myself right here where my house stands to- 
day ; this will be sixty-fi\'e years in November ; the first tree I 
cut was right here, and the first log-heap was down b}- the 
barn ; my well was on the lowest place in the orchard ; I had 



438 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

only to dig eight or nine feet and I had an abundance of water. 
That Fall I did not chop steady on my place, bi't lent a day 
now and then to neighbor Cook, which he returned with his 
oxen when I had got ready to log off ; I chopped two acres, 
which we put into heaps ready for burning in the Spring. 
During this time I had lodged and boarded in Mr. Cook's fam- 
ily. He, though young, had a wife ; I saw that his house room 
was limited, and thought it might be as well for me to look out 
for another place to pass the winter. 

About the last days of November I went back to Batavia 
and engaged in my old occupation of chopping wooci for the 
distillery at twenty-five cents per cord. I was very steady, and 
though I could not cut so much per day as some, I generally 
made out as well as any who followed chopping. I was there 
about four months, and when we settled up I had over $50 my 
due for my Winter's work. 

About the first of April I again returned to my claim, and 
about the first work I undertook for myself was to put up a house. 
The fall before I had cut logs of a suitable length for this pur- 
pose, and again I sought the aid of Cook's willing hands and 
in three days' time I had a home; humble as it was, only 
twelve feet square, with a bark roof, stick chimney and split 
basswood logs for a floor. I was v^ery happy. About the first 
of May I burned my fallow and planted corn and potatoes. 
This proved to be the ever-remembered cold season, and ni}- 
farming turned out to be barren and profitless. Every month 
during the year had more or less frost in it, and one night in 
July, I think it was the 13th, ice formed on a sap trough that 
happened to have water in it, full half an inch. To add to my 
other troubles, along about the middle of June I was taken 
down with the ague. To one of less hope, the outlook of my 
beginning would have been very discouraging. I was alone 
and had just begun on land that I knew the best years of m}- 
life would be consumed in making it habitable. I was sick 
with a disease that all told me I must wear out. I began to 
realize that there was a limit to my endurance, and I often 
thought that the fever would wear me out first. Notwith- 
standing I kept about onl)'when the chill was on and did chop 
and girdle over some six acres. The girdling ma}- not be plain 



r.KXlRAl'IIICAI. SKF/I'CIIKS. 439 

to all, now 1 (-lid not always when clcarinL^ cut the largest 
trees; I would cut throuijh the bark clear around the big trees 
when in full leaf, this would cause them to die and sometimes 
these trees would remain standing for \'ears. I remember that 
I left a large elm standing just below the upper orchard in the 
swail. This tree was the largest I ever saw, being some seven 
feet in diameter; )-cars after I gave it to John Millis, ^\•ho cut 
it down and by placing smaller timber around it, he burned it 
to ashes and made these into salts. We did not always chop 
up the big trees after they were cut down. We would " nig- 
ger " them ofT with fire brands ; that is, we would take the half 
consumed brands and pile them across the big trees at the 
desired length we wished them, and the torch would be applied. 
In this way we saved a great deal of hard chopping. About 
the middle of August I \'isited Squire Frye, who lived in Zoar, 
while there I suffered a chill, this proved a blessing to me for 
it enlisted the sympathies of Mrs. Frye's feeling heart and was 
the means of my getting free of the. ague. I wish to say here 
that Mrs. Jesse Frye was a noble woman, whose greatest 
pleasure was in giving relief to the sick and sorrowing. She 
induced me to remain all night and in the morning when about 
to leave, I found she had prepared for me a bottle of medicine. 
She took the inner bark of white ash and burned it to ashes, 
this was put into w-hisky and by partaking of this freely I broke 
the ague, though it had left my system in a weak condition. 
The early frosts in September killed my corn and potatoes 
dead. The corn had just reached the state suitable for boiling 
and consequently was unfit for food, and my potatoes were but 
little better. My corn I cut, but it was so green and badly 
frozen that it decayed it a few days. My potatoes were not 
much better and the result of my farming that year might be 
summed up in four bushels of very small potatoes, but like 
Crusoe on his lone island, " I had extended my domain and 
taken more in m\' enclosure." Two acres were ready for the 
next }'ear's crop and six more could very easily be added b}' a 
little logging and burning, part of this I accomplished that fall 
and after taking care of m}' potatoes, I set out again for Batavia 
where I found a place with the same man I had served the 
previous Winter. I engaged to chop for twelve dollars per 



440 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

month, hardly had a week passed before I was compelled to 
give up. The fever had just about used me up ; I knew I must 
make some arrangements to get through the Winter. I made 
a proposition that I would remain until Spring, do what I 
could and I would leave it all to him in regard to remunera- 
tion. This he readily assented to. About the house I did 
chores, took care of the stock, and, in fact, I made myself very 
useful ; when I came to settle, he reckoned up my time and 
paid me twelve dollars per month in full. This was far better 
than I had anticipated, and it enabled me to pay up my 
interest, and left me a small sum to begin my Spring's work with. 

That Spring Uncle Battles took up one hundred acres on lot 
eighty-two. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and a few 
years before he died he obtained a pension. He had a family 
of boys and girls. Battles put up quite an imposing log house 
where he entertained travelers. His house stood a little to the 
w^est of the present house built by the Morton brothers. 

That Spring I cast my first vote. The town meeting was 
held at Townsend's, on the hill. I think Barrett was up for 
Supervisor, Gen. Knox for Commissioner. This made me 
fully realize that I had commenced the years of responsibility, 
and that I not only owed allegiance to my Country, but also to 
a higher power whose protecting care had watched over me, in 
my lonely cabin home. I began to read my Bible, and I verily 
believe if it had not been for the promises, I should have given 
up and gone back East. " If a man love me, he will keep my 
word ; and my Father will love, and he will come unto him, 
and make our abode with him." I began to realize that I was 
not alone in the deepest of solitude, and I felt- that I was in 
company with the Greatest of Beings. 

All kinds of provisions that Spring, were ver}' scarce and 
dear. Corn that would actually grow was worth one dollar per 
peck. I planted six acres and used just a bushel. I had to 
get through the Summer with some thirty pounds of meal, 
twenty-two pounds of pork, and a small quantity of small pota- 
toes, that I must eke out until the new crop got large enough 
to use. I counted up the number of days and then I counted 
my potatoes and knew how much meal and pork I could use to 
make my scanty store last. But after all m}- caution. I fell 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 44I 

short some two weeks ; during that time I had to subsist on 
bassvvood and e\m leaves, and by scraping off the inner bark of 
these trees. I actually suffered from the pangs of hunger. 
That year, though the season was late, the crops were good and 
I soon had an abundance with plenty to spare. Feelings of 
great thankfulness took possession of me. 

In August, Elder Folsom held a series of meetings in Bos- 
ton. It was a good wa}' to walk but I attended and became 
converted to the truths of Christianity. Since then I have 
always done what was in my power to do, to build up the 
cause. More than sixty years ago, I thought of a church and 
parsonage here, and I have lived to see it done. 

That year after securing my crops, I turned my attention to 
digging sap troughs, and when the sugar time came I had over 
five hundred of these ready to set. The season proved a good 
one and I began earl)', I think I tapped a few trees about the 
middle of Februar)% and made about forty pounds of sugar. 
This I put into a bag and threw aci'oss my shoulder, and with 
my dinner box in one hand, I walked to Buffalo the same da}', 
sold my sugar for five dollars cash, and the next day I walked 
home again. All I was out for expenses \\'as a shilling, for 
lodging, at the old Eagle Tavern. This inspired me with 
confidence in the profits of maple sugar, and I have since set 
as high as 2,800 buckets in one season. These buckets were 
the work of my own hands and were made during the Winter 
months. When I began Sugar making, I used five-pail kettles 
for boiling ; over fifty years ago I conceived the idea of evap- 
orating in sheet-iron pans, and myself and brother Elijah, con- 
structed the first one. Had I obtained a patent upon this it 
would have been very profitable, for since then they have 
come into general use ; but I did not think of making money 
in any other way only by work. I have been thinking of my 
life of sugaring, and 1 have been reckoning up. I have made 
nearly, or quite one hundred tons of sugar, and upon an aver- 
age I have received ten cents per pound. This would amount 
to S-0,ooo, and I think I am safe in saying that the profits of 
this industry have been as good as any that I have undertaken 
and I have made it a rule never to destro\' a maple tree, unless 
it grew directly in my path. The bo}'s that used to work for 



442 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

me in the bush, used to think me severe because I would not 
allow them to cut maple hand spikes. Those maple hand 
spikes to-day are large trees, and if put to use would make a 
good amount of sugar. Yes my maple orchard was full as 
profitable as my apple orchard, and I devoted a good deal of 
attention to it. 

Mr. Richardson tells me that the Spring and early Summer 
of i8i8, he spent in clearing. He had nearly twenty acres 
ready for cultivation, and that he began to think of visiting the 
East and getting his brothers to come here and settle. After 
talking with Colonel Cook, in relation to this period in Mr. 
Richardson's life — a suspicion that there was another and a 
stronger magnet that induced the young pioneer to take that 
long weary journey, afoot, than kindred ties, and that the hazel 
eyes of the gentle Anna Webster shone brighter and were 
more cheering to the lonely hours of the young pioneer than 
all the stars that shine in the vault of Heaven, for believe me, 
in every life and its history, there has been a woman in it 
sometime; be it so. 

I learn that he went back that June, and I take the " old 
family record," and I found it duly written out in his own bold, 
plain hand, that Jeremiah Richardson was married to Anna 
Webster, Nov. 29, 1818. Not much for one here to weave into 
the warp of his stern, earnest life — the threads of romance ; 
but I knew him so well : knew that he who was oak and rock 
in storm, was in sunshine as gentle and tender as the flowers 
that to-day bloom above his grave. 

The next February I learn that he returned, bringing with 
him Anna and his brother Elijah, who was a blacksmith ; he 
located at Nichols Corners, and if I am informed right, he was 
the first one of his trade here. 

For nearly fourteen years, Anna Webster lived to bless his 
home, when the star-light of his boyhood went out in the dark 
night-clouds of death, Sept. 2, 1832. By this dispensation, 
seven little children were left to his care, viz.: 

Jeremiah T., born Jan. 8, 1821, 

Clarinda, born July 10, 1822. 

Dianah, born July 4, 1824. 

David M., born Jan. 30, 1826. 



lUOCKAPHKAL SKK'ICI IKS. 443 

Alansoii M., bom Jan. i~, 1S28. 

Ann.i Jane, born Oct. 5, 1830. 

Levi, born Jan. 23, 1832. 

These chiKlren are all now lixinsj,- but Anna Jane, who died 
June 1 1, 1869. 

I learn that for nearh' two \'ear.s he was left alone with these 
children. Then he found another Anna who would take the 
l^lace of the lost one, antl on the third day of February, 1834, 
he was married to Anna Jane Woodward, and she journeyed 
on with him near unto thirty-five )'ears, when she too became 
wear)- of the burden and lay down to rest. When death, the 
friend of the sick and the sorrowing, kissed down her eyelids 
still, May 26, 1868. She had borne him eight children, viz.: 

Mary C, born March 8. 1837. 

Eliza, born June 11, 1838. 

Harvey W., born May 3, 1840. 

Francis, born Aug. 11, 1842. 

Preston C, born May 14, 1844. 

Charles H., born March 11, 1846. 

George, born June 4, 185 1. 

Cornelia A., born Sept. 21, 1856. 

These children are all living but Charles II., who died April 
26, 1876. Previous to her death Mr. Richardson had enter- 
tained thoughts of retiring from the acti\-e duties of his large 
farm. 

For o\'er fift}- \ears had he been on dut}-, and he felt that 
the evening had come and he sought rest. Half of his real 
estate was divided up among the children of Anna Webster. 
Soon after he sold the remainder, and this will go to the chil- 
dren of Anna Woodward. For four \'ears, the toil-worn jjio- 
neer walked on alone with his two youngest children, but his 
house was not the refuge of former years, and to fill it he 
realized that he needed the love anti care of some good being 
to cheer the latter days of his long and useful life. This being 
he found in the person of Mrs. Selina Webster, to whom he 
was married Nov. 14, ^872. This was a happy union. She 
cared for him as tenderly as a fond mother does for her child, 
and until his last sickness he enjoyed the comforts of a pleas- 
ant and hapj)}- home. 



444 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

When he felt that his Hfe was drawing to a close, he called 
his children about him and bade them good-bye, and such was 
his faith that even in the hour and agony of death, he consid- 
ered the pains of his dissolution nothing but the breaking down 
of the partition that stood between his soul and the image of 
his Creator. 

At 5 o'clock P. M., Dec. 4, 1879, ^^- Richardson ceased to 
breathe. On the seventh, his mortal remains were laid away 
in the grave, and very soon all that the world will know of him 
will be gleaned from a perusal of this short sketch. 

Deacon John Russell. 

Deacon John Russell, another of the pioneers of this town, 
first came here but a few weeks after Samuel Cochran, in the 
Fall of 1808. His history during the early settlement of this 
town is so closely connected with the history of Cochran that 
the history of one is to a great extent the history of the other, 
and if written separately would prove but a repetition. But 
there is so much of real worth, of moral greatness and true 
herosim about the life and character of Deacon Russell that he 
deserves more than a passing notice. It is true he was not a 
great man in the worldly acceptation of that term. He was no 
genius, but he was strongly marked as a man of strength. He 
bore in his character and mental and moral physiognomy cre- 
dentials showing that he was appointed by a high power. He 
possessed the power of endurance, and was capable of pursuing 
an undeviating course or line of conduct for years, never yield- 
ing to discouragement, but patiently removing the obstacles 
in the way anci rising superior to all opposition. The number 
of men are very small who have left behind them so straight 
and undeviating a line of conduct, and few men ever lived in 
this town, to whose influence the communit}^ are more indebted 
for their life-work for the good of society. 

Deacon John Russell was born in New Hartford, Litchfield 
county, Conn., Oct. 17, 1779. His father was an insane man 
and consequently John, from early childhood, was compelled to 
toil to the full extent of his ability. He often said he had 
never known what it was to enjoy leisure hours and have time 
for recreation and amusement. The insanit\' of the father 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 445 

rendered the family hearth not only a place of dant^er but also 
an undesirable place to rear children. This, to<^ether with the 
poverty of the family, rendered it necessary to commit the 
rearini;" of John to the hands of strangers, and at the at^e of 
eigiit, he was indentured to a farmer till he should attain his 
majority. He was, therefore, virtually fatherless from his 
earliest recollection ; he enjoyed occasional interviews with his 
mother, but of very short duration ; yet, he did not Icavx' the 
man to whom he was indentured till a fortnight after he 
was twenty-one, when, with his pack on his back, he started 
a lonely, yet heroic wayfarer for Oneida county, N. Y., 
where he arrived in the Fall of 1800. Here he remained nearly 
two years, working by the month, and here he was married to 
Miss Merinda Austin, the daughter of the man for whom he 
labored. In 1802, he left Oneida county for Madison county, 
and bought a piece of land, in company with one of his broth- 
ers, near Cazenovia. He remained here, working upon his 
land 'till the Fall of 1808, at which time, in the month of No- 
vember, he removed to this place, where he resided until his 
death. He, therefore, reached the place of his final destination 
a few days after he was thirty years of age and on the month 
he died. 

This place was then an entire wilderness, with but one family 
in the limits of the present town of Concord. A man by the 
name of Stone had made a beginning a year before. John 
Albro had also been here but had left a few days before on 
account of the death of his wife, but returned again the next 
year. Samuel Cochran had been here the month previous, 
taken ujj land, cut and rolled up logs for a shanty, but had gone 
after his family. On his return there were three families to 
spend the winter of 1808 and 1809 together. Two of these 
families only proved permanent citizens. Stone soon after leav- 
ing for new scenes. 

In the Spring af 1809, there were four families in town : Rus- 
sell, Cochran, Stone and Albro, who had married again and re- 
turned to his former place to remain a few years longer, Here 
we have the foundation of our thri\'ing, growing, spreading and 
prosperous community. These men labored for the building 
up of society and both of them have long since gone to their 



446 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

rest, leaving not one of the first settlers of this town in our 
midst, and but a fev/ of what may be called the early settlers. 
They are all passingaway like the dew of the morning and soon 
the marble and the sod will tell us that they are all gone. 

The mother of Deacon Russell was a woman of very ardent 
piety and her influence was felt on John, and as soon as there 
were settlers enough to enjo}' the forms of religious meeting, 
he collected them together and read to them sermons and 
engaged in singing, although there were none among them that 
could pray. The first religious impulse given to this commu- 
nit}' was by Russell, although not a christian himself. The 
first man who could be induced to pray was a Unitarian, whose 
name is forgotten. So desirous were these pioneers to enjoy 
religious service that Deacon Russell and wife went to Boston 
on foot to attend a meeting and Russell worked hard to 
gather together all the religious influence in this communit)' 
until 1816, when the Congregational Church was formed and 
he became its first Deacon and realh' its first pastor until his 
death. 

Deacon Russell lost his first wife several years before his 
death and was married again. He had but two children: Mrs. 
Deacon Eaton Bensley, the mother of George Eaton and John 
Russell Bensley and Mrs. Joseph Harkins, the mother of Mrs. 
R. W. Tanner and Mrs. Dighton Louck. 

Silas Kiislmiore. 

Silas Rushmore was a highly respected citizen of Concord 
for many years. He married a daughter of Samuel Bradley 
of this place. They had two sons — Chester and Charles. Ches- 
ter lives in Illinois and Charles is dead. Mr. Rushmore resides 
in Illinois and is nearl}- ninety years of age. At m}' request, 
he sent me the follo\\ing statement. (Mr. Rushmore has since 
died): 

1. ]\Iy father's family li\'ed in Greene county, N. Y., until I 
was ten or twelve years of age; moved from there to Oneida 
county, near Utica ; lived there until I was of age. 

2. I served in the war of 1812 ; went to Sackett's Harbor; 
was gone from home about six weeks; went to Oswego ; was 
gone but a few da}-s. At that time was li\-ing in Manlius, 
Onondaga county. 



inOGRAPIIICAL SKETCHES. 447 

3. Came to Springvillc in the Fall of 18 16. 

4. The families livin<^ in Springville and vicinity when I 
came, according to my recollection, were Rufus Eaton, Benja- 
min Gardner, Daniel Ingals, Varney Ingals (bachelor), David 
Leroy (^the noted violinist), Samuel Cochran, Samuel Burgess, 
Isaac Knox, Frederick Richmond, Truman White, Francis 
White, Moses White (twin brothers), John Albro, Giles Church- 
ill, John Russell, Benjamin Rhodes, Eliakim Rhodes, Julius 
Bement, Phineas Scott and John Williams. 

5. The first saw-mill built by Eaton ; first grist-mill by Ben- 
jamin Gardner. 

6. Gardner's mill was built before I came; so was Eaton's 
saw-mill. 

7. Eaton's grist-mill built about 1818. 

8. The hotel on Franklin street, fronting the park, built by 
David Stanard about 18 17. 

9. The first woolen factory built by Samuel Bradley about 
1820. 

10. The first tannery built by Jacob and Silas Rushmore 
about 1 81 7. 

11. Second tannery built by Hoveland & Towsley about 
1823 or 1824. 

12. First distillery built by Frederick Richmond about 1818. 

13. Second distillery built by Silas Rushmore. 

14. First ashery built by Frederick Richmond before I came. 

15. Rufus C. Eaton \\as the first postmaster. 

The first town-meeting that I remember, was held in Collins. 
At that time Concord included Collins, North Collins and Sar- 
dinia. 

A. F. Rust. 

Mr. Rust was born in Bremen, Germany, in 1840. His ances- 
tors followed the sea and were experts at their calling. He 
came to America in 1854, on a sailing vessel which was forty- 
five days in crossing the Atlantic. He came to Yorkshire, 
N. Y., and worked two years for his uncle, Henry Butt, as pay- 
ment for his passage from Germany ; his uncle having paid his 
fare over, which was §42.00. He attended district school sev- 
eral winters and three terms at the Springville Academy, under 
the principalship of David Copeland. 



448 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

In 1861 he entered the store of Richmond & Holman, at 
Springville, as clerk. After clerking three years he engaged in 
the livery business with his brother Richard, which they fol- 
lowed until 1870, when, in company with Abraham Dygert, 
the}' bought the old Springville House of Em. Pierce. Rust 
brothers soon bought Mr. Dygert's interest and conducted 
the hotel until 1876, when the subject of this sketch engaged 
in the grocery business at Springville. 

Mr. Rust was married in 1868, to Miss Carrie Moore. They 
have four children living: Lottie, Henry, Altha May and 
Nettie, 

George Renter. 

George Renter, son of Adam and Magdela Renter, was born 
in Baden, Germany, Sept. 12, 18 18. He landed in New York 
city July 6, 1854; came to Concord the same year, where he 
located, and now owns and occupies a farm three miles west of 
Springville. 

In July, 1849, ^'"^ married Elizabeth Smith, also a native of 
Baden, Germany. Before emigrating to America Mr. Renter 
served ten years in the German army. The following is the 
family record of his children : 

Lany, born Jan. 15, 1844; married Nicholas Street; died 
Oct. 25, 1874. 

William, born Oct. 18, 1849 ^ married Ellen Baily. 

Frederick, born Nov. 19, 1850; married Lizzie Zimmerman. 

Sophia, born March 17, 1852. 

Lebold, born May 28, 1855. 

Joseph, born June 24, 1859. 

Mary, born Feb. 25, 1S62. 

Louisa, born Nov. 30, 1863. 

John, born Sept. 18, 1869. 

He has two grandchildren living with him : 

Mary Street, born Jan. 6, 1866. 

Lizzie Street, born Nov. 8, 1868. 

John Keed. 

Mr. Reed's paternal grandfather was a sea captain and an 
artist. His father Daniel Reed was born in Connecticut His 



KIOORAPIIICAL SKKTCirKS. 449 

jTiother's niaitlcn name was Prudence Shephard. The}' re- 
moved to the town of Glen, Montgomery county, N. Y., 
where Mr. Reed was born, Oct. 22, 1829. The family came to 
this town about 1S38, where Mr, Reed has resided most of the 
time since. He has been cn<^aged for many years in the boot 
and shoe and leather trade in Sprin^^ville. He was married in 
1849 to Mary Jane Hicks. They have three children : 
Edward T., hla L., John J. 

Nicholas Kassel. 

Nicholas Rassel was born at Brandenburgh, Canton of 
Dikirch, Luxemburg, in 1837 ; came to this country in 1856. 
Embarked at Antwerp and landed at New York. Lived in 
Minnesota two years and in Illinois three years. In the Fall 
of 1 86 1 he enlisted in the arm\- and served over three years and 
was in eighteen different skirmishes and engagements. Was 
at Island No. 10, Shiloh. Tannington, Corinth, Natchez, Mem- 
phis, Cayuga, Jackson, Vicksburg and in the Red River expedi- 
tions. After the close of the war he came to Buffalo, and in 
1869 returned to the old country on a visit. Was in business 
in Buffalo nine years. Came to Springville in the Spring of 
1876. He is a butcher, and keeps a meat market at No. 112 
Main street. He was married to Kate Winter in 1871 ; she 
died in 1872. Was married to his present wife, Susan Hcin, in 
1874. They ha\'e two children : 

Nicholas F., 

Barbara Ann Kate. 

Oeorg'e A. Kii'linioiid. 

George A. Richmond was born in the Town of Sardinia in 
1854. His father's name was (jeorge Richmond ; his mother's 
maiden name was Emily White ; his grandfather's name was 
also George Richmond ; came here from Vermont in 1S07, and 
selected land on the Cattaraugus creek in the southwest corner 
of Sardinia, and in 1 809 moved his famil}- on to it and built a 
log house, as all the settlers at that time were obliged to. and 
commenced keeping ta\'ern and clearing up a farm. In early 
times Richmond's log ta\'ern was wideh' known and was used 
for public gatherings of xarious kinds. In after years (ieorge 



450 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Richmond, the second, kept hotel in a frame building near by, 
and was also extensively and successfull}- engaged in farming, 
and at the time of his death owned over fifteen hundred acres 
of land. 

George A. has been a farmer and also kept hotel in Spring- 
ville. He was married in 1874 to Miss Cecelia Wilgus, of 
Whitestown, N. Y. 

Jacob Kusliinore. 

Jacob Rushmore was a very early settler here. He and his 
brother built a tannery in 18 17 between Elk and Pearl streets 
in Springville. He built and lived in an old yellow house just 
above the present residence of J. P. Myres. He afterward 
built the house where Edwin Wright now lives, and during his 
life-time acquired considerable property. 

He had six children, all of whom are now dead except two. 
who live in San Francisco, Cal. 

He died April 5, 1855, aged sixty-six years. 

His wife died March 13, 1S49, ^gt'd fifty-nine years. 

Emory Sanipsoii. 

Emory Sampson was born at Harvard, Mass., Oct. 31, 1791. 
Here was his home until he had reached the years of manhood. 
Some time in the year 181 3 he was united in marriage to Miss 
Susannah Herrick, who was born at Northumberland, N. H., 
Oct. 16, 1792. From here the young couple went to New 
Hartford, N. Y., where the}' remained about one year, and 
from thence to West Bloomfield, same state. The next we 
learn of the )-oung pioneer he had taken a squatter's claim near 
the village of Batavia ; the low, marshy grounds that sur- 
rouncied the village at that time caused a great deal of sickness, 
mostly of a malarial type, and the young adventurer after suf- 
fering several "shakes" and doing considerable work, left his 
claim and went to the Town of China, Wyoming county. In 
the month of December, 1817, he located one hundred acres 
on lot thirty-six, township seven, range seven, in the town of 
Concord. This was the year after the ever-to-be-remembered 
cold season, and Mr. Sampson, suffered in common with the 
rest of the settlers ; he was a cooper by trade, but as there was 



lilOCkAIMIKAI. SKi;i(IIKS. 45 1 

but little dcnuiiul for liis scrxiccs here he souglit for work in 
Buffalo. Airs. Samjjson and her two Httle cliildren would be 
left alone during" the week, but when Saturda\- night came the 
young mechanic would receive his wages, and so strong was 
his love for those who waited for his coming that he would set 
out on foot and alone to make that night journey of nearly 
thirt}' miles, through the woods, and he seldom failed to accom- 
})lish it before sunrise the next morning. He lived in this 
town about thirty years, and cleared up a good-sized farm. In 
1S46, Mr. Sampson sold this place and moved to Wisconsin, 
where he died Sept. 20, 1852. His wife survi\ed him a few 
years and died July 18, 1859. 

Thirteen children were born to them, of whom nine are now 
li\ing. viz.; 

Alar}- Ann, born Feb. 11, 1814. 

William A., born Nov. 7, 181 5. 

Perrin, born Dec. 15, 181 8. 

Sarah M., born April 28, 1820. 

John G., born Oct. 28, 1821. 

Nancy S., born Oct. 15, 1825. 

Henry W., born Sept. 25, 1827. 

Aseneth S., born March 4, 1830. 

Asa E., born Dec. 4, 1831. 

Mr. Sampson held the ofifice of Justice of the Peace and other 
town ofifiQes, and he served as a soldier in the war of 1812-15. 
He also held the ofifice of Captain in the militia. 

Ah'XJiiKlcr Sooby 

Came to the town of Otto, from Herkimer count}', in 1824, and 
found a home with his brother-in-law, Abram Gibbs, father of 
ex-Governor Gibbs, of Oregon. Otto was then but little better 
than a wilderness, and the yc^ung and strong adventurer proved 
of inestimable \'alue to the pioneer in reducing his claim to a 
habitable state. In 1827, he was married to Miss Sarepta Boss. 
This proved to be a very congenial union, and their united 
efforts established one of the happiest homes that ever falls to 
the lot of mortals. A year or so after we find the }-oung couple 
located on the Cattaraugus, in the Town of Ashford. at a place 
known as the " Transit Falls." but since changed to the " Scoby 



452 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Mills." Here he built a saw and grist mill, and, for nearly 
forty years, he very successfully carried on these industries, 
together with that of bridge building. Besides seeing to his 
own concerns, he represented his town for several years on the 
Board of Supervisors, was President of the Cattaraugus county 
Agricultural Society one year, and also served in a like capac- 
ity for the Springville Agricultural Society. He possessed to 
the last an inexhaustable fund of wit and humor that drew 
friends around him, and he also dispensed an open-hearted hos- 
pitality that was inherent to his nature, and made him a favor- 
ite of old and young, and scarcely ever was his home on the 
creek without one or more guests. But hard work and the 
exposure that he constantly endured in and about his mills, 
impaired his health and induced him to sell out on the creek, 
and take up his residence in Springville. Here he continued 
to enjoy the society of his friends and the creature-comforts of 
his happy home, but alas, like all things mortal, a great shadow 
fell across his pathway, and the light and joy and sunshine of 
that home was forever darkened by the death of Mrs. Scoby, 
who had been his faithful companion for nearly half a century. 
Her death occured June 30, 1874. Nine children were the 
fruits of their union, viz : 

Madison C, married Agnes Bensley ; Chicago. 

Maryette, married Thomas Pierce ; Springville. 

Emeline E., married E. Smith ; died 1870. 

Emma Jane, married A. Oyer; died 1865. 

William G., married Francis A. Eddy; Mansfield, Cattar- 
augus county. 

Louisa A., married \V. F. Lincoln ; East Otto, Cattaraugus 
county. 

Adaline L., married William H. Warner ; Springville. 

Herbert D., married Sophia A. 'Bensley ; Fort Scott, Kansas. 

Marshall I)., married Addella Thomas ; Springville. 

The death of his wife left him alone, for his children all had 
homes of their own. In view of this he rented his place in 
Springville, and the remainder of his days were passed with 
his younger son, Marshall D., who was then living at San- 
dusky, N. Y. He died June 24, 1880, aged seventy-three 
years and eleven days. 



II 



mOGRAI'IIICAL SKETCHES. 453 

Pliiiy Smith. 

Fifty-two years the loth day of September, 1883, fliny Smith, 
wife and little son, came to this town on the lumbering old 
stage coach, w Inch ran over Townsend hill. The}' stopped the 
first night in a house where Mrs. Post now lives. Here they 
stopped for a number of years. Mr. Smith came here as a 
dry goods merchant and commenced business where the Meth- 
odist church now stands. A few years afterwards he sold out 
and bought a farm, after which he was part of the time 
engaged in trade and the remainder in farming. Mr. Smith 
was well educated for the times in which he lived, and what- 
ever business or office of trust he undertook, he performed its 
duties faithfully and well. He was for thirty years treasurer of 
the Springville Academy, and was also Justice of the Peace 
eight years. He was a faithful friend to the Academy and did 
all in his power to aid and strengthen it. Mr. Smith was born 
in Orwell, Rutland county, Vt., in 1804, and died in Spring, 
ville Jan. 3, 1878. His wife, Rebecca (Murray) Smith died in 
Springville, 1883. They had three children : 

Orville, the eldest, born in 1828, married Chastine D. Sleeper 
and lives in Springville. 

Emeline, born in 183 1, married William Reed, a hardware 
merchant, of Buffalo. After his death she was married to F. C. 
Hill, of Buffalo, also a hardware merchant. 

Ann, born in 1836, married Charles Vaughn, and lives in 
Concord. 

Albert Steele. 

David Steel, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 
Concord in 1823 ; he married Julia Hawks, who was born in 
1 83 1 They had five children : 

Solomon, David Jr., Albert, Sarah and Myron. 

Albert was born in Concord in 1847, and married Nina Blake- 
ley in 1874, and is at the present time farming in Concord. 
They have four children : 

Edna, born in 1875. 

Lloyd, born in 1877. 

Irene, born in 1880. 

Julia, born in 1882. 

Mr. Steele's father died in 1867; his mother died in 1875, 



I 



454 BioGRArmcAL sketches. 

Luke Siiiioiuls. 

Of that sturd)' band of heroic pioneers who sixty and sevent}' 
years ago left their New Eni^land homes to come into this then 
almost primeval forest to prepare the way for the harvest field, 
the church spire and the scliool-house, Mr. Simonds is one of 
but few that still survive. 

The son of a Revolutionary soldier, he was born at Worcester, 
Mass., July, 1798. In the Fall of 1820, he, in company with 
his brother Zebedee and John and Masury Giles, came to West 
Concord. The four walked the entire distance from Worcester 
to Concord, averaging about thirty miles each day — each carry- 
ing his worldly effects on hi-^ back. The}' were all young, un- 
married men, and located on lot thirty-four, township seven, 
range seven. On their arrival, they stopped at Lewis Nichols', 
who had settled at Nichols' Corners, while they could build 
them a log shanty ; in this shanty, Luke and his brother 
Zebedee antl John Giles spent the Winter. The following 
Spring, Zebedee built a house on his land and returned to 
Massachusetts and was married. 

Luke built a house on his portion about a year and a half 
after coming. 

The wild animals common to the country were then abun- 
dant. Mr. Simonds .tells of following a panther from early 
dawn one day till darkness prevented his taking aim on his gun, 
when he abandoned the pursuit. He speaks of seeing wolves 
in what is now his front yard. 

Mr. Simonds r.;ives the following information relating to the 
early history of his part of the town : First saw mill, built by 
John and Masury Giles in 1825, near where the Bolender mills 
now are; first grist mill, built by Simeon Holton in 1824; first 
blacksmith .sho]), by Elijah Richardson in 1821 ; brick first 
made by Pliny Wilson in 1820; first black .salts made by Luke 
Simonds. who also made boots and shoes, and frequently went 
to Buffalo on foot after the leather ; the first school was taught 
by Philip Payne in the Winter of 1820 and '21. The first Sum- 
mer school was taught by Rosamond Sampson. 

As an evidence of the .scarcity and value of certain articles in 
a new country might be inentioned a caldron kettle, in the 
posse.ssion of Mrs. Simonds, which was brought from Albany all 



r.TOr.RAl'IIICAT. SKETCHES. 455 

the way on a wagon, and when dcHvcred at Boston Corners 
the total expense was forty dollars. 

Mr. Simonds has always resided upon the same land upon 
which he located in 1820. He was married in 1827, to Bets}' 
Cooper ; has four children living : 

Betsy married Thomas J. Richardson. 

Mary — unmarried. 

Alphine married Jeremiah Louk. 

Albert married Mariah Sloan. 

Mr. Simonds" brother Zebedeedied in Elma, Erie county, N. 
Y., in 1871. 

William Smith, Jr. 

William Smith, Jr., was born in Vermont in January, 1802. 
and came to this town in the Spring of 18 10. He attended 
school that Summer to Miss Annie Richmond. He lived with 
his father until he was of age and chopped for him and others 
in company with his brother Calvin, and was considered one of 
the best choppers in the country. After he became of age, 
he taught several terms of school. In 1828, he built a store 
where the First National bank now stands, and started the 
first regular grocery store in Springville, which he ran for a 
short time and then sold out. He located on the south part of 
lot forty-five, township seven, range six, on Sharp street. He 
commenced with sixt}'-five acres of wild land, but kept adding 
on from time to time, till he had a farm of two hundred acres 
which he afterwards sold to Seth W. Godard ; he then bought 
a farm south of and joining the village, lately owned by Allen 
Goodemote, which he soon after traded to William P. Mills 
for his farm on Townsend Hill, consisting of all of lot three 
and part of lot four, where Frank Williams now lives. Here he 
died in March, 1870, at the age of sixty-eight. 

He was a very industrious, hard-working man, and acquired 
a good property. He once received a premium at a town fair 
as the best farmer in the town. He reared a large family of 
children. Those of his wife Emeline (Godard) Smith were : 

Laban W., born March 8, 1835. 

Abel W., born Februar\-. 1837; died Feb. 16, 1844. 

Jane, born June 3, 1833 : married Chester C. Pingry. 




WILLIAM SMITH, JPJ. 



I'.KXikAI'Ilir.M, SKKICUKS. 457 

Emogcnc, born March 22. i(S42: married A. L.-,Vau_L,^han. 
and lives in Springvillc. 

Wesley, born Sept. 30, 1S45 ; lives in Wisconsin. 

Those of his wife Cinderrella (Briggs) Smith are : 

Alphonse, born May 14, 1847. 

Angerona, born Sept. 12, i<S48. 

Charles E., born ]^\'b. 4, 1S50. 

Loraine, born Feb. 14, 1852. 

Lorette, born Aug. 26, 1853. 

Ella, born Nov. 17, 1854. 

Luzerne, born May 26, 1856. 

Mary A., born Oct. 26, 1857. 

Willie D., born May 1 i, i860. 

Lillie O., born March 11, 1863. 

Allen L., born Nov. 12, 1866. 

Luzerne Smith. 

Luzerne Smith, son of W'ilHam Smith, was born in Concord, 
N. Y., Ma}' 26, 1856, where he has resided most of the time. 
His occupation which he has successfully followed for several 
years is that of cheese making. He was married in 1875 to 
Anna Vosburg ; they have three children : 

Lee, born April 2y, 1877. 

Alta A., born in Februar)-, 1880. 

Earl, born April 15, 1881. 

("liarles K. Sinitli. 

Charles E. Smith, son of William Smith, was born Feb. 4. 
1850, in Concord ; married Hannah Fuller. They have one 
son, Charles. Ls a cheese maker and farmer ; is now and has 
been for several seasons making cheese at East Concord. 

Alyhon.so Smith. 

Alphonso Smith was born in the town of Concord, May 14, 
1847, lii-'' father's name was William Smith and his mother's 
maiden name was Cinderrella Briggs. He has worked at farm- 
ing, but for the last dozen years or more he has followed the 
business of cheese making very successfully. He resides at 



458 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

the present time in the north part of the town of Concord. He 
was married in the year 1872 to Miss Mary E. Acklcy. Their 
children are: 

Daisey, born July 18, 1874. 

Dell H., born March 7, 1876. 

Glenn A., born June 28. 1878. 

Harlau P. SpaiiUliuji. 

Mr. Spaulding was born at Otto, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., 
Aug. 9th, 1839. His father, Harvej^ Spaulding, was born in 
Middlesbur\% Vermont, in 1804. His mother Clarissa Hastings 
was born at Fort Ann, Washington county, N. Y., in 1805. 
They were married in 1824 and moved to Great Valley, N. Y., 
and to Springville in 1826; afterwards resided at different 
places until 1850, when they took up their permanent residence 
in Springville. 

Harlan P. Spaulding enlisted as a private Sept. 16, 1861, in 
Company A, Forty-fourth Regiment New York State volun- 
teers, and joined the regiment at Albany. The regiment 
joined the Army of the Potomac in October, 1861 ; participated 
in the battles of Antietam, F"redericksburg, Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg, &c. Mr. Spaulding served with the Forty-fourth 
until Oct. 10, 1863, when he was commissioned captain in the 
Seventh Regiment U. S. colored troops, and assigned to Com- 
pany E. He was sent to Florida in the Spring of 1864, and 
returned in August, and was with the Army of the Potomac 
until Lee's surrender. On the 9th of April, 1864, Mr. Spauld 
ing was breveted by the President, Major and Lieutenant-Col- 
onel for gallant and meritorious services. 

After Lee's surrender he was assigned to the command of the 
Post of Matagorda, Texas, with companies E and G, of his regi- 
ment. He remained there until Jan. i, 1866, when the companies 
joined the regiment at Indianola, where he was a})pointed 
U. S. Marshal for the sub-district of Victoria, Texas ; remained 
there until April i, then went to Victoria with companies E 
and G to relieve Colonel Colyer, of the Thirty-eighth Illinois 
regiment ; remained at this poi^t until November, when he 
came North and was mustered out of service at Baltimore. 



I'.iocKAi'iiicAi. ski; 1(1 IKS. 459 

Frank I*. Spaiildin^-. 

I'rank P. Spaukliiii^- was born in S[)rini;villc, N. Y., July I2, 
1834. His father's name was Harvey Spaulding; his mother's 
maiden name was Chirisa Haskins. When nineteen years old 
Mr. S'paulding- went to sea. lie sailed froni New Bedford, 
Mass., June 25, 1853, on board the bark 1^'ranklin No. 2, Cap- 
tain Samuel Lee, Master, of Newport, R. I. Returned to the 
same pnvt July 8, 1857. During;- this whaling- voyage of four 
years in the Pacific ocean, they secured over one thousand bar- 
rels of sperm oil. The first port made on the outward voyage 
was the Azores; doubled Cape Horn P'eb. 20, 1854; made the 
first port in the Pacific ocean at Talcahuano, in Chili ; visited 
Conception, from which city they sailed in March for a cruise off 
the coasts of Peru, California and the Galapagos Islands ; visiting 
the ports of Payta and Tumbez, in Peru. At the latter place Mr. 
Spaulding explored the ruins of one of those ancient cities 
built previous to the discovery of America by Europeans. Off 
the coast of Mexico they encountered a typhoon la.sting twenty- 
four hours, carrying away several of their boats and damagmg 
their ship. The voyage around Cape Horn was unimportant. 

Mr. Spaulding embarked on a second whaling voyage on the 
same vessel and for the same waters, Sept. 29, 1857, John S. 
Howland, Captain. On reaching the La Plata River the vessel 
sprunk a-leak and they put about for Rio Janeiro for repairs; 
remained at that city five weeks ; during this time Mr. Spauld- 
ing saw the Emperor Don Pedro review his troops. Leaving 
Rio Janeiro they doubled Cape Horn in rough weather, stop- 
ping at the Island of Juan Fernandez for sup[)]ies, after which 
they cruised off the co ist of Peru, making the port of Hono- 
lulu in Sept., 1858, where they staid five weeks. During this 
time Mr. Spaulding saw much of the Sandwich Islan.ds and 
their King, Kamahamaha IV. They left Payta, Peru, for 
home in December, i;-6o. Off the coast of Juan Fernandez 
they encountered a gale, damaging their vessel so that they made 
for Valparaiso, where the vessel was condemned and the cargo 
of twelve hundred barrels of oil sent home by another ship. 
Mr. Si)aulding took passage on a steamer for Talcahuano, Chili, 
with the Captain ; from there sailed for liome in the bark 



460 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Franklin No. i. Captain Gifford, Master, arriving at New Bed- 
ford, June 23, 1861. 

During his travels Mr. Spaulding was a shrewd and intelli- 
gent observer, and if space permitted much might be related of 
his observations that would be of interest. 

Mr. Spaulding had been at home but a short time when he 
entered the union army, enlisting Sept. 18, 1861, in Company 
A, 36th Regiment New York State volunteers, which was 
attached to McCIellan's command ; participated in the penin- 
sula campaign, battle of Fair Oaks, the seven days fight to Har- 
rison's Landing, the second battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, 
Chancellorsville, etc. He was mustered out of the service July 
15, 1863, at New York. While on duty in New York he saw 
the attack on the Tribune of^ce and heard Gov. Seymour's 
noted speech to the rioters. 

Mr. Spaulding was married in 1866, to Isabelle L. Robinson. 
They have had six children : 

Lizzie C, Carrie F. (dead), Frank J., Alice M., Elois L., 
Luzerne H. 

AVilbur H. Stanbro. 

Wilbur H. Stanbro, son of Amos Stanbro and Hannah Wil- 
cox Stanbro, was born in Concord, Oct. 15, 1S30. He had 
always been a resident of his native town ; his occupation was 
farming until 1 870, when he removed to Springville and engaged 
for a time in the harness business ; then for a while in the boot 
and shoe trade. At present he is employed in selling nurser}- 
stock. He was elected Assessor of Concord in 1877 and served 
one term. 

Mr. Stanbro was married Dec. 22, 1852, to Harriet L. Cran- 
ston. They have a family of three sons and three daughters, 
viz : 

Mary F., married Thomas Prior. 

Wilbur D. 

Cora C, married Arther R. White. 

Carrie G., Amos Karl and Charles B. 

Fi'ankliu C Slmltes. 

Franklin C. Shultes was born in Concord, N. Y.,Jan. 8, 1844, 
of which town he has alwavs been a resident. He was married 



lUUC;RArHRAL SK Kiel IKS. 



461 



Jan. I, 1866, to Rebecca Holman. The\- ha\e one son and one 
daughter, viz : 

Franklin \V., born Nov. 20, 1867. 

Cora B., born April 13, 1869. 

Mr. Shultcs was a union soldier, enlisting in August, 1862. in 
the ii6th New York X'olunteers. Company F, was mustered 
out of the service in the spring of 1864. 

Charles C Severance. 




Charles C. Severance was born at Burlington, Vt., Oct. 
17, 1807. His father's name was Consider Severance, who was 
born at Shelbourn Mass., Dec. 21, 1771 ; his mother's maiden 
name was Elizabeth Craig, born at Northampton, Mass., in 
1774 ; his grandfather's name was Matthew Severance, born in 
1735 in Massachusetts; his grandmother's maiden name was 
Experience Nash, born in Massachusetts in 1745. Mr. Sever- 
ance graduated at the University of Vermont in August, 1827; 
studied law at Clinton count}', N. Y., and was admitted as an 
attorne)' in October, 1833, and moved to Springville, N. Y., in 
No\ember, 1833. He was married to Eliza F. Badgely at 
Cortlandville, N. Y., Jan 10, 1842. who died Jan. i, 1843. He 
was married at Spring\ille. N. Y.. Feb. 2 1, 1849, to Selena B. 



462 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Ingals, the daughter of Dr. Varney Ingals, who died Jan. 8. 
1856, leaving two children: 

George Spencer, born Dec. 13, 1850; died June 2, 1864. 

Henry, born Feb. 10, 1852, who lives in Springville. 

He was married again at Chazy, Clinton county, N. Y., to 
Hannah M. Douglass, April 6, 1858, who died June 2, 1859. 

Mr. Severance was a justice of the peace from 1840 to 1847, 
inclusive; also from 1851 to 1859 inclusive; from 1864 to 1867 
and from 1877 to the present time. He was Town Clerk from 
1838 for nine years consecutively, and was Member of Assem- 
bly for the years 1848 and 1851, and was Surrogate of Erie 
county one term. In 1851 he was one of the Assembly com- 
mittee appointed to visit the several state prisons of the state 
and to make a report. He was Supervisor of the Town of Con- 
cord for the years 1846, '47, '48, '49, '50, '66, '68 and 'y^,- He 
has frequently been Trustee of Springville academy, and has 
also frequently been Trustee of the Village of Springville and 
President of the Board of Trustees, which position he occupies 
at the present time. He has always been a free-hearted, liberal 
and public-spirited citizen. 

William Sliultes. 

William Shultes came about the same time as his brothers, 
and located next to David Shultes on lot twenty-one, township 
six, range six. He cleared a farm on this lot and about this 
time was married to Sally Sampson, daughter of Peter Samp- 
son. He, in company with Peter Sampson and Urial Torre)', 
of Boston, started the first mail coach ever run between Spring- 
ville and Buffalo. It was a four-horse Troy coach, carrying the 
mail and passengers ; the mail route at that time being over 
Townscnd hill. He died July 6, 1849, leaving no children. 

Carlton Spooiier. 

Carlton Spooner was born in the Town of Nunda, Li\ing- 
ston county, N. Y., July 28, 1820; came to Concord in 1822 ; 
his occupation a farmer; was married Oct. 7, 1838; his wife's 
name was Phebe Shippy, of Concord; his wife died in 1874; 
was married to Polly Cox in December, 1872, who died Dec. 
18, 1877 ; was married to his present wife, Emeiine .Shultus, in 



bi()(;rai'iiical sketches. 463 

1878. His father's name was Ebcnczcr Spooner ; was born in 
New Bedford, Mass.; his mother's maiden name was Polly 
Newell; was born in the Town of Danb}-. Rutland county, Vt. 
His father mo\ed to Nunda and from there to Concord in 
1822; settled at Nichols Corners, West Concord, about 1828; 
removed to Spooner Hollow, one and one-half miles west of 
Sprini^'ville, and from there to Scoby's Mills, and li\'ed there 
until the time of his death, in April, 1832. 

Ebenezer, son of Carlton Spooner, enlisted in the One Flun- 
dred and Sixteenth regiment when it was formed, served three 
years in the War of the Rebellion, and until discharged; was 
taken prisoner and kept three months ; now lives at Waverly, 
Cattaraugus county, N. Y. W'as promoted to the rank of 
Lieutenant for meritorious conduct while under fire. 

The following is the family record : 

Ebenezei", born Aug. 16, 1839; married Deborah Millington. 

Druzilla. born in 1842; married to Dwight Perkins. 

Phebe .\nn, born in 1844. 

Gilbert, born in 1847; married to Julia Fairchild. 

L. C, born in 1850 ; married to Ella Lord. 

Maria, born in 1854; married to Howard Clark. 

Emma, born in 1856. 

Marilla, born in 1859. 

George B., born in 1863. 

Frauk O. Smith. 

Frank O. Smith was born in the City of Buffalo in 1855; 
came to Springville in 1859, "^^'^^ married in 1874 to Miss Ettie 
¥. Dygert, daughter of Abram D}gert ; his father's name is 
Orville Smith, his mother's maiden name was Chastine D. 
Sleeper ; his grandfather's name was Pliny Smith, his grand- 
mother's maiden name was Rebecca J\Iurra\-. 

He came to reside in Springville in 1859. His grandfather, 
Pliny Smith, was one of the old settlers in Springville, where 
he resided at the time of his death. His wife's father, Abram 
Dygert, was one of the early settlers in Ashford, Cattaraugus 
county, and was one of a large number who emigrated from 
Herkimer county, N. Y. He came to li\e in Spring\'ille, in 
1865. and with occasional temporar}- absence, continued to 



464 lilOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

reside here until the time of his death. They have one child, a 
son, 

Pliny A. Smith, born at Springville in 1875. 

Joliu Squires. 

John Squires, born March 1st, 1816, in Concord, is a farmer; 
Avas married April, 22, 1838, to Caroline Stowell, who was born 
in Wooster county, Massachusetts, June i, 18 16. His father's 
name was Seely Squires, who came to Concord in 1814. His 
mother's maiden name was Susan Drake. She died March 2, 
1879, aged 83. The children of John and Caroline Squires are: 

Thomas S. Squires, born in Concord, Feb. 27, 1839 - married 
October, 1866, to Paraloxy Cornwell, daughter of Deacon Wil- 
lard Cornwell, and now lives at Mt. Carroll, 111., where he is en- 
gaged in the hardware business. Has one boy about sixteen 
years of age. 

Luthera E., was born Aug. 11, 1840 ; married June 7, 1868 ; 
her husband's name is Cornelius Treat, have one son five years 
old. 

Caroline, born March 20, 1842 ; married to the Rev. Sextus 
Smith, July, 1864; lives at Union Mills, La Port county, Ind. 

Bettie E., born March 4, 1844; married August 4, 1864, to 
Hon. C. P. Vedder ; lives at Ellicottville. Had one son, John- 
nie C. Vedder, born Aug. 27, 1867, died Feb. 21, 1882. 

Susan J., born Oct. 29, 1849; married Oct. 20, 1876, to 
Charles McCoy. She died Feb. i, 1879. 

Seely, born May 20, 1855 ; died Jan. 20, 1856. 

George L. Staiibro. 

Mr. Stanbro's grandfather, Prentis Stanbro, Sr., was born in 
R. I.; married in 1 805, to Polly Beebe. He lived at Volling- 
ton, Conn., and Plainfield, N. Y. From the latter place he 
moved to Concord, N. "Y., in 1828, and located on lot 
fifty-one, township seven, range six, where he lived until 
his death. He had a family of eleven children ; Prentis, 
Gardiner, Maria, Lucinda, Russell, Harriet, Angeline, Henry, 
William, Charles and Hannah. The youngest was born 
in Concord, the others in Plainfield, N. Y., except Prentis, 
the eldest — father of Geor<je L. Stanbro — who was born in 



lUOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 465 

Vollington, Conn., Oct. 31, 1806, came to Concord about 1827, 
and located on lot forty-three, township seven, range six, 
where he lived until he moved to Springville, where he died 
June 14, 1881. He was married to Eliza Ann Churchill. They 
had only one child who lived to mature years. 

George L., who was born April 24, 1833, in Concord, where 
he has always resided. He was married in 1853 to Sarah J. 
Burnap ; they have three children : 

Lucelia M., born Nov. 11, 1856; married in 1878 to Seth S. 
Hawks. 

Elmer L., born Dec. 31, i860. 

Harley L., born Jan. 18, 1871. 

Mr. Stanbro has always been engaged in farming, and for 
eight years he has also been engaged in the life insurance 
business. 

Stephen E. Spaulding. 

Stephen E. Spaulding, son of Harvey Spaulding, was born 
in Ashford, N. Y., June 15, 1842. He has been a resident of 
Springville since 1850, and where he has followed the pursuit 
of photograph artist since 1867. 

Mr. S. was a soldier in the Rebellion; enlisted Aug. 8, 1862, 
in Co. F., 1 16 N. Y. S. Vol. He was a musician, but his energies 
were not always devoted to furnishing music for his comrades. 
He was often at the front of the line of battle using a weapon, 
or assisting in other ways. He participated in all the battles 
in which his regiment took part ; was discharged June 14, 
1865. 

Mr. S. was married, 1869, to Ellen S. Green, daughter of 
Ray Green ; they have two sons, 

Albert R.; born Oct. 17, 1870. 

Eugene G.; born Sept. i, 1878. 

C. J. Shuttlewortli. 

Mr. Shuttleworth was born in Orange county, N. Y., in 1834. 
His father, Charles Shuttleworth, was a native of Essex county, 
England. Mr. Shuttleworth removed to Springville with his 
parents when he was eleven years of age. His father was a 
miller and followed his occupation in the mill of Colonel Cook, 



466 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

where youn^ Charles learned to be a miller. He worked in the 
mill and attended school in the Academy under the principal- 
ship of Professor Jonathan Earle, until ninteen years of age, 
when he commenced business for himself by renting of Ben- 
jamin Joslyn, the "big mill." He soon bought an interest 
in the mill, and from that time up to 1874, with the exception 
of two or three years, he was sole or part proprietor of the mill. 

In 1861, he entered into partnership with D. C. Bloomfield, 
and built the Springville foundry, which he conducted until 
its destruction by fire in May, 1876. He then erected a 
foundry, machine shop, &c., on what was known as the Cook 
mill site, where he now conducts business. , 

Mr. Shuttleworth is also extensively engaged in building. He 
is also largely employed in mill building. Mr. Shuttleworth 
possesses rare natural mechanical talent, which, combined with 
his great business energy and perseverance, and public spirit, 
makes him an important factor in the growth and development 
of his town. 

Mr. Shuttleworth was married (3ct. 25, J 859, to Eliza H. 
Holland, daughter of George Holland. They have a famih' of 
six children as follows: 

Elizabeth H., born Sept. 25, i860; married June i, 1882. to 
Rev. Samuel W. Eddy. 

Charles R., born Sept. 30, 1863. 

Mabel B., born Sept. I, 1867. 

James E., born May 24, 1872. 

Luther J., born Aug. 1 1, 1865. 

Maleska G., born March 16, 18/O. 

The Shaw Family. 

Samuel Shaw was born in Connecticut, Nov. 21, 1777. Re- 
moved to the City of Utica, N. Y., at an early day; manufac- 
tured the first brick for Nicholas Devereaux store, the first 
brick building erected in Utica ; removed to the Town of Con- 
cord, June, 1816; located one mile south of Springville on a 
farm and lived there the greater part of his subsequent life. 
His wife was Phoebe Rushmore, born in Orange county, N. Y. 
April 19, 1784. Their children were: 

Samuel, born Sept. 29, 1807; now living in Milwaukee, Wis. 



bi()(;rapiii(ai, sketches. 467 

Joseph, born Au<,^ 12, 1810; died Aug. 20, 1846. 
Nathan, born Aug. 25, 1812 ; died about Aug. 10, 1865. 
Sahnon, born April, 15, 18 16. 

Daniel, born June 27, 1818; died in Springville, Aug. 20, 1846. 
Mary E., born Oct. 10, 1820; died in Springville, July 16, 1847. 
Silas, born Oct. 11, 1822; died in Springville, May 19, 1849. 
Emma T., born June 23, 1825 ; now Mrs. Morgan Merritt, 
resides in San Francisco, Cal. 

Samuel Shaw, senior, died in Springville, Feb. 11, 1852. 
Phoebe Shaw, his wife, died in Springville, May 30, 1847. 

Salmon Shaw's Family. 

Salmon Shaw married Julia Ann McMillen, daughter of the 
late Joseph McMillen. They have now two children living: 

Thomas S , and Abbie C. 

Thomas S. Shaw was married Nov. 26, 1879, ^o Miss Ida 
Reed, daughter of John W. Reed, of Springville. Salmon 
Shaw was, for a while, a clerk in the County Clerk's ofifice, of 
this county, and was also a Deputy Sheriff. He was the can- 
didate of the Whig party for Sheriff of this county in 1855, and 
was also the candidate of the Republican party in 1861. He 
was for several years traveling and collecting agent of Pratt & 
Co., the extensive hardware dealers of Buffalo. After that, was 
partner in and manager of a large tannery in Olean. He was 
also at one time engaged in mining at Leadville, Col. 

Georg-e Smead. 

George Smead was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1834. 
Came to this country in 1852; was thirty-four days crossing 
from Antwerp to New York. Came to White's Corners and 
worked one year in a tannery. Came to Springville and learned 
the cooper's trade of I B .Childs and worked for him altogether 
about ten years. Went into the army in 1861 in the 64th 
Regiment New York Volunteers ; was in the second corps of 
the Army of the Potomac ; he was at Fair Oaks, the seven 
days fight, Malvern Hill, the second Bull Run, Antictam, Fred- 
ericksburgh, Chancellorsville, Gettysburgh, the Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania Court House and Cold Harbor, where he was 
wounded and lost an arm. He returned home in 1865. Was 



4^8 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

married in the fall of 1867, to Miss Lana Mahl. Their children 
are: George L,, Ada Louisa and Ira M. They live at No. 
1 1 Elk street. 

Whitman Stone. 

Whitman Stone was the first settler on lot sixty-one, town- 
ship seven, range six, where Samuel Twitchell and Owen Baker 
lived afterwards, and where Mr. Snyder lives now. He was a 
carpenter and put up some of the first frame barns built in this 
town. He married Frelove Foster and went to Eden sixty 
years ago. He was somewhat prominent as an ofificer in the 
militia ; he afterwards went to Hanover and Ripley, Chautau- 
qua county, and finally to Kendall county, 111., where he 
died. 

His eldest son, Marshall, is the only known survivor. 

Phineas Scott. 

Phineas Scott came to this town from Danby, Vermont, 
about 1 8 16, and first settled on the Cattaraugus Creek, south 
of Springville ; built him a shanty and kept bachelor's hall and 
cleared up some land. Afterwards moved onto what has since 
been called the Post place, on lot eleven, township six, range 
six, and about that time married Polly Smith, of Chautauqua 
county ; lived there about ten years when his wife died, leaving 
four children, viz : 

George W:, who became a merchant in Buffalo, and died in 
1877. 

Mary Matilda, who died in Minnesota in 1876. 

William J. 

Marcus D., who lives in Chautauqua county. 

About 1830, he married Hannah Smith, sister of his first 
wife and moved to Townsend Hill, where ho lived until his 
death. He accumulated a large property and at one time 
owned, free from encumbrance, over one thousand acres of 
land. He died in May, 1872, aged about seventy-eight years. 
His second wife's children are; 

Lewis, who lives in Iowa. 

Eliza, married David Pugsley and lives in Iowa. 

Maryette, married James McClure, and lives in Boston. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 469 

Amanda, married Elias Gould, and lives in Golden. 

Angerona, married Merritt Pugsley, and died in Wisconsin. 

Deles O., lives in Iowa. 

Hiram lives in this town. 

Oliver lives in Ashford. 

David E. and Henry, live in this town. 

William J. Scott. 

William J. Scott was born in this town in 1824; was brought 
up on a farm, and was used to hard work ; worked out several 
years for different parties, afterwards rented farms in different 
places. Bought farm on Townsend Hill in 1852. In 1876. 
removed to Chautaucjua county, bought three cheese factories, 
remained one year and returned to this town. In 1850 was 
married to Hannah Parsell. Their children were : 

Mary, who married Charles F. Williams and lives in Chau- 
tauqua county. 

Dennis, married Rachael Ritman of Hamburg and removed 
to Chautauqua in 1876, and afterwards died with the typhoid 
pneumonia. 

Edwin 1 ves in this town. 

David E. Scott. 

David E. Scott was born on Townsend Hill, in this town, 
April 26, 1849, ^"^ ^^^^ resided here all his lifetime, except 
when absent on two hunting expeditions that he has taken to 
the Far West. One in 1867, when eighteen years of age and 
the other several years later. He hunted bufTalo, deer, elk, 
antelope, etc., for over six months, in Nebraska, Kansas and 
Colorado. Oct. 10, 1872, he married Loraette Smith, daughter 
of W^illiam Smith. Jul}' 10, 1875, she died, leaving one child. 
Edith, then about a year and one-half old. He purchased 
land on Buffalo street, Springville, on which he built a house 
in 1875, in which he resides. Sept. 5, 1879, ^^^ ^^'^^ married to 
Clara B. Williams, by whom he had one son. He is a farmer 
and owns a farm on Townsend Hill. 

Fanny M. Sherman, A. M. 

Fanny M. Sherman was born Jan. 12, 1842, in Ashford Cat- 
taraugus county, N. Y. Her father's name was Charles 



470 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Sherman ; her mother's maiden name was Mary Whitney. Miss 
Sherman graduated at the Springv^ille Academy in 1862, pre- 
vious to which she had taught nine terms of school ; after 
graduating, she taught one year at Lawrenceville, Pa., and at 
different places in Erie and Cattaraugus counties, until 1865. 
when she entered the Genesee College at Lima, as a student, 
and remained about two years. In 1866, she became precep- 
tress of the High School at Ypsilanti, Mich., which position 
she occupied two years. From Ypsilanti, she went to Califor- 
nia, and taught seven years in the high schools of San Fran 
Cisco. In 1875, she returned to Springville and accepted the 
position of preceptress of Griffith Institute, which position she 
filled until 1882, when she accepted a like position at Hamburg, 
N. Y. 

While in California, Miss Sherman was granted a Teacher's 
State Life diploma, and since her return she has had the hon- 
orary degree of A. M. conferred upon her by Alfred University 
and Allegany College. 

Miss Sherman is one of a family of eight, who have all been 
more or less engaged in teaching. 

Her father, Charles W. Sherman, died April 2, 1883, aged 
se\^enty-two years, eight months and twenty days. 

Calvin C. Smith. 

Mr. Smith is a brother of S. R. Smith, and was born near 
Springville, Sept. 27, 1838, where he has ever since resided. 
He was married Nov. 15, 1864, to Josephine Flemings. The}' 
have two sons : 

Grant, born Aug. 19, 1865. 

IraW., born Oct. 12, 1871. 

Mr. Smith has followed the occupation of farming, with the 
exception of three years, when he was in trade in Springville : 
one year, 1863, as grocer, and two years, 1864 and '65, in the 
boot and shoe trade. 

Stephen K. Smith. 

Mr. Smith was a son of Calvin Smith, one of the earliest 
pioneers of Concord, a sketch of whom will be found in an- 
other part of this work. He was born June 27, 1830, in Con- 
cord, on the farm now owned by him, and the one which he 



I 



HIOCiRAl'IIICAL SKKTCIIKS. 47I 

has always either resided upon or occupied, with the exception 
of three years spent in California — 1854 to 1857 — where he was 
successfully en^^aged in mining in the Sierra Nevada moun- 
tains. 

Mr. Smith's farm of 225 acres is one of the finest in town 
and under his careful cultivation has been made to yield suffi- 
cient produce to maintain a dairy of sixty cows, while, when he 
first commenced its supervision, only twenty-five were kept. 

Mr. Smith was married in 1859 ^'^ Mary E. Gardinier. In 
the Spring of 1865, he moved to Springville, and erected the 
first cheese factory built in town. He continued to purchase 
and build factories until he is now probably the largest i)idh'id- 
iial cheese manufacturer in the world, being now sole proprietor 
of sixteen factories: Five in Concord, six in Cattaraugus 
county, four in Sardinia, and one in Colden. During the year 
1880, nine hundred tons of cheese were made ; two hundred 
cheese per day being made in the best of the season ; the pro- 
ceeds of this immense product of cheese amounting to a quar- 
ter of a million dollars. The Yorkshire Corners factory, now 
owned by Mr. Smith, was the first cheese factory built in Cat- 
taraugus county. In 1864 — it was then owned by D. J. Wood- 
worth — it probably made the largest sale of cheese for the high- 
est price that was ever recorded, the sale amounting to about 
twenty-five tons, at twenty-six cents per pound. 

Besides Mr. Smith's extensive cheese business, of which he 
has the sole proprietorship and management from the time the 
milk is received at the factory until the patron receives his 
money ; he conducts a general business in furnishing building 
materials, and also manufactures all the boxes used for ship- 
ping the cheese, besides large quantities for others. 

For the successful management of Mr. Smith's business, 
much is due to his efficient clerk, F. O. Smith, who has been in 
his office nine years. 

Mr. Smith has made it a rule to expend all moneys earned in 
improvements and the extension of his business. 

He takes an interest in all industrial projects that have for 
their object public improvement. 

In 1883, he was elected President of the Farmers' Bank of 
Springville. 



472 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Samuel 1>. Stevens. 

Samuel D.Stevens was born March i, 1814, in Vermont, and 
came to the Town of Concord in the year 1832; his occu- 
pation a farmer; was married in 1838, to Sarah Philips, daugh- 
ter of Deacon Asa Philips ; she was born in Salem, Mass., 
Nov. 3, 1 8 14; his father's name was Levi Stevens; his mother's 
maiden name was Rhoda Hazeltine. Deacon Asa Philips died 
at the age of seventy-one years and eight months ; his wife 
died at the age of seventy-one years and seven months. They 
came to Concord in 1817 ; settled one mile south of where they 
now live on a farm, and subsequently came to live at their pres- 
ent location ; have no children. 

Henry D. Sterns. 

Henry D. Sterns was born Aug. 16, 1832, in Vermont; came 
to Concord in 1837 ; is a farmer ; was married in 1856, to Barb- 
ary Vance, who was born in Canada ; his father's name was 
John Sterns; his mother's maiden name was Polly Preston; 
his farm consists of one hundred and fifty acres ; it was all a wild- 
erness when he came here, but he has cleared most of it. 
Their children were : 

Holland, born May 3. 1857; died June 28, 1863. 

Ida A., born March 31, 1863. 

Charles H., born Dec. 19, 1864. 

Elmer J., born Aug. 12. 1869. 

Alvin E., born March i, 1872. 

Grace A., born March 22, 1874. 

Ray W., born May i, 1876. 

Eva M., born April 15, 1880. 

We came to Vermont with horses and sleigh. When we 
first came here the road was not cut out, and we had to follow 
marked trees ; we sometimes went to meeting with oxen and 
sled in the Summer time. 

John Becker was the first settler on our street between 
Woodward's Hollow and the town line. 

Then came Truman Vanderlip, Zacheas Preston, Henry 
Sterns and Mr. Dingman. 

A Mr. Babcock came from Canada and located and was the 
first man that died in our neighborhood. 



BIOC.RAl'IIICAL SKKTCIIES. 473 

Ira Stebbins, John Lyndc, Daniel Horton and William Mor- 
ton located here soon after. 

Oiriii Sibley's Stateinent. 

I came from the town of Wellington, Tolland count}', Conn., 
in 1816. Benjamin Sibley and Joshua Agard came out in the 
Spring and bought land and returned, and we all came out in 
September. There was Joshua Agard, Benjamin Sibley, Abi- 
jah Sibley, Mr. Cunningham and their families and myself; I 
was nineteen, nearly twenty, when we came. Agard 's first 
wife was my sister; her name was Lucy Sibley. Mr. Cunning- 
ham settled on the hill north of us. The rest of us located on 
lots sixty-three and fifty-five, township seven, range six, adjoin- 
ing each other. We settled on what has been called the " State 
Road." It was marked through when we came, but was not 
cut out. We cut it through to GrifTfith Corners two or three 
years after we came. When we came there was not a house 
between the dye factory and East Concord. 

Lyman Drake and Mr. Thurber lived down the valley tow- 
ards the Boston line. I helped raise a log house for a Mr. 
French in 181 7, where Orville Canfield now lives, near the dye 
factory. 

Aaron Cole came in about two years after we did, and so did 
Ephraim Needham, and Mr. Chapin's people came about that 
time also. 

Mr. Cunningham did not live but a few years ; he left only 
one child, Elizabeth Cunningham ; she married Moses Calkins 
and died a few years ago. 

Mahala Eaton taught the first school, I think in 1820 or 
1 82 1. 

I was awfully scared the first night we were here at the owls 
hooting; I had never heard an owl before, and I thought they 
were panthers. I heard a hog squeal one day in the woods not 
far from my house, and I went to see what was the matter, and 
found a bear killing and eating the hog ; I got a gun and shot 
and killed the bear; it was a large she bear and very poor; I 
sold the skin in Buffalo for five dollars ; the hog was not mine, 
but belonged to my neighbor, Aaron Cole. I once chased 



474 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

three bears over to the Buffalo creek, but did not kill any of 
them. 

One night I heard a noise out in the woods resembling some- 
what the crying of a child, and I imitated the noise as well as 
I could, and the noise in the woods was repeated at intervals 
and came nearer and nearer ; I supposed it to be a panther, and 
concluded it was not best to call him up too close, and there- 
fore stopped imitating him. 

Marshall 1). Scoby. 

Marshall D. Scoby was born Feb. 5, 1846, in Ashford, Catta- 
raugus county; his father's name was Alexander Scoby; his 
mother's maiden name was Sarepta Boss ; his grandfather, 
Samuel Scoby, died in Springville in 1872, aged ninety-three 
years. Marshall has been farmer, and in the flour and feed 
business, clerk and salesman and hotel keeper. Dec. i, 1874, 
he purchased the Sandusky House, in the Village of Sandusky, 
Cattaraugus county, and has conducted the same successfully 
since that time. Sept. 23, 1874, he was married to Miss 
Adella Thomas, of Yorkshire. They have two children : 

Edna J., and Lottie L. 

Edwin A. Scott. 

Edwin A. Scott was born on Townsend Hill in this town, 
Dec. 26, 1858. His father's name was William J. Scott; his 
mother's maiden name was Hannah Parsell. He attended 
school at the Springville academy, Hamburg and Forestville ; 
he studied law in the office of C. C. Severance, Springville ; he 
taught school on Townsend Hill and in Waterville. He was 
married to Miss Mary Stowell, of Ashford, Sept. 17, 1879, '^''"^ 
is at present practicing law in Springville, N. Y. 

Heury M. Scott. 

Henry M. Scott was born in this town, Oct. 16, 1851. His 
father's name was Phineas Scott, and his mother's maiden name 
was Hannah E. E. Smith, daughter of James Smith, of Chau- 
tauqua county. In 1867 he went West and remained one sea- 
son in Wisconsin and Minnesota ; he also spent two years in 
Buffalo ; the rest of his life has been spent in this town. He 



BIOC.RAPHICAL SKKTCHKS. 4/5 

owns a farm on Townscnd hill, but his occupation at present 
is selling marble for a firm in East Aurora. He was married in 
the year 1871 to Miss Loraine Smith, dautrjiter of William 
Smith. 

Their children are : 

F'loyd, born April 25, 1873. 

Bianca, born Nov. 19, 1879. 

Laiisoii A. Staiibro. 

Lanson A. Stanbro, son of Henry C. and Catharine Griffith 
Stanbro, was born in Concord in 1842, where he has since lived ; 
by occupation he is a farmer; he enlisted in August, 1862, in 
Company C, One Hundred and Sixteenth regiment New York 
State volunteers. At the siege of Port Hudson, June 14, 1863, 
he lost an arm, and the subsequent September he was dis- 
charged from the service for reasonable disabilit}'. He was 
married April 10, 1862, to Thyrsa Bryant. 

They have five children : 

Catharine E., born in March, 1863; married William Land. 

Julius, born April 3, 1865 ; died May 2, 1883. 

Frank, born in January, 1867. 

Alice, born in September. 1872. 

Clark, born in June, 1877. 

Labau AV. Smith. 

Laban W. Smith, son of William Smith, Jr., was born in 
Concord, March 8, 1835. He was married March 27, 1862 to 
Mary Pingry, daughter of Ezekiel Pingry, of Yorkshire, Cattar 
augus county, N. Y., an early pioneer in this vicinity. Mr. 
Smith has always been a resident of his native town and is a 
farmer by occupation ; he is at present a member of the board 
of education in Springville. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had five 
children, viz.: 

Wallace, born June 17, 1865. 

Alice and Albert, twins, born March 10, 1868. Albent died 
June 16, 1869. 

Herbert, born Sept. 27, 1874. 

Isidora, born Oct. 13, 1876. 



476 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Clark C. Sibley. 

In 1816, Abijah, Benjamin and Orrin Sibley, brothers, came 
to Concord from Willington, Connecticut, where they were 
born, and bought land of the Holland Company on lots sixty- 
three and fifty-five, range six, township seven. Here they 
lived many years. Benjamin died at Sheboygan, Wisconsin, 
about 1850. Orrin lives in Boston, N. Y. Abijah, father of 
Clark C. Sibley, was born Nov. i, 1788. He married Lucy 
Mercy in 18 16. He always lived where he first located until 
his death on June 3, 1856. 

His wife died March 19, 1859 > they had a family of seven 
children as follows : 

Adaline and Edwin, twins, born Oct. 4, 1816 ; died 1880. 

Joseph, born Dec. 19, 1817; died March 7, 1864. 

Anson D., born July 2, 1819 ; died April, 1875. 

William A., born May 3, 1822; died Jan. 17, 1867. 

Clark C, born July 19, 1828, 

Lucian G., born July 12, 1834. 

Clark C. Sibley was married Oct. I, 185 1, to Sally M. Fris- 
bee, by whom he had six children, viz.: 

Sarah, born July 19, 1852; married Morris P. Baker. 

Carlton, born Jan. 2, 1854; married Mattie Gardner. 

Charles L., born July 17, 1855 ; married Adda Wilcox. 

Anson, born March 16, 1857 • married Emma Hancock. 

Clark E., born May 14, 1864. 

Orrin, born Feb. 12, [868. 

Mrs. Sibley died Jan. 9, 1869, and Mr. Sibley was married a 
second time Nov. 12, 1873, to Miss Ella L.Smith, by whom 
he has three children, viz.: 

Bessie, born July 13, 1875. 

Earl, born Sept. 26, 1877. 

May, born May i, 1881. 

With the exception of three years spent in Sardinia, Mr. 
Sibley has always been a resident of Concord ; he moved from 
the homestead farm to East Concord, in 1869. 

Benjauiiii Sibley. 

Benjamin Siblc)- came to this town in 1816, in compan}- with 
his brothers Abijah and Orrin, and his brother-in-law, Joshua 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 477 

Agard. Thc\' all settled on farms joining each other ; Benja- 
min, Abijah aiul Joshua on lot sixty-three, and Orrin on lot 
fifty-five. 

In early times, this place was called the "Sibley settlement," 
from the three brothers. 

Me lived here about thirt)"-t\vo years, and cleared up a farm, 
after which he sold out and moved to Sheboygan county, Wis., 
where he died May i6, 1849. Anna, his wife, died March 10, 
1876, at Sheboygan Falls, aged seventy-two. 

Benjamin Sibley was a good neighbor, a good citizen and an 
excellent man. 

The)'^ reared a family of six children : 

Jonathan, the oldest, married Louisa Hatch, of Boston ; he 
died at Pentwater, Mich., March, 1875, in his sixtieth year. 

Mary Ann married VV. H. Prentice, of Aurora. She is still 
living, at Shebo}'gan Falls, Wis. 

Amanda married John Shadbolt, and died at La Crosse, Wis., 
March 23, 1882, aged sixty years. 

Juliet married John Gardinier, and lives in Waupaca county. 
Wis. 

Charles is now living at Lind, Waupaca count}% Wis. His 
first wife was Hattie Eels; his second, Ellen Crippen ; third, 
Mar\- Rice ; fourth, Mrs. Anna French. 

Clark married Martha Monroe, and is li\ing at Waldo, She- 
boygan county, Wis. 

John Oiirdiuier. 

John Gardinier lived in this town when a young man for 
a number of years. He married Juliet Sibley, daughter of 
Benjamin Sibley. A few years after he mo\ed to Waupaca 
county, Wisconsin, where he now resides. He is a farmer and 
stock-raiser and has been Sheriff of Waupaca county several 
years. Eight children were born to them : 

Lucas, the eldest, was killed b\- liglitning June 23d, 1858, 
aged ten years. 

Julia, married Dr. Levi H. Pelton. of Sheboygan I'^alls. 

Anna, died in Concord, Feb. 16, 1853. 

Charley, lives in Lind. Wis. 

May, married Pldward Jeffers and is li\ing in Ikiffalo, N. V. 



478 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Morgan L., died Oct. 21st, i860. 
John, Jr., died March 11, 1877. 

Hattie, is living with her parents at Lynd, Waupaca county, 
Wisconsin. 

Epaphras Steele. 

The Steeles are of EngHsh descent, In 1861, one George 
Steele emigrated from Essex, England, to Cambridge, Mass. 
He and his brother John soon after settled in Hartford, Conn., 
where Epaphras Steele's father, Jonathan Steele, was born. 
He died in Boston, N. Y., aged ninety-four years. Epaphras 
Steele removed in 1806 from Hartford, where he was born Dec. 
12, 1792, to central New York, where he resided in Cayuga and 
Onondaga counties until 18 19, when he settled upon new land 
in the east part of Boston, N. Y., where he became familiar 
with pioneer life in its roughest forms. He had a good educa- 
tion for those days and was highly respected by the; commu- 
nity in which he lived, as is shown by the fact that he was 
thirteen times elected Supervisor of Boston. He was also Cap- 
tain of militia many years. While a resident of Boston he 
became a member of the Free Will Baptist Church in that 
town. In 1846 he moved to East Concord, where he lived 
until his death, in 1876. He was married Feb. 15, "1819 to 
Dimmis Blakeslee, from Massachusetts. The Blakeslees were 
originally of Scotch-Irish origin. They had a family of five 
children, all living, married and having families as follows: 

Emily, married George Bridge and resides in Colden. They 
have two daughters: Mary, married a man named Smith, and 
Emily, married Edwin Isintrout. 

Eliza, married Burroughs Norton ; lives at East Concord : 
have one son living: Herbert, married Mary Fuller, and one 
daughter, Ellen. 

Esther, married Michael Hollister; lives at East Concord; 
have one son : Byron, married Carrie Johnson. 

James, married Sarah FitzPatrick ; they have one son and 
one daughter. 

James L., was a Lieutenant in the ist Regiment Oregon Vol- 
unteers, serving three and one-half years, his Regiment doing 
service in guarding the Oregon frontier. Here he became also 
somewhat famous as hunter of elk, panthers and bears. 



BIOGRAIMIICAL SKETCHES. 479 

Rev. John C. Steele, now of Dale, N. Y., married Carrie 
(Griffith ; they have two daughters. Mr. Steele is a minister in 
the Free Will Baptist Church. 

(icorge Shiiltiis. 

George .Shultiis. brother of David, came to tin's wilderness 
soon after he did. He settled on lot nineteen, township six, 
range six. clearing up his farm as soon as possible, where he 
built and conducted a distillery. When the road from Wil- 
liam Warner's place to the I'otter place, along the Eighteen-mile 
creek was laid out he had the contract for cutting it out and 
for building the bridges. He also was one of the parties that 
built the Bloomfield mill and at one time was part owner and 
manager of an iron foundry in the village of Springville. He 
was the father of nine children : 

Ann, the eldest, is dead. 

Leonora, married a man b}- the name of Hulbert. and li\'es in 
Minnesota. 

Chaunce}-, is dead. 

Jerome is dead. 

George, is now living in Minnesota. 

Jane, married A. Lambert, and lives in Illinois. 

Perr\', Elmer and Ward, are now living in Springville. 

George Shultes died Jan. 20, 1870. 

Jouatliau Spauldiug-. 

Jonathan Spaulding came to this town from Lancaster, Coos 
county, N. H. His wife's maiden name was Abigail Meader. 
The}- started from Lancaster Aug. 8, 18 15, and arrived at Con- 
cord Oct. 9, 1815 ; they stopped about ten days at Bloomfield, 
Ontario county. They came with horses and w^agon, and were 
six weeks traveling on the road. For about two years after 
they arrived here, times were extremely hard, and it was very 
difficult to get enough to eat. Money would not buy provisions 
because nobody had anything to sell. At one time, Mr. Spaul- 
ding's family lived six weeks on pudding and molasses, with 
nothing else to eat. At another time, the}- procured a 
piece of pork, and Mrs. Spaulding abstained from eating any 
of it herself, and did not allow the children to ha\-e any of it, 



48o BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

although they were all very hungry, but saved it all for her hus- 
band so as to give him strength to chop. 

They had seven children, who were all born before they came 
to this town : 

Sally, the oldest, married a Mr. Kibbie. 

Daniel, the second child, in company with his sister Sally 
and her husband, and Mr. Kibbie, Sr., went over to the Alle- 
gany river and built an ark or boat, and lived in it through the 
Winter, and in the Spring floated down the Allegany, Ohio 
and Mississippi rivers to Alabama, where they all died soon 
after with the yellow fever, except one child. 

Jonathan Jr., was born in 1800, married Mary B. Higgins, 
and died in this town Oct. 30, 1845. 

Abigail married Samuel Fairbanks, and died in Ashford 
about 1870. 

Joseph Meader. 

Adaline married Nathaniel M. Jones, of Boston, and died 
about 1852. 

John T. G. married Minerva Spaulding, and died at Wood- 
ward's Hollow, April i, 1874, aged sixty-four years. 

Joseph Meaclei* Spaulding. 

Joseph Meader Spaulding was born in New Hampshire, Sept. 
19, 1803, and came to this town with his parents in 18 15 He 
was married to Betsy Wilson, June 17, 1832. He always lived 
on the old farm which his father cleared up, from the time he 
came here until his death, except two years, during which time 
he went to Ashford Hollow and bought a saw-mill and grist- 
mill, and built a store, and in company with his brother-in-law, 
Daniel Wilson, he carried on business for two years, and then 
returned to his farm in Concord. 

He had three children : 

George W^ 

Abel A., born Dec. 28, 1834, and died Dec. 27, 1852, aged 
eighteen years. 

Mary J., born May 25, 1838; married Otis Davis in 1859, 
and lives in New Auburn, Sibley county, Minn. 

Mr. Spaulding died April 22, 1871, aged sixty-seven years, 
seven months and two days. 



hio(;kapiiical sketciiks. 481 

His wife, Betsy Wilson, was born in the Town of Putney. 
Windham county, Vt., and died in Concord, April 25, 1876, 
aged sixty-eight years, five months and sixteen days. 

George W. Spaiilding'. 

George W. Spaulding was born in Concord, July 21, 1833. 
He has lived on the old homestead all his life except five years 
— two years he served as clerk for Alanson King at Ashford 
Hollow, after which he bought Robbins & Cronkhite's grocery 
store in Springville, in which he carried on business for three 
years, when he sold out to Drake & Stanbro ; he then taught 
school four Winters, and lived at home with his father Sum- 
mers. He was married to Orcelia O. Washburn, Jan. i, 1861 ; 
she was born in North Collins in 1844. Since his marriage he 
has conducted the old homestead farm. He has five children : 

Allie M., born May 3, 1863. 

Howard M., born Nov. 8, 1866. 

Aba L., born June 20, 1869. 

Bertha, born April 17, 1873. 

Ralph Hoyt, born Sept. 19, 1875. 

David Shultus. 

David Shultus was born in Kinderhook, Columbia county. N. 
N. Y., March 4, 1779; was one of the first settlers in this 
town ; and moved here in 1810; he settled on lot twenty-two, 
township six, range six, near what is now called " The Shul- 
tus Bridge." He was a successful farmer and reared a large 
family of children. When he first came here, and for many 
years after, the forests were filled with bears, panthers, wolves 
and other wild beasts, with which he had many an exciting 
adventure. 

His children were : 

Flliza married J. Reynolds; he is dead and she is living in 
Buffalo. 

Emeline married Griffin Wiley, and died in Cattaraugus, 
about 1848. 

Adeline married Jacob Siebold ; she died in Buffalo, about 
1878. 

Washington is supposed to be living in Arizona. 



482 BIOCiRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Wellington married Jennette Grossman ; died about i860, in 
the West. 

Julia Ann married S. H. McEwen ; died in Springville, Dec. 
5, 1845. 

Harrison was shot by an Indian in North-west Wisconsin, 
about 1865. 

Charles died at sea, about 1850. 

David Shultus died June 7, 1859, ^iged eighty years. Lucy, 
his wife, died Jan. 16, 1848. 

Amos Staubro. 

The Stanbros are of English descent. Amos Stanbro was 
born at Hopkinton, R. I., July 6, 1791. He lived in the New 
England States until the Spring of 1825, when he came to 
Concord, where he resided until his death, which occurred Jan. 
20, 1864. The first year or two after coming to Concord Mr. 
Stanbro lived where Frederick Clark now resides ; he then 
bought land on lot fifty-one, range six, township seven, where 
he lived until his death. Mr. Stanbro was a good neighbor and 
a good citizen ; he was an active, industrious and energetic 
farmer, and acquired quite a large property by hard work and 
good management ; he sometimes held town offices, and he 
also served as Captain in the militia. He married Hannah 
Wilcox at Stonington, Conn., where Mrs. Stanbro was born ; 
she died April 3. 1846 ; Mrs. Stanbro was a good woman. 

Eleven children were born to them, as follows (the four old- 
est were born in New England) : 

Mary Ann, married Orley Perkins ; died Oct. 9, 1858. 

Luc)', married Sanford Mayo ; lives in Springville, 

Emeline, married Philip Ferrin ; lives in Springville. 

Eliza, married Robert Yates ; lives at East Concord. 

Charles C, married Aurelia Wilcox ; lives at East Concord. 

Horace, died Sept. 25, 1853, aged twenty-five years. 

Wilber H., married Harriet L. Cranston ; lives in Spring- 
ville. 

Jane M., died Nov. 22, 1855, aged twenty-two years. 

Almon W., married Helen Weeden ; lives in Buffalo. 

Clorinda, died Sept. 18, 1859, aged twenty-one years. 



BIOdRArillCAI, SKKTCIIKS. 483 

Ursula, died Aug. 30, 1859, aged eighteen years and eight 
months. 

Mr. Stanbro was married a second time about 1850 to Mrs. 
Amy Greene, by whom he had four children : 

Loraine, married A. D. Jones ; Hves in Springville. 

Estelle, married Henry Curtis; Hves at East Concord. 

Warren H., Hves West. 

May, married W. D. Jones, Hves in Springville. 

Alinon W. Stanbro. 

Almon W. Stanbro, son of Amos Stanbro, was born in Con- 
cord April 6, 1S35 ; he obtained his education in the common 
schools and in the Springville academy; he taught school, both 
common anci select ; he studied law and was admitted to the 
bar and practiced his profession in Springville and in Buffalo. 
He held the ofifice of Justice of the Peace in Concord for sev- 
eral years, and was elected Supervisor of the town for the year 
1867, and also for the year 1869. He married Helen Weeden, 
daughter of Jabez Weeden. They have one son living, and 
they had a daughter who died young. Mr. Stanbro now re- 
sides in Dakota. 

" Governor " William Sniitli. 

" Gov." William Smith came from Vermont to this town in 
the Spring of 18 10, and moved into an empty log house that 
he found standing on lot four on the farm where Harrison Pin- 
grey now lives. The " Governor" selected land down on the 
Cattaraugus creek on lots fifty-six and fifty-seven, where S. E. 
Tefft now lives ; here he built a log house and did some chop- 
ping and in the Fall he moved his family down. The " Gov- 
ernor " was physically a strong man and a good worker, and in 
a few years had quite large improvements. While he lived 
here the bears and wolves were thick and committed many 
depredations on his sheep and hogs. On one occasion a bear 
came and was trying to get a hog out of the pen. The " Gov- 
ernor" not being at home. Mrs. Smith and the hired man went 
out and succeeded in driving him off and saved the hog. In 
1816 or 1817 he sold out that place to Stephen Williams for 
cash down, receiving his pay in sih'er, of which there was nearh- 



4^4 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

one-half bushel. He then located on lot forty nine, where 
Frederick Clark now lives ; while he lived here his son Stephen 
died. He lived here a few years and cleared up a number 
of acres of land ; he sold out to Varney Ingals, and located on 
the south part of said lot forty-nine ; he staid there a few 
years and then moved to lot forty-one, by the big spring, where 
he lived a number of years ; after this he lived on the Catta- 
raugus creek at Ashford Hollow, and on lot forty-five. Sharp 
street. 

Of his five children, Stephen, William and Calvin died in this 
town. 

Deborah married Samuel Wilcox and died Nov. 15, 1850, in 
Concord , aged fifty years and five months. 

Sally, married Clement Carney and moved to Michigan. 

"Governor" William Smith died Oct. 9, 1857, aged eight}' 
years. 

Hannah, his wife, died Dec. 29, 1853. 

Calvin Sinitli. 

Calvin Smith was born in Vermont Sept. 30, 1803. His 
father came to this town in the Spring of 1810; he lived that 
Summer on lot four, where Harrison Pingrey now resides, and 
his children, William, Calvin and Deborah, attended school to 
Annie Richmond, which was the first school ever taught in this 
town. As chopping was the principal business at that time. 
3'oung Calvin and his brother became experts, and when onl\- 
fourteen or fifteen \'ears of age, besides aiding their father, 
took many jobs of the settlers ; they chopped a great deal of 
the timber where the Village of Springville now stands. When 
about twenty years of age he bought his time of his father and 
located on the north part of lot forty-two, on Sharp street. 
March 12, 1826, he was married to Harriet Mayo, and a few 
\-ears after mo\ed to the northeast part of lot forty-three; here 
he cleared up the farm where his son Stephen R. now lives, 
where he lived twenty-five or thirty years ; he then moved to 
the central part of lot fifty, now owned by David S. Ingals ; 
afterwards he bought land on the west part of lot forty-one, 
where he resided at the time of his death. He was a good 
neiohbor, a good citizen and an honest man, and acquired a 



y 



K. 



\ 




CALVIN SMITH. 



486 BIOGRAl^HICAI, SKETCHES. 

good property by hard and honest toil ; he was a worthy mem- 
ber of the Free Baptist church, and contributed liberally to the 
fund for building" the house of worship for that denomination 
in Springville. 

They reared a large family of children, as follows : 

Cynthia, born Jan. 20, 1827; married Abram Patch; died 
Jan. 28, 1863. 

Malvina, born Sept. 18, 1828; married Archibald Preston; 
lives in Yorkshire. 

Stephen R., born June 27, 1830; married Mary Guardinier ; 
lives in Concord. 

Lucy Ann, born Dec. 23, 1832 ; married A. J. Backus ; lives 
at North East, Pa. 

Jeremy, born March 3, 1836; married Mariam Palmer; lives 
in Springville. 

Calvin C, born Sept. 27, 1838; married Josephine P'lem- 
mings ; lives in Springville. 

Lorinda, born Dec. 29, 1840. died Oct. 28, 1842. 

Celinda, born Nov. 6, 1842 ; married Yates Guardinier; live 
in Concord. 

Philena M., born Dec. 2, 1855; married Murray Chandler; 
live in Concord. 

Zelia M., born May 17, 1859 ! married John H. Melvin ; live 
in Springville. 

.James Stratton. 

James Stratton settled on Townsend hill in 181 1. His wife's 
maiden name was Betsey Wheeler ; they lived here a few years 
and then removed to Little Valley, Cattaraugus county. They 
were among the very first settlers in that town. The\- reared 
a famih' of children and lived to a good old age. 

Charles C. Staubro. 

Charles C. Stanbro was born in Concord in 1826, and has 
resided there ever since. He obtained his education in a com- 
mon school on Townsend Hill and in the Springville Academy. 
He afterwards taught several terms of school, both common 
and select. He has been a farmer and cheese-maker, and has 
kept a general store for several years in East Concord. He 
never preached for pay, but formerly occupied the pulpit at 



HIOCRAI'IIU AI, SKKTCIIKS. 4S7 

times aiul docs so still, especial!)- 011 funeral occasions, where 
his serxices are ah\a\-s acceptable and satisfactory to his 
audience. He has been twice elected Justice of the Peace, 
which ofTfice he now holds. 

TIm' Towiisoiid Family. 

Jonathan Townsend, from whom Townsend Hill takes its 
name, was born in 1765, in New Salem, Franklin county, Mass. 
His father's name was Jonathan Townsend, and his mother's 
maideii name was Huldah Newton. When he became of a<^e, 
he married, accumulated property, and owned a farm in Massa- 
chusetts. He came to this town and purchased land in 1810; 
he mo\'ed part of his famil}' here in 18 ) I, and the remaining 
portion in 1812. He came into town on the Genesee road, and 
had to cut it out part of the weiy. He was about .forty-five 
years of age when he came ; had a large family and more prop- 
erty than the new settlers had generally. He built a frame 
house on the southeast part of lot four, township seven, range 
seven, on the spot where the frame part of R. F. Williams's 
house now stands. 

In 1 8 16, he built a grist mill on Smith brook, on the south 
part of lot eighteen, township seven, range seven, in what is 
now called Wheeler Hollow. It was located about eighty rods 
below the Wheeler mills. This mill did quite a good business 
and frequently had to be run night and day to accommodate 
its customers, who sometimes came quite long distances. He 
also built a distillery afterwards on the same lot, in the \icin- 
it}- of the mill. 

In 1 8 19, he commenced keeping hotel. 

In those days, the mail route and main traveled road from 
Spring\-ille to Buffalo was over Townsend Hill. 

In 1822, he built a two-stor>' brick house, in front of and con- 
nected with his frame one. This was the first brick house 
built in town. The upper story contained a hall, which in 
those early days was a new and rather desirable thing to ha\e. 
Here for many years the town meetings were held, and the 
voters old and young, met to elect town ofificers ; here the town 
ofificers met to transact business for the town ; here the voters 
of the vicinity voted at the Fall election. 



488 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

For ten or fifteen years succeeding 1815, Jonathan Town- 
send undoubtedly did more business than any other man in 
this town. Besides his farming operations, he run a hotel and 
blacksmith shop on Townsend Hill, and built and run a grist 
mill, blacksmith shop and, in part, a distillery in Wheeler Hol- 
low. 

In 1835, Mr. Townsend sold his farm to the great land specu- 
lator, Alanson Palmer, of Buffalo. He removed from this 
town and purchased and settled on a lot of wild land in the 
Town of Collins, a mile and a half or two miles west of Wood- 
ward's Hollow. 

He died in the Town of Collins, Oct. 21, 1838, aged about 
seventy-three years. 

Mr. Townsend was twice married. His first wife, Mary Has- 
kell, died in Massachusetts, at the age of twenty-four years, 
leaving two children. Olive Finney, his second wife, came 
here in 1812, and shared the privations and hardships of the 
pioneers, and lived until June 4, 1862, when she died in this 
town at the house of her daughter, Mrs. Alanson Wheeler, aged 
about ninety-three years. 

Three of their eleven children are still Jiving: Huldah, El- 
vira and Hosea W. 

Their children were : 

Sally, born June i, 1785. 

Jonathan, born May 15, 1787. 

Uzial, born Nov. 2, 1790. 

Suel, born Jan. 27, 1793. 

Olive, born July 7, 1795. 

Huldah, born Dec. 15, 1797. 

Noah, born Feb. 12, 1801. 

Elvira, born Aug. 30, 1803. 

Hosea W., born March 30, 1807. 

Diadamia, born May 13, 18 10. 

Adin, born Aug. 16, 1813. 

Jonathan Townsend, Jr., married Betsy Davis, in Massachu- 
setts ; he died in this town, June, 1857, aged seventy years ; 
she died in this town, June 1868, aged seventy-seven years ; no 
children. 



BIOC.RAI'IIICAL SKETCHES. 489 

Uzial Townscnd married I'atty Wheeler in Massachusetts. 
They came to this town in 181 1, and were here one Winter be- 
fore the rest of the family came. They located on Townsend 
Hill, and lived there about twenty-five years, when they 
removed from town. They lived on the reservation near Buf- 
falo several years, where she died in 1846. About twenty-five 
years ago, he went to Illinois with his son, Gilbert W. Town- 
send, where he died Aug. 13, 1864, aged seventy-four years. 
He left one son and several grandchildren. He was a farmer. 

Suel Townsend married Polly Wheeler. He was a miller 
and blacksmith, and lived in Wheeler Hollow. He died fift}' 
years ago ; they raised two sons. 

Olive Townsend married Kendall Johnson, of Collins. He 
lived near Mansfield. She died in 1826, aged thirty-one years; 
she left five children. 

Huldah Townsend married Enoch Sinclair in 1816, in this 
town. He was a farmer and shoemaker, and lived on Town- 
send Hill ; they left this town and moved to McHenry county, 
111., in 1845, ^"d, in 1864, removed from there to Hampton, 
Franklin county, Iowa, where he died in 1873 ^g^d eighty- 
three years ; but she is still living, at the age of eighty-six 
years. There were seven children in their family. 

Noah Townsend married Acsah Wheeler, daughter of Ben- 
jamin Wheeler, deceased. He was a farmer and shoemaker, 
and lived on the farm where his widow now resides, on Town- 
send Hill. He sometimes held town offices ; could ha\e held 
more but declined. He was an intelligent and respected citi- 
zen. There are six children in the famil)-. He died in 1853, 
aged fifty-two years. 

Elvira Townsend married William Owen ; she has not 
lived in Concord for more than fifty years ; she now resides 
in Crawford county, Penn. She has one son ; her husband is 
dead. 

Hosea W. Townsend lesides in Bufla'.o ; has six children ; is 
seventy-six years old. 



490 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Diadamia Townsend married Alanson Wheeler. The\" both 
died in March, 1883. 

Adin Townsend married Electa Alichell ; he died in 1844, 
aged thirty-one years; he left four children. 

Asa K. Taber. 

Asa R. Taber was born in the year 1833, in the Town of New 
Bedford. Mass; came to the Town of Eden, Erie county, N. Y., 
and settled in Springville in 1857; occupation a merchant ; was 
married in 1857, to Laurette X. Taber, daughter of Camden S. 
Lake. He received the greater part of his education at the 
Springville Academy. 

His father's name was Asa Taber; his mother's maiden name 
was Sarah Washburn ; his grandfather's name was Joseph Taber ; 
his grandmother's maiden name was Rebecca Mason ; his 
mother was of French and his father of Welsh descent. All 
settled at an early day in the old Town of Dartmouth, Bristol 
county, Mass. His grandfather Lettice Washburn was a 
soldier in the Revolutionary' war, and his uncle Lettice Wash- 
burn was a clergyman and Chaplain in the War of the Rebel- 
lion. 

Benjamin C. Trevitt'.s Statement. 

My father mo\-ed to this town in 181 7, from Bennington 
count}-, Vt.; Joseph Hanchett had settled on the place where 
I now live before the War; my father bought him out for four 
hundred dollars, and he moved to Ohio. 

M}- uncle, Channing Tre\-itt, settled where the Wheeler 
brothers are, about 181 1, and built the first mill there in 18 12 
or 1813; he was pressed into the service of the Go\ernment 
with his team to draw cannon from Buffalo to Erie at the time 
Commodore Perry was fitting out his fleet there, and was taken 
sick and died soon after he returned home. 

Jonathan Townsend built his grist-mill in 18 16. 

Jonathan Spaulding mo\-ed here in 1815, and Asa Philip in 
1817. 

My sister Electa taught school one Summer in Cooper's barn : 
I think it was the first school taught in the district. Mrs. 
Persons taught two Summers in her own house. William Owen 



BIOGRArHIcAI, SKETCHES. 49I 

tauL^lit two Winters; ] think Sinclcar tauglit one, then Da\'id 
Bensley, and then a man by the name of Judson. 

My father, Benjamin Trevitt, died in this town in 1857, aged 
about seventy.six years; my mother died in this town in 1835. 
aged fifty-nine. 

Electa married Daniel Philips, and died in 1825, aged twenty- 
four. 

Asa R. married Poll}- McLen ; she died : he lives in East 
Hamburg. 

Amanda died in 1 851, aged forty-three years. 

Acsah married P'lecher Fairbanks. 

Hiram C. married Jane Cooper; he died in 1845, aged thirt)'- 
three years. 

Benjamin C. Trevitt's Family. 

Benjamin C. Tre\'itt married Martha Olcott. Their children 
are: 

Amelia, married Frank Hoffman ; he died ; she lives at her 
father's. 

Electa Ann, married George Davis, and resides in the town 
of Aurora. 

Viola, married William Woodward, lives at Woodward Hol- 
low. 

Alfred lives at his father's. 

Milton lives at his father's ; married Leona Adams. 

Hattie S., married Adelbert Tyrer ; lives in this town. 

Benjamin C. Trevitt died April 3, 1883, aged seventy-nine 
years, six months and sixteen days. 

Roswell Olcott. 

Roswell Olcott came to this town in 18 17 from Pompey, 
Onondaga county, and settled on lot twenty, township seven, 
range seven. He afterwards lived on the Cattaraugus creek 
near Fryes. He moved to McHenry county, 111., about 1847 
He was constable and collector in this town for several years. 
Mr. Olcott died in Illinois in 1876. His children were : 

Mary Ann — she is dead. 

Martha, married Benjamin Trevitt, and li\-es in this town. 

Lebus died in consequence of a wound received in the army. 

Acta L., Carlos and Fanny are married and live West. 



492 BIOC.RAFHICAL SKETCHES. 

Mrs. L. H. Tvvichel's Statement. 

My father, Asa Philips, came out here intending to go out 
farther West. He brought for Mr. Townsend's people and others 
who came from the same place in Massachusetts that he did, let- 
ters from their friends in the East, and Mr. Townsend and others 
persuaded him to locate here, which he did. He bought of 
Nicholas Armstead one hundred acres of land, with a few acres 
improved, the frame of a saw-mill up but no house. Father's 
family moved here in 1817, from New Salem, Mass.; came with 
two yoke of oxen, a span of horses and two cows. They started on 
the first day of October and arrived here on the last day of the 
month. We first moved into a small log school-house that 
stood on top of the hill, west of George Spalding's house on 
his land. We remained there six weeks, when they wanted 
school to commence and we moved into Mr. Townsend's black- 
smith shop in Wheeler Hollow. Sometime in the Winter 
father got a frame up, planked it, shingled part of the roof, laid 
down loose boards for a floor, and we moved into it without 
any doors or windows. A fireplace was built up as high as the 
mantel-piece, and was used so till next Summer; the smoke 
went up and out free and unconfined by any chimney. Next 
Summer he bought brick of Samuel Cooper and finished up 
the chimney, and finished sJiingling the housei. The settlers in 
that part of the town when we came were, Frederick Wood, 
Thomas Magee, James Russel, Ambrose Cram, Jonathan 
Spaulding, Enoch Sinclair, Carey Clements, Roswell Alcott, 
Ephraim Barker, Samuel Cooper, Mr. Mitchell, Joseph Herrick, 
Sen., Asa Herrick, William Herrick, Samuel Eaton, Samuel 
Sampson, Emery Sampson, Daniel Persons, Benjamin Trevitt. 
John Andrews, James Tyrer and the Thompsons. 

Sally Spaulding married Isaac Kibbie, and they, with old 
Mr. Kibbie and his wife and Daniel Spaulding, eldest son of 
Jonathan Spaulding, went over to the Alleghany river and 
built what they called an ark, and lived in it during the Winter, 
and in the Spring floated down the Alleghany and Ohio rivers, 
and went to the far South, and before a year had passed word 
came that they had all died with the fever except one child. I 
remember that I was up at Mr. Spaulding's soon after and saw 



HIOGRArillCAL SKETCHES. 495 

Mrs. Spauldin^ crjnnt; for the death of her children far away in 
a strange hind. 

The big swamp west of our place was a great resort for bears 
and wolves. I have often laid and listened to the prolonged 
bowlings of the wolves out there in the night time. Our cows 
frecjuently went into the swamp and the boys, when they went 
after them, would sometimes send the dog in to bring them 
out. One time they sent the dog into the swamp, but instead 
of bringing out the cows he drove out a large bear. The boys 
were frightened and started to run ; one of them could not get 
along very fast, and the others tried to assist him up a tree but 
could not succeed ; they screamed and the bear changed his 
course and did not molest them. 

The Thompson children once found a small cub asleep beside 
a log, and Unice took it in her apron and carried it to the 
house, and made a pet of it. It would follow the children 
around and play with them like a young dog. It was very 
mischievous also. One day while the family were all out of 
the house, he crawled up the ladder and found a tub of molas- 
ses sitting up stairs, and being very fond of sweets he tried to 
get some, and tipped over the tub ; the chamber floor was loose 
boards, and when the family returned they found the molasses 
mostly on the furniture and floor below. The cub had to die. 

Some of the school teachers who taught in our district in early 
times were Electa Trevitt, Sally Spaulding, Enoch Sinclair, 
William F. Owen, David Bensley, Mr. Sweetland, Rebecca 
Canfield, Wells Brooks, Morris Fosdick, Cephas R. Leland, 
Dudly O. Stephens, Robert G. Flint, Elzra Chaffee, Elam 
Booth, Mr. Gilbert, Henry Ackley, John G. House, Jonathan 
Briggs, Laura Ann Carr, Mary Gardner, Laban A. Needham, 
Mariam Twichel. William Twichel, Catharine Southworth, Mary 
Ann Sampson, Warren Fisher, A. C. Adams, Mr. Pierce, Emo- 
gene Smith. 

Asa, died Nov. 13, 1842, aged seventy-one years, eight months. 

Rhoda, his wife, died October, 1842, aged seventy-one years, 
nine months. 

Rhoda Herrick, daughter of Asa Philips, died in 1832, aged 
thirty-two. 



494 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Mary Chase, daughter of Asa PhiHps, died in 1874, in Little 
Valley. 

Arba, married Anna Russcl ; died in Ohio in 1844. 
Susanna, married Johnson Chase ; lives in Machias. 
Marcus, married Asenath Herrick ; lives in Ohio. 
Hannah, married Lemuel H. Twichel ; lives in Concord. 
Asa, married Sarah Ann Petton ; he lives in Lockport, N. Y. 
Amos, died in 1831, aged twenty years. 
Sarah married Samuel Stevens, and lives in this town. 

Lemuel H. Twichel. 

My father came from Massachusetts to Madison county, this 
state ; remained a few years, then came to this town. My 
brother. Royal and I, came here in 1821 with an ox-team, two 
cows and ten sheep, and had but five dollars in money. We 
paid our way mostly by selling wooden dippers that we made 
before we started. Next year father and the rest of the family 
came. We lived the first year in the Stratton house on the 
lower part of the Fay farm, on the Genesee road. My father 
bought of Mr. McLen, the land known as the Heacock farm, 
on lot thirteen, township seven, range seven, and now owned 
by N. B. Moore. We moved on to it and lived there eight or 
nine years. Sold the farm to Calvin Blake and bought land on 
lot fifteen, township seven, range seven, near the creek road to 
Boston, and moved onto it. Besides working at farming my 
father made spinning wheels for spinning linen and wool. 
Also made rakes, sometimes made cabinet ware, &c. My 
father's name was Lemuel Twichel, my mother's maiden name 
was Esther Seaver. Father died in this town October 2, 1856, 
aged eighty-two years ; mother died in this town August 7, 
1870, aged about ninety- two. Their children were: 

Royal, born 1801 ; married Ruth Field. She died. He is 
also dead. 

Lemuel H., born Dec. 31, 1804; married Hannah Phillips, 
lives in this town. 

Joseph S., born Oct. 8, 1806. Lives in Boston. 

Adaline, born Feb. 24, 1809; married Moses Leonard, and 
died about 1873, in this town. 



BIOflRAI'HICAL SKETCHES. 495 

Lucy, born March, i8i i; married Franklin Twichel ; he died. 
She Hves in Boston. 

Mariam. born Jan., 1813; married L. A. Needham. Lives in 
this town. 

Enos, born Dec. 1814; married EHza Jones. He was killed 
by the fall of a tree in Otto. 

William, born Dec. 1816; married Mary Winship ; she died. 
He died in the Fall of 1865. 

Li 1823, I helped cut out the Genesee road, four rods wide, 
from Mr. F'errens on East, towards Griffith's Corners. The 
road had been traveled some years but was only cut wide 
enough for teams to pass through. 

One time when we lived on the Heacox farm, Joseph and I 
found three bears, three-fourths of a mile north-east of our 
house, in their den, under the roots of a tree which was turned 
up in such a way as to form a suitable place for them. I went 
for the gun but I had but one charge of powder. I could see 
the old bear's white teeth as she growled in the dim light of 
the den, and I took sight accordingly and fired and killed her. 
Joseph went up to Mr. Ashman's for help, and Mr. Ashman 
and Mr. Briggs, father of Erasmus Briggs, came down. One 
of the bears came out and tried to escape but Mr. Briggs shot 
and killed him. All three were killed. We let Mr. Benjamin 
Fay have the skins, and Mrs. Fay made some muffs, capes. &c. 
Some of those articles are in existence, now after the lapse of 
over fifty years. 

I moved down on the Eighteen-mile creek, near the \'alley 
road to Boston, in 1826, and commenced building a saw-mill 
that Fall. I lived there about thirt)- years, manufactured lum- 
ber and carried on farming; kept dairy part of the time. I 
moved to Little Valley, staid one year, came back, located two 
miles south-west of Springville ; lived there till Spring of 1865 
and then moved to Vaughn street where I now reside. Lem- 
uel H. Twichel's children were : 

Marcus E., born Oct. 2, 1839; died in 1855. 

Erastus, born Aug. 22, 1841 ; married Francis Garlock, of 
Auburn. Lives in Burdet, Schuyler county ; is a Presbyterian 
clergyman. 



496 KIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

Esther, born June, 1846; married Albert Bement. Lives in 
Colden, Boston. 

Lucy, born, May 14, 1848 ; married D. W. Bensley. Lives in 
Springville. 

Asa, born March 7, 1850; married Carrie Palmer. Lives in 

Concord. 

Lemuel H. Twichel died June 30, 1881, aged seventy-six 
years, six months. 

Lewis Trevitt's Statement. 

Lewis Trevitt is now living on his farm in the north-\\'est 
part of the town on the road, over Townsend Hill to Boston. 
He has lived on that farm about sixty-five years and he is over 
ninety years of age. He says : 

" I was born September 10, 1790. I came to this country in 
1810 ; I was about twenty years old and unmarried. I worked 
before the war in Boston part of the time, and part of the 
time in Concord. I had a job of winrowing forty acres of tim- 
ber for Captain Hanchet who lived on the south part of the 
farm that Benjamin C. Trevitt now owns and occupies. I also 
chopped a job for Samuel C"ooper, who then lived on the G. 
Spaulding farm. The chopping I did was down on the flat, on 
the south part of the farm. When I came, there was no saw- 
mill, grist mill, grocery store or hotel, in town. 

The settlers in the north-west part of the town, before or 
during the war, were John Ures who lived on the farm I now 
own, on the west side of the road north of my house. He 
died before the close of the war. His wife was sister to Ben- 
jamin Fay, and afterwards married Joseph Yaw, of Springville. 
Jessie Putnam also lived on this farm, north of my house, on 
the east side of the road. He and his wife afterwards lived 
and died on the Heacockfarm, lot thirty-eight, township seven, 
range i^even, west of Adams'. Isaiah Pike was here a single 
man. Lyman Drake and family lived down on the creek, near 
the town line. May Barrett lived about a mile north-west of 
my place, and Mr. Killom down at the foot of the hill, New- 
Boston. 

In the early days provisions were very scarce and it was 
sometimes very difficult for people to get enough to eat. 



1 



TilOGRAI'HICAL SKETCHES. 497 

During the war many of the settlers were called out to serve 
as soldiers on the Niagara Frontier. I remember one time 
.several of us had been called out, and were walking down to Buff- 
alo ; among the number was Smith Russell, who was a marks- 
man. A hawk was discovered sitting on a tree a long distance 
off and one of the company said to Smith, if he would shoot 
that hawk he would eat it. Smith drew up his rifle and tired 
and killed the hawk, but the other man failed to perform his 
part of the contract. I returned to Vermont before the war 
closed and married Sarepta Matthews, and not long after the 
close of the war, returned and located on the farm where I 
now reside, and have lived here ever since. 

Wolves used to frequently kill the early settler's sheep. 
They killed, or mangled in a shocking manner, thirty of mine 
at one time. It was a pitiful sight to see the poor animals 
mangled, bleeding and dying. They killed six for John An- 
drews, all he had. A bear came and took a fat hog out of 
Captain Hanchett's pen and carried him off. 

When the Erie Canal was being built, I took two yoke of 
oxen and went down and worked on the deep cut this side of 
Lockport, until I got the ague, then came home and was sick 
all Winter. Next Summer I had the bilious fever and was 
sick a long time. My brother, Channing Trevitt, built a saw- 
mill on the place where the Wheeler Brother's mill now is, 
about 1813. I think the first school in this district was taught 
by Nehemiah Waters, in a building that stood on land that I 
now own. My father, Benjamin C Trevitt, was born in New- 
port, R. I., March 10, 1749. My mother, Phcebe Carter, was 
born in New Haven, April 10, 1750. 

Their children were: 

Polly, born May 19, 1778; married Erastus Spaulding ; died 
1862, aged eighty-four years. 

Benjamin, born March 17, 1788 ; died Jan. 4, 1857. aged sev- 
enty-five years, nine months and eighteen clays. 

Channing, born July 22, 1782; died Sept. 13, 1813, aged 
thirtj'-one years. 

Sally, born May 27, 1783 ; married Levi I3<illou ; died, 1863^ 
aged seventy-nine years. 

Constant, born June 24. 1787; still living in the west. 



498 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Lewis, born Sept. lo, 1790; now living. 

Eleazer, born Dec. 18, 1702 ; died in Minnesota. 

Phoebe, born Oct. 21, 1796. 

Lewis Trevitt's family record : 

Sally C, born Sept. 11, 181 2 ; married Timothy Clark ; lives 
in Collins. 

Lewis M., born Nov. 16, 1816; married Mary M. Cross: 
lives in Wisconsin. 

Constant W., born Jan. 2, 1819; died Jan. 18, 1857, in this 
town. 

Jonathan M., born Jan. 20, 1821 ; died Sept. 18, 1826, in this 
town. 

Polly S., born Jan. 24, 1823 ; married John Howrey ; lives in 
Wisconsin. 
. Benjamin M., born F"eb. 26, 1825. 

Mark M., born July 10, 1827; married L Sails; died April 
21, 1878. 

Caroline E., born March 22, 1829 ; married L^riah Pike ; lives 
in this town. 

Hyman J., born March 6, 1831 ; married Albina Trevitt ; 
lives in Kansas. 

Wesley O , born Nov. 9, 1833 ; married Eliza Amsby in 
1879; li^'es in Kansas. 

Christiana, born April 23, 1836. 

Sarepta, Lewis Trevitt's wife was born April 23, 1792 ; mar- 
ried Aug. 29, 1813, in Vermont; died P"eb. 16, 1867, in this 
town. 

Since the foregoing was written Lewis Trevitt died, (3ct. 30, 
1880, aged ninety years, one month and twenty days. 

Wesley Trevitt. 

Wesley Trevitt was born in Concord, Now 9, 1833. He 
attended the Springville Academy ; taught school several 
terms in the town of Concord and in the town of Sardinia. He 
served in the army in the time of the rebellion, in a Wisconsin 
regiment. He removed to Highland, Kansas, in 1869, where 
he has since resided. He married Eliza Amsb)'. He is a Jus- 
tice of the Peace, and is also engaged in insurance, loan and 
collection business. 



BIOCJRArillCAL SKKTCllES. .499 

(Foscph Tanuer. 

Joseph Tanner was born ia St. Lawrence county, N. Y,, in 
1803. Was married in 1828 to Florilla Toolcy; moved to 
Attica, N. Y., and from there to Springville in 1857. Their 
children are : 

Anna L.; married George R. Bensley ; resides in Chicago. 

Richard W.; married Marinda Harkness. 

Charles J.; married Louisa Bund}'; resides in Chicago. 

Mrs. Tanner died in Spring\ille in 1872. 

Hicliard AV. Tanner. 

Richard W. Tanner was born at Attica', N. Y., June 5, 1832. 
Came to this town in 1849, and has since followed the occupa- 
tion of grocer. He is at present Secretary of the Board of 
Trustees of Griffith Listitute. He was married in 1856 and has 
five children, as follows : 

Anna P.. Harry W., Grace H., Allen J. and Clark W. 

AVillaid H. Ticknor, E.sq. 

Mr. Ticknor is a son of Daniel W. Ticknor. His ir.other's 
maiden name was Lucinda White. He was born April 21, 
1853, in Concord, N. Y. Received the jMincipal part, of his 
education at Griffith Listitute, Springxille, N. Y., but attended 
school one term at the Hamburg Academy — Fall of 1874 ; two 
terms — 1872 — at Forestville, N. Y., and one term — Spring of 
1875 — at Bachtell College, Akron, Ohio. He taught school 
five terms and was for six months Princii)a] of the graded 
school at Otto, N. Y. 

He studied law in tlie office of Hon. C. C. Severance and 
was admitted to the bar in Buffalo, June 14, 1878. He is now 
a successful practitioner in Springville. In 1880 he was one of 
the L^nited States census enumerators for the town of Concord. 
He was rmarried Nov. 21, 1876, to Alma S. Wheeler. They 
have two daughters; Alma E. and Orphia S. 

C'ornelins Treat's Statement. 

In the year 1804, my father, John Treat, came from Ver- 
mont and settled in the Town of Aurora, near the present Vil- 
lage of Aurora. He built for himself a log cabin, hung up 



500 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

blankets for doors, and, in general with the early settlers, 
shared the rudest privations incident to pioneer life. His 
household goods were of the most primitive description, his 
table consisted of a large chest, which is still preserved in our 
family as a souvenir of the past. My father was married July 
19, 1823, to Eunice Amidon. In the year 1838, he came to 
Concord and purchased the farm where I was born, and now 
resides at Waterville. Here my father died Jan. 10, 1864. My 
mother survived him thirteen years. She died Nov. 25, 1877. 
They had ten children, as follows : 

Polly M., born April 26, 1824. 

Jemima, born April 11, 1825. 

Cyntha, born Feb. 19, 1827. 

Almon H., born Nov. 28, 1828. 

Fayette, born Jan. 8, 1831. 

Erastus, born Dec. ii, 1832. 

Charlotte, born Nov. 10. 1835. 

Thomas, born Sept. 28, 1838. 

Betsey A., born Feb. 27, 1843. 

John C. born Dec. 20, 1844. 

I was married June 6th to Ellen L. Squires. We have one 
child, Thomas S. Treat, born Aug. 2, 1876. Sixteen years of 
my life, or nearly that length of time, was spent in running the 
saw mill formerly located on my farm, now a thing of the past. 

James Titus. 

James Titus was born in the Town of Eden, County of Erie, 
May 23, 1826. He resided in that town until the year 1870, 
when he went to Dunkirk, where he remained one year work- 
ing at his trade, viz., that of a millwright, which avocation he 
has followed almost uninterruptedly for twenty years. In the 
Spring of 1872, he came to Concord and purchased of his 
brother. Sterling Titus, forty acres of land, which was originally 
a portion of the Ostrander farm, located one-half mile south of 
East Concord, where he has since resided. He was married 
July 4, 1849. to Phoebe Matteson. 

Their children are : Emma J., and Frank J. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, 5OI 

Stephen Tefft. 

Stephen Tefft was born Dec. 20, 181 3, in Newport, Her- 
kimer county, N. Y., and came to Erie county in 1852 ; he is a 
farmer; he was married March 20, 1850, to Caroline Jenkins, 
who was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., Aug. 2, 1828; his 
father's name was Wilham Tefft, who served as a musician in 
the war of 18 12, and received a land warrant for military 
services, and subsequently received a pension. His mother's 
maiden name was Ruth Ann Wheaton. William Tefit was 
twice married, his second wife was Susan Wheaton, a sister of 
his first wife, who still lives. He died at the age of eighty-six 
years. Their children were : 

Ruth Ann, born Sept. 30, 1850; died Aug. 27, 1863. 

George E., born Nov. 10, 1851 ; married May 20, 1874, to 
Alice Vedder. 

Franklin, born June 7, 1853; died Nov. 8, 1862. 

Alma, born Nov. 7, 1854; died Aug. 29, 1863. 

Erastus, born Nov. 25, 1859. 

Carrie, born Feb 2, 1861. 

Alice, born Dec. 7, 1865. 

James L. Tarbox. 

James L. Tarbox was born May 5, 1847, ^^'^ came to Con- 
cord in the year 1855, from Richford, Tioga county, N. Y. ; 
his father's name was Benjamin Tarbox ; his mother's maiden 
name was Rachael Eaton ; he is a merchant b)' occupation ; 
was married June 24, 1869, to Mianda L. Rice, who was born 
in the Town of Richford, Tioga county ; was in mercantile 
business at Wheeler's Hollow three years before he came to 
Morton's Corners. They have one child, Nellie M. Tarbox, 
who was born Dec. 5, 1878. 

Rollin 31. Tioheuor. 

Mr. Tichenor was born in Bridport, Addison county. Vt., 
March 26, 1831. Came to Springville in 1851, where he has 
since resided. He was married in 1853 to Sylvia King, daugh- 
ter of Winsor King. Mr. Tichenor enlisted February 15. 1865, 
in Company K., Twenty-seventh N. Y, Cavalry ; was discharged 
June following, on account of the close of the war. 



502 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

N. H. Thurber. 

N. H. Thurber was born in Black Rock in the year 1840^ 
and came to this town in 1843. ^^^ father's name was John 
Thurber, and his mother's maiden name was Frances Howard, 
His grandfather's name was John Thurber, and his grand- 
mother's maiden name was Clorina Brown. He is a printer by 
occupation. He pubHshed a paper here called the Springville 
Tndunr ior i\early two years, viz: 1865-66. He was married 
in the year 1864 to Miss Esther West. Their children are: 

Eddie N.. and Mary E. 

Riidolpli L rich. 

Rudolph Urich was born in Switzerland, September 8, 1827,. 
and came to the town of Collins in the year 1849, '^'"'^ removed 
to Concord in the year 1855. His father's name was Rudolph 
Urich ; his mother's name was Elizabeth Hoffminster. He 
was married October 2, 1854, to Mariah Irish; is a farmer. 
His father was held for military service for twenty years in 
Switzerland. He has two children : 

George, born May i, 1855. 

Elizabeth, born December 30, 1859. 

The Vaugliaii Family. 

James Vaughan, Sr., came here in 1809, and bought a quar- 
ter section of land on lot twenty-five, on what is now called 
Vaughan street. A short time after he returned to Washing- 
ton county, N. Y., where he died December 14, 1831, aged 
fifty-seven years. His eldest son, William Vaughan, came here 
and settled on the south j^art of lot t\\cnt\'-fi\'e, where Asa 
Twichell now lives. Here he lived se\eral years, when he re- 
turned East where he died January, 1882, aged eighty years. 

Pauline Vaughan married a l\Ir. Bcadleston. .She lived here 
a few years in earl)- times, and then removed from this town, 
and died in 1877. E|)inctus came to this town about 1825, and 
cleared up a farm on the north part of lot t\\ent\'-fi\e. He 
reared a famih- of children, and died in this tow 11 in 1854, aged 
fifty-one years. James, jr., cleared up a farm on the same lot. 
He mo\-ed to Wisconsin nearl)- thirt)' \'ears ago, and died in 
1877. His wife still li\es in Waupaca. W'isconsin. 



I 



HKUiRAI'HICAI. SKKICHHS. 503 

Alonzo and John are still living at Waupaca, Wisconsin. 
Mrs. James Vaughan, sr., died in this town in 1842. L. C. 
Vaughan died in this town August 31. iS/.S, aged sixty-five 
years. Mrs. Nancy Vaughan Bloodgood still lives in this town 
at the age of seventy-three years. 

Saiuuol ('. P. Yaiisliii. 

Lemuel C. P. Vaughn was born Sept. 9, 181 3, in the town of 
Queensbury, Warren county, N. Y.; came to Concord May 16, 
1832; he was by occupation a farmer; was married May i, 1832 ; 
died Aug. 31, 1878 ; his wife's maiden name was Acsah Twiss, 
was born in the State of New Hampshire ; his father's name 
was James \'aughn ; his mother's maiden name was Nancy 
Moon. 

Mrs. L. C. P. Vaughn says: My husband's father, James 
Vaughn, bought the farm we now live on in 1809 of the Hol- 
land Land company; we have occupied the farm since 1832; 
our farm was all woodland; we first built a log house 20x26 
feet ; it was called a good house ; lived in it ten years and then 
built a frame house, and cleared our land by degrees. My 
husband's father, James Vaughn, was in the military service in 
the war of 18 12. 

Their children were : 

Julius J., born March 21, 1833: married to Amos W'ickham 
June 5, 1867 ; lives in Michigan ; is a doctor. 

Russell J., born A])ril 6, 1835 ; married Theresa Green April 
27, 1858. 

Alonzo L., born March 26, 1837; married Emma Smith 
Feb. 15, 1865. 

Jennie A., born Jul}- 4. 1840 ; resides in New York city: is a 
stenographer. 

Covell S., born Jan. 2, 1843 : li\es in Michigan ; is a dentist. 

Lorenzo A., born Jan. i 1, 1S45 : married Mary Potter March 
24, 1869. 

Achsah D.. born Oct. 28, 1847: married Daniel Lewis Oct. 
10, 1870. 

Riissoll .J. Vaush". 

Russell J. Vaughn was born April 6, 1835, in the Town of 
Concord. He was married in 1858 to Miss Theresa Green, who 



504 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

was born in 1836. His father's name was L. C. P. Vaughn 
his mother's maiden name was Acsah Twiss ; he is a farmer 
and owns a farm of 180 acres on Vaughn street, ninety acres of 
which was formerly owned by his uncle, James Vaughn. Mr, 
Vaughn was elected school commissioner of the third district 
of Erie county in the Fall of 1872, and served one term. 

They have six children : 

Earl R., born in 1859; married Ida Pike in 1880; he is a 
dentist ; lives at Falls City, Neb. 

Eloise, born in 1864. 

Hoyt, born in 1866; died in 1872. 

Ray, born in 1872. 

Covell. born in 1875. 

Mabel, born in 1878. 

Alonzo Vaiiglin. 

Alonzo Vaughn, the subject of this sketch was born in the 
Town of Concord March 26, 1837; he attended school at 
Springville academy until he was seventeen years of age when 
he commenced teaching ; he continued teaching winters, 
attending school at the academy in the Fall and working at 
home Summers until he was twenty-two years of age. In the 
Summer of 1859 he studied dentistry with Dr. Strait, of Buf- 
falo ; the two years following he practiced at Warsaw and Le- 
Roy ; in the Fall of 1861 he moved to Springville, where he 
has practiced ever since. In 1865 he was married to Miss 
Emma Smith, of Concord. 

They have four children : 

Herbert. 

Acsah. 

Edward. 

Calista. 

Saiimel I>. Vaiioe and Family. 

Samuel D. Vance was born in Quebec, Canada, Jan. 14, 1841 • 
he resided in the Dominion until seven \-ears of age, when he 
went to Boston, Mass., to reside with his uncle, with whom he 
remained one year. He came to Concord in the year 1849; ^^^ 
has resided in this town ever since with the exception of the 
year 1871 and a portion of 1872, when he went to LaCrosse 



liIOC;RAriIICAL SKETCHES. 505 

county, Wis., hoping thereby to improve his health which had 
become seriously impaired ; change of climate having produced 
the desired effect, he returned to Concord in the Spring of 
1873, and purchased what is usually known as the Sprague 
farm, situated midwa)- between East Concord and Glenw(K)d, 
on which he now resides ; he also owns the sawmill heretofore 
under the management of .S. Clark, which is situated near his 
present residence. He was married Jan. i, 1 863, to Julia A. 
Wilcox. 

They have two children : 

Cora M. 

Nellie M. 

Isaac A'o.sburgli'.s Stateineut. 

My father, Henry J. V^osburgh. first came to this town from 
Kinderhook, Columbia county, this state, in the year 1822 ; that 
portion of this town lying north of East Concord was at that 
time an unbroken wilderness. He first worked land on shares 
near the present residence of Luzerne Eaton and improved the 
leisure time he was afforded in chopping and clearing on the 
farm where I now reside, which he purchased of the Holland 
Land Company. He also built the house in which I now 
reside, which was the first frame house built in this vicinity. 
After a four years' stay in Concord he removed to Columbia 
county, where I was born Oct. 11, 1830. About the year 1831 
he returned to Concord and took possession of his farm which 
had been rented during his absence. 

We came into town by the way of Boston, the Colden road 
being then a thing of the future. He assisted in laying out the 
roads of this vicinity. He was, after the year 1831, a perma- 
nent resident of Concord, until his death, which occurred Sept. 
25, 1877. My earlier life was spent in this town and was un- 
eventful save an occasional rafting voyage down the Alleghany 
and Ohio rivers. In the year 1852 I went to California and 
engaged in mining where I remained nearly four years, when I 
returned to Concord and worked my father's farm six seasons. 
I then purchased land located one-half mile north-west of East 
Concord, where I resided until the Spring of 1879, ^^'hen I 
bought a portion of the old homestead, one mile north-east of 



5o6 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

East Concord, where I now reside. I was married April iQthy 
1857, to Miss Anna Smith. My children are : 

Carrie A., Ella A., James M., Allie L., Ida M., Effie J., 
Thomas C, Jessie and Myrtie. 

Harrison Vaiitlerlip's Statement. 

My father came to Concord from Vermont previous to the 
year 1840. His name is Truman Vanderlip and mother's 
maiden name was Caroline Presson. He first settled at Spring- 
ville, from there he removed to a farm located about midway 
between Woodward's Hollow and New Oregon, where I was 
born July 12, 1840; this in turn, was soon disposed of, when 
father removed to New Oregon. Two years later he bought 
what was known as the Ford farm, located on lot thirty-nine, 
township seven, range seven. In 1853 he removed to Boston 
Corners. In the Spring of i860 I went to Illinois. 

In the year 1861 I enlisted in the 25th Illinois Infantry; I 
participated in ten of the most severe engagements of our civil 
war, conspicuous among which were Pea Ridge, Stone River, 
Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. After the latter fight 
Ave were sent to the relief of Burnside and raised the siege of 
Knoxsville, Tennesee. I was with Sherman during his famous 
march to the sea as far as Atlanta, Ga., when my term of enlist- 
ment expired Aug. 4, 1864. I was mustered out of service at 
Springfield, Illinois, Sept. 7, 1864; from there I went to the 
Pikes' Peak country, Colorado ; I remained in Colorado during 
the Winter of 1864 and 1865 inclusive, when I returned to 
Illinois, where I remained during the summer of 1865 and came 
back to Boston during the ensuing Winter. I was married Nov. 
2d, 1868, to Mary L. Jones of Boston. We resided in that 
town until the Spring of 1876, when I came to Concord and 
bought what is commonly known as the Wheelock farm, at 
Waterville, on which I now reside. Our children were four in 
number, three of whom are still living, viz : 

lola M., Nellie M. and Harrison L. 

My father, Truman Vanderlip, lives in Michigan. 

My brother Loren lives in Iowa. 

My brother John S. lives in Denver, Col. 

My brother Henry lives in Iowa. 



lUOCRAPHICAI, SKETCUKS. 507 

Mary S. lives in Michigan. 

Jenny lives in Iowa. 

Truman, Jr. and Caroline live in Michigan. 

James Vaunata. 

James Vannata was born Feb. 13, 1842, in the Town of Con- 
•cord, and is by occupation a farmer ; was married Veh. 25, 
1863, to Miss Alice A. Wells, who was born June 13, 1846. 
She was the daughter of As^ Wells ; her mother's maiden 
name was Gertrude Widrig, who was born in Herkimer county, 
N. Y., June 14, 1809; was married to Asa Wells,. Jan. 19, 1840, 
and died Aug. 20, 1875. Asa Wells was born in Rutland 
county, Vt., July 6, 1798; came to the Town of Concord in 
1816, and lived here until the timeof his death, which occurred 
July 30, 1864. Their children were; 

Josephine S.. born Sept. 3, 1841. 

Clark C, born Sept. 10, 1844. 

Alice A., born June 13, 1846. 

Newell G., born April 6, 1848 ; died March 6, 1863. 

James E., born March 5, 1868. 

Elmer A., born June 23, 1870. 

Alice S., born July 8, 1876. 

Wells, born May 26, 1879. 

Peter Van Valkenbiirgh. 

Peter Van Valkenburgh was born Oct. 16, 1820, in Columbia 
county, N. Y,, and came to Concord in 1836; is a farmer; was 
married Sept. 22, 1842, to Miss Almira A. Austin, daughter of 
Luther Austin ; she was born Oct. 12, 1823 ; his father's name 
was Richard Van Valkenburgh ; his mother's maiden name was 
Polly DeVoe. His father came to Ashford, Cattaraugus 
county, in 1837 ; next year he removed to Springville, remained 
there several years and then moved to Troy, N. Y., and lived 
there until the time of his death, which occurred in October, 
1868 ; his mother still lives at Troy. His wife's father, Luther 
Austin, came to Concord in 1816; was married October, 1818 ; 
he served in the army in the war of 18 12 as a soldier, and sub- 
sequently received a land warrant, and, had he lived a few 



508 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

years longer, would have been entitled to a pension. He died 
in 1858. There children were : 

William A., born July 29, 1843. 

Herman D., born May 27, 1846. 

Rosalia S., born May 19, 1848; died Oct. 7, 1862. 

Horatio G., born May 29, 1852; died Oct. 14, 1862. 

Charles H., born April 9, 1854. 

Mary A., born Oct. 30, 1856. 

Johnnie R., born Feb. 11, i860; died Oct. 24', 1862. 

Emily E., born May 23, 1863. 

Jennie C, born Oct. 21, 1868. 

John Van Pelt. 

John Van Pelt was for many years an active business man 
in Springville. He carried on a general store and also built 
and managed a distillery and ashery. He also bought cattle 
and drove them to the eastern market. He had several chil- 
dren, the oldest of whom, William Van Pelt, is a physician and 
lives in Williamsville, N. Y., where he has a large practice and 
is a respected citizen. 

Augustus A'anuatta. 

Philip Vannatta, father of the subject of this sketch, was 

born in . He was married in 1829 to Miss Cath- 

rine Spoors, of Cortland county, N. Y. They had nine chil- 
dren, viz : 

David, born in 1830, lives in Vandalia, Cattaraugus county, 
N. Y. 

Maria, born in 1832, married C. B. Parkinson and lives in 
Collins. 

Nicholas, born in 1833. 

Elias, born in 1835, was killed in the battle of P'air Oaks. 

Phillip, born in 1837, '^^'^•^1 i" 1854. 

William, born in 1839, served through the civil war and lives 
in Canadaigua, N. Y. 

James Augusta, married Austin Balls and lives in Cattarau- 
gus county. 

Augustus, was born in 1843, in the Town of Concord, where 

he has ever since resided. He is unmarried and owns a 



BIOGRAl'IIICAL SKETCHES. 509 

farm near Morton's Corners, where he lives and cares for his 
a^ed parents. 

Byron Wells. 

Byron Wells was born in 1817, in the Town of Sardinia ; 
came to Concord in 1821 ; occupation a farmer. Was married 
July 12, 1855, to Mary Ann Dodge, who died June, 1861. 
Subsequently was married to Mary Munsell, who died March 
6, 1870, and was married to ijis present wife, Sarah Sherman, 
April 5, 1 87 1. His father's name was Charles C. Wells, and 
lived in Buffalo at the beginning of the War of 181 2 ; was in 
the military service and taken prisoner at the time Buffalo was 
burned. He was taken to Montreal and kept a prisoner until 
exchanged, and remained in the service until the close of the 
war. Subsequently he was married and settled in Buffalo — 
himself and wife being two of the eight members of the first 
Methodist church in Buffalo. This church was organized by 
the late Gleazen Fillmore, then a young man, who, when he 
came to Buffalo, met a minister of another denomination, who 
told him that one minister was enough for the place. After 
the church organization, they were deprived of a place of wor- 
ship and went to work and constructed a church edifice, in six 
weeks ready for occupation (probabl)- not quite as expensive as 
the Delaware Avenue church of this day). After living in Buf- 
falo three years, he removed to the Town of Sardinia and sub- 
sequently removed to Concord, where they continued to reside 
until the time of his death. 

Among the relics of "ye olden times " in the Wells family is 
an account book, once the property of Capt. Levi Wells, great- 
grandfather of Byron Wells, which contains the account of 
money paid by Captain Wells to the offlcers and soldiers of the 
Colonial army. The first date or entry is May ye iBth, 1775. 
Pasted inside the cover of the book is a commission issued to 
" First-Lieut. Levi Wells, dated March 24th, 1760, in the thirty- 
third year of the reign of his majesty King George the Second, 
by order of Thomas Fitch, Captain-General and Governorin- 
chief of his majesty's English Colony of Connecticut, in New 
England, in America." It also appears from this book that 
Levi Wells served as Captain and Paymaster subsequently in 
the Continental Army during the Revolution. 



510 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Family record : 

Frank S., born May 30, 1857. 

Mary A., born June 5, 1861. 

Jennie E., born Aug. 18, 1867. 

Jessie M., born Nov. i, 1869. 

Mary A. Wells died April 15, 1883, aged twenty-one years 
and ten months. 

Mrs. Wells died March 29, 1885, aged eighty-five years and 
nine months, and five days. 

Colony of ) ^, ,, r- 

^ /• ^ • Thomas Pitch, Eso., 

Connecticut. ) ' ^ < 

Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief, in and over his 
majesty's English Colony of Connecticut, in New England, in 
America. 
To Levi Wells, Gent., greeting — 

By virtue of the power and authority to me given, in and by 
the Royal CHARTER, to the Governor and Company of the said 
Colony, under the Great Seal of England. I do by these pres- 
ents, reposing especial trust and confidence in your Loyalty, 
■Courage and Good Conduct, constitute and appoint you, the 
said Levi Wells, to be First Lieutenant of the second 
company of a Regiment of Foot, raised within the Colony, to 
proceed and co-operate with a body of the King's British forces, 
and under the supreme command of his majesty's Commander- 
in-Chief; in America, against Canada, in order to reduce Mon- 
treal and all other posts of the French in those parts, and fur- 
ther to annoy the enemy in such manner as his majesty's Coin- 
mander-in-Chief, of which regiment Nathan Whitinc, Esq., 
is Colonel. You are, therefore, carefully and diligently to dis- 
charge the dut)- of a Lieutenant in leading, ordering and exer- 
cising said company in arms, both inferior officers and soldiers 
in the service aforesaid, and to keep them in good order and 
discipline ; hereby commanding them to obey \'ou as their 
Lieutenant, and yourself to obser\'e and follow such orders and 
instructions as you shall from time to time receive from me, or 
the Commander-in-Chief of said Colony, for the time-being, or 
other of your superior officers, according to the rules and dis- 
cipline of war, pursuant to the trust reposed in you. 

Given under my hand and the public seal of the said Colony, 



bi()(;ra!'hical sketches. 511 

at Norwalk, the twenty-fourth day of March, in the thirty-third 
year of the rei<^n of his majesty Kiny GEORGE the Second, 
Ainioqiic Domini 1760. 

By His Honor's conuiiand. THOS. FITCH. 

(}K()K(;e Wviil.vs, Secretary. 

William Waite. 

WilHam Waite, born in the Town of Alexander, Genesee 
county, N. Y., Dec. 25, 1830 ; is a farmer and came to Concord 
in 1834; his father's name is Weston Waite; liis mother's 
maiden name was Cahsta Snow. Wilham Waite was married 
in 1852, to Sarah Mayo, daughter of Hiram Mayo, who wasone 
of the old settlers. She died in 187 1. Two of Mayo's sons, Sam- 
uel A. Mayo and John H. Mayo, enlisted in the army Aug. ii 
1862, both w^ere wounded at the battle of Donaldsonville and 
died soon after. Mr. and Mrs. William Waite have four 
children, vaz : 

Henry E., born Aug. 24, 1850. 

William W., born July 21, 1854. 

Elmer M., born March i, 1859. 

Luzerne C, born Nov. 10, 1862. 

Mrs. Sarah A. Waite died July 19, 1882, aged fifty years. 

William J. Wiley. 

William J. Wiley was born in Concord, April i, 1831 ; his 
wife, Lucretia Vosburg, was born in Kinderhook, Columbia 
county, N. Y., Feb. 9, 1831 ; her father came to Concord in. 
1856; his father's name was David Wiley, he came to Concord 
in 1813; lived in the town until his death, which occurred 
June 9, 1879 ! '"''•'^ mother's maiden name was Alyda Vosburg, 
she is still living, aged seventy-nine years. W^illiam J. Wiley was 
married Aug. 2, 1865, to Lucretia Vosburgh. His wife's father, 
Matthew Vosburg, who now lives on the old " Saxe " farm, 
one and one-half miles east of Springville, fell and injured him- 
self on the 15th day of March last, and is seriously ill. His 
eighty-third birthday occurred on the previous day. Her 
mother was sevent}'-threc years of age Jan. 13, 1882. Their 
children were : 

William V., born Nov. 13, 1857. 



512 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Thomas S., born Dec. 23, 1859. 

Alyda J., born Nov 20, 1862 ; died in September, 1863. 

Nelson E., born Sept. 15, 1867. 

Carlos Waite. 

Carlos Waite was born in Concord, in the year 1840; his 
father's name is Weston Waite and was born in Washington 
county, in 1802 ; his mother's maiden name was Calista Snow, 
she was born in Connecticut in 1804; he learned the profession 
of a dentist and commenced business in 186S, in Springville, 
and has carried it on to the present time. He enlisted in the 
One hundred and sixteenth Regiment, N. Y. Vol., Aug. 11, 
1862, E. P. Chapin, Colonel, and served till the close of the 
war. He was" at Port Hudson, in the Red River expedition, at 
Winchester and Fisher's Hill, and in the Shenandoah Valle)' in 
1864. He was married in 1862 to Miss Augusta Wilcox. 

Their children were Allie, Ralph and Angle, who died at the 
age of two years. 

Allie is married to David Hernden, of Bennington, W)'oming 
county, N. Y. 

William H. AVarner. 

Mr. V\"arner was a son of Samuel Warner and Mary (San- 
ders) Warner. He was born in Collins, N. V.. in 1840 and 
came to Concord in 1867, where he engaged in farming until 
1 88 1, when he removed to Springville. His maternal grand- 
father, Joseph Sanders, was a soldier of the war of 1812. Mr. 
Warner entered the army as a private, July 20, 1861. In 1864, 
he was promoted to Captain, which position he held until 
he was mustered out of the, service July i, 1865. He has three 
times represented the Town of Concord on the Board of 
Supervisors, 1878, '79 and '80. He was married in 1866 to 
Adeline L. Scoby, who was born in Ashford, N. Y., in 1840. 
They have four children living: 
^ M. Alice, born in 1867. 

Fred S., born in 1873. 

Glenn S., born in 1871. 

William 11.. born in 1881. 



HIOGRArintAI. SKETCIIKS. 513 

.Tohii K. Wriffht. 

John Fl. Wright was born in the town of Durham, Greene 
count)', N. Y., April 2, 1808. His father's name was Ambrose 
Wright and his mother's maiden name was EHzabeth Patterson, 
He resided with his parents in his native town until he had 
attained his twenty-third year, when he went to Canada and 
purchased land situated at or near Niagara Falls. Here he 
resided between seven and eight years. During that time the 
Patriot war occurred, in which he participated. In the year 
1839 he disposed of his farm ])roperty in the dominion and 
returned to New York State and located in the town of Boston, 
on "West Hill," where he resided until the year 1850, when he 
came to Concord and purchased of Levi Vaughn one hundred 
acres of land, located at East Concord, where he resided until 
his death, which occurred Feb. 26, 1883. He was married July 
5th, 1831, to Betsey Buehntr. Their children are : 

Mary J. and Peter B 

Samuel Warner. 

Samuel Warner was a son of Roswell Warner and Lorain 
Randall. His grandfather, Plinj' Warner, came from England 
and was one of the first settlers in Massachusetts. 

Mr. Warner was born in the year 1808, in Barneston, Mass. 
He came to Collins in 1830 and to Concord in 1868, where he 
now resides. He was married in 1829 to Mary Sanders, who 
was born in Vermont in 1810 and died in Collins in 1864. 
The}' had a famil)' of eight children : 

Hannah M., born Jidy, 1829 ; married in 1853 to Arthur 
White ; died. 1875. 

Ezra N., born Feb., 183 1 : married in 1852 to Lucy A. Pratt; 
died, 1863. 

Mary J., born Oct., 1833 ; married in 1858 to H. V. Hicks; 
died, 1859. 

Sumner C, born Jan., 1836; married in 1856 to Jeanette Mun- 
ger ; died in 1865. 

Cynthia P., born Oct., 1838; married in 1865 to Albert H. 
Cary. 

William H., bornjul)-, 1840: married in 1866 to Adalin L. 
Scob)'. 



514 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Alfred S.,born Oct., 1843; married in 1864 to Louisa Col- 
burn. 

James L., born Aug., 1846; married in 1868 to Mary Rolfe. 
Mr. Warner's children were all born in Collins, N. Y. 

David J. AVilcox, Esq. 

Mr. Wilcox's father, Elihu Wilcox, was a Vermonter of 
Puritan stock, as was his mother also. They came from Ver- 
mont to Leon Cattaraugus county, N. Y., in 1827, being some 
of the earliest settlers of that town. Here the subject of this 
sketch was born Oct. 27, 1848. 

He attended school eight terms at Chamberlain Listitute, 
Randolph, N. Y., after which, during the years 1872 and 1873, 
he was three terms at the Fredonia State Normal School, and 
the three succeeding years at Cornell University. Li 1877 he 
began the study of law with King & Montgomery, at Ithaca, 
N. Y. He remained there one year and then entered the 
Albany Law School, graduating with the class of 1878. 

He was admitted to the bar as Attorney and Counselor, at 
Buffalo, June 14, 1878, and began the practice of law in Spring- 
ville, N. Y., the subsequent December. 

Before entering the legal profession he taught school eight 
terms and during the year 1873 was President of the Cattarau- 
gus county Teachers' Association. 

In 1878 he was Clerk of the apportionment committee of the 
State Assembly. 

Mr. Wilcox was married in 1878, to Miss Happie Stowell, 
daughter of Charles Stowell, Esq., of Ashford, N. Y. She is a 
graduate of Chamberlain Institute and P^emale College. 

Mr. Wilcox was elected to the State Legislature in the Fall 
of 1882. 

P. H. Warner. 

Mr. Warner's father, Milo Warner, was born in Ira, Vermont, 
about 1790; was married to Lucina Sikes, about 1812 and 
moved to Strykersville, Wyoming county, N. Y., in the winter 
of 1813, with two yoke of oxen. He resided on the land he 
first took up until his death, in his eighty-second year. He 
organized the Congregational Church at Strykersville and 
served as a soldier on the Niagara frontier. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 515 

He had a family of eleven children, nine of whom arc now 
living and married — five brothers and four sisters. Two of the 
brothers are graduates of Yale College. One sister, Mrs. Mor- 
ril, was educated at LeRoy Seminary, taught twelve years in 
Packard Institute, Brooklyn, and has since traveled in Europe 
two years. 

Philetoii H. WariKT 

Was born in Strykersville, Wyoming county, N. Y., Jan. 31, 
1822. He taught school eleven terms in his native town and 
Concord. Was married in 1845, to Allathea H. Mann. They 
came to Springville in 1847, and engaged '" t^^*-' millinery trade, 
which the)^ continued until 1867, when they retired from busi- 
ness. 

Mrs. Warner was a daughter of Nathan M. Mann, Esq., one 
of the most prominent and respected citizens of Aurora and 
Wales at an early day. He was for many years Supervisor 
from the town of Wale? and was a personal friend of Millard 
Filmore. He had a family of ten children — three sistjrs and 
one brother only are living : 

George Mann, resides at Aigora, Iowa. 

Mrs. Alice Sanders, of Sheridan, Mich., (she is now, 1881, 
Vice-President of the Michigan State Bee-keepers' Association). 

Mrs. Fanny Eddy, of Aurora and Mrs. Warner. 

William Mann, one of the brothers, who died in Buffalo, Oct. 
31, i8^'o, aged forty-four years, was a very enterprising and suc- 
cessful business man. He was for several years extensively 
engaged in the drug business in Buffalo. At the time of his 
death he was conducting the business at the Black Hills, where 
he was also engaged in mining. 

Edward Wyatt. 

Edward Wyatt was born in Somersetshire, England, July 
31, 1844. His father's name was Joseph Wyatt ; his mother's 
maiden name was Martha Light. When fifteen years of age, 
Mr. Wyatt was apprenticed to a wheelwright. In 1865 he was 
married to Sarah Jane Davey. He came to the United States 
in 1869 for the benefit of his health ; his first year was spent 
4n the Michigan pineries. The ne.xt year he sent to England 



5l6 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

for his family, and located on Townsend Hill, where he has 
ever since been engaged in farming. Their children were : 

Edwin, born in England. 

Joseph, born in England. 

Arthur P., born and died in England. 

George and Frank. 

Mcses White. 

Moses White came from Connecticut to this town about i8i i, 
and located on lot eighteen, township six, range six, by the " 
Cattaraugus creek. He remained about twenty-five years, and 
then removed to Jamestown, Chautauqua county. His first 

wife's name was Tuttle ; his second wife Sally Cheeny. 

Their children were : 

Daniel, who died in Tennessee. 

Almira, Hiram, Frederick, John and Welles, all of whom are 
supposed to be living. 

Joel White. 

Joel White, brother of Moses, Truman and Frances, came to 
this town from Connecticut, and located in Springville. He 
was the first wagon-maker in the town of Concord. His wife's 
maiden name was Phoebe Blakesly. They had no children. He 
removed to Ohio many years ago, and died there about [872. 

Frederick White. 

Frederick White, younger brother of the others, came to 
this town with his parents. He married Malvina Albro, and 
removed from here to Cincinnati, Ohio, where his wife died. 
He was a soldier in the Mexican war, and is supposed to be 
dead. 

Joliii AVells. 

John Wells was born Dec. 25, 1807, in the town of Sharon, 
Schoharie county, N. Y., came to Concord April 19, 1816 ; is a 
farmer. He was married Jan. 24, 1836 to Laura E. Ballou, 
who w^as born in Tinnemouth, Vt., April 10, 181 7. His father's 
name was Azzan Wells ; his mother's maiden name was Anna 
Turner. 

John Wells has lived in Concord sixty-six years, and if he 



inOCJRAl'IIKAl, SKKTCIIES, 51/ 

was given to story-tclling he could tell much of the trials and 
hardships endured by the early settlers of the present thriving 
and wealthy portion of the Holland Purchase, then a wilderness, 
inhabited largely by wild animals. He tells only one bear 
story : " They had a pig and a pig pen, and a bear came for 
the pig. The famih', armed with fire-brands, shovels, pitch- 
forks and other implements, made a vigorous attack on his 
bearship and put him to flight, and the pig was saved. Family 
record : 

William J., was born April 24. 1838; was married July, 1863, 
to Calista Wilson ; is a farmer. 

John B., was born March 2, 1840: married March, 1864, to 
Annie Pierce. 

James F.. was born May 16, 1842 : married in 1866 to Emma 
Blakeley. 

Cornelia O., born August 18, 185 i : died Nov. 23, 1852. 

Ambrose Wriglit. 

P'ather of Edwin Wright, was born at Saj-brook, Conn., Oct. 
2, 1773. He came of Revolutionary stock, his father serving 
in the Continental army, during the struggle for American 
Independence. After reaching the years of manhood he was 
united in marriage to Miss Betsy Pattison, who was born in 
the town of Barrington, Conn., June 12, 1779. Soon after this 
event he migrated to the town of Durham, Greene county, N. 
v., and was one of the early pioneers of that place. He loca- 
ted on the very farm that proved ever after to be his home. 
Here he devoted his energies to the improvement of his own 
surroundings, and the building up of every cause that tended 
to better the condition of his fellow beings. He was a man of 
generous and liberal views and for a few years he permitted the 
Presb}'terian Society of his town to occupy his dwelling upon 
the Sabbath for religious meeting. Under these circumstances 
he too became convinced of the truths of Christianity, and 
soon after he united with the M. E. Church and for over forty 
years he was an active, zealous lay-member and class-leader in 
that church. Mrs. Wright died April 4, 1835, aged fifty-five 
years, nine months and twent}--two days. He survived her 



-518 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

nearly sixteen years, dying January 12, 185 1, aged seventy- 
seven years, four months and sixteen days. Thirteen children 
were the fruits of this union, viz : 

Phila, born March 12, 1795. 

Caroline, born Sept. 5, 1797. 

James, born Oct. 29, 1799. 

Patterson, born Sept. 4, 1801. 

Wealthy, born Nov. 19, 1803. 

Ambrose, born Jan. 19, 1806. 

John Ely, born April 2, 1808. 

Mary Jane, born June 20, 18 10. 

William Clinton, born Aug. 25, 181 2. 

Zelia Diana, born Jan. 6, 1815. 

Edwin, born March 11, 18 17. 

Betsy, born May 12, 18 19. 

Ezra, born Oct. 27, 1821. 

Edwin Wright. 

Son of Ambrose and Betsy Patterson Wright, was born in 
the town of Durham, Greene county, N. Y., March 11,1817. In 
the year 1835 he was married to Miss Catherine Schultes, and 
in the year 1840, the young couple migrated to the town of 
Boston, Erie county, N. Y. After a residence there of four 
years, Mr. Wright and family came to the town of Concord, 
and this has been their home ever since. He owned and con- 
ducted a farm for several years at East Concord. And he was 
engaged for a while in trade in Springville, but for many years 
past he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. 

He is a public spirited citizen, and takes an active interest in 
the political affairs of the town and the county. He is an 
agreeable associate and companion, and lives to enjoy the soci- 
ety of his friends and the comforts of his pleasant home. Six 
children have been born to them, viz: 

Ezra, born July 19, 1836; died Sept. 24, 1852. 

Isabella, born Aug. 17, 1842; died Dec. 30, i86(. 

Edna, born Aug, 25, 1847; married C. R. Wadsworth. 

Edwin, born Aug. 25, 1850; died Dec 4, 1855. 

Ida M., born July 27, 1854. 

Ward, born Oct. 6, 1858; died Jan. 28, 1863. 



li 



BIOCKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 519 

Daiiiol Shultiis. 

Was born in the town of Rincbec, Dutchess county, N. Y.,. 
Dec. 26, 1786, and consequently is in the ninety-eighth year of 
his age. February 10, 1810, he was united in marriage to Miss 
Isabella Griffin, who was born in Rensselaerville, Albany county,. 
N. Y., Dec. 2, 1793, and died in Springville, April 26, 1881, 
after a wedded life of seventy-one years and two months. 
Nearly forty-two years ago they came to this town and up to^ 
within two or three years, this venerable couple had been active 
and useful members of Mr. Edwin Wright's home ; but death 
called the venerable wife, and now the aged and devoted hus- 
band only awaits the summons that will unite him again with 
the bride of his \-outh. 

Isaac Woodward. 

Isaac Woodward's father, Levi Woodward, came in 181 1 to 
what is now North Collins, and located one and one-half miles 
south of Shirly postoffice. He came from W^arren county, N. 
Y., where he was born in 1788 ; he moved to Woodward Hol- 
low in 1849, where he died in 1876. He was married in 1812 
to Hannah Southwick. 

They had eleven children : 

Eliza M., James Roberts, William, Isaac, Josiah. L)'dia M., 
Jesse Taft, George, Stephen, Joseph, Job, Phcebe, Jane M., 
Chandler Briggs and James. 

They are all living but W'illiam, who died in 1862, and Job, 
who died in 1882. 

Those living reside in some part of the West, except James, 
in Pennsylvania, and Isaac and Lydia, in Woodward Hollow\ 

Isaac Woodward was born Sept. 19, 18 16, in what is now 
North Collins. He came to Woodward Hollow in 1842. Dur- 
ing the administration of Franklin Pierce a postofifice was insti- 
tuted at the Hollow, and Mr. Woodward appointed Postmaster, 
wdiich position he has since held with the exception of about 
six years. 

Mr. Woodward was married in 1840 to Emeline Morehouse, 
who was born in Warren county, N. Y., in 1820. 

They have three sons and three daughters : 

William, Jennie M., P^red. Warner, Philo, Josiah, Melissa M.,. 
Henry Fathy and P^lorence M. Forest Matthews. 



520 BIOCiKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

All reside near the Hollow except William, now a resident 
of Dakota, and Florence, who resides in Collins. The three 
sons all serv^ed in the Union arm)'. 

Mr. Woodward has served two terms as Justice of the Peace 
and has been Assessor. 

George W. Weeden. 

George W. Weeden, son of William Weeden, was born May 
26, 1832, in a log house standing" on the same spot where his 
present residence now stands in Springville; this is the home- 
stead farm where Mr. Weeden has always lived. He was mar- 
ried in 1854 to Cornelia Stone, by whom he had one son : 

Willis L., born Nov. 22, 1855. 

He was married a second time, in 1863, to Jane Eaton, who 
was born Aug. 7, 1837. 

Mr. Weeden has been Assessor of Concord one term, and 
also Assessor and Trustee in Springville four years. 

His son, Willis L., graduated at Griflfith institute in 1878, 
and at Hamilton college in 1882. 

Mr. W. L. Weeden is Principal of the Leonardsville Union 
School and Academy, the duties of which he discharges with 
credit and ability, and he has won by his gentlemanly and 
scholarl)' deportment the cordial support of the entire com- 
munity where he is teaching. 

Willard Weecleu. 

Mr. Weeden was born in Rutland county, Vt., July i, 1792. 
When the war of 181 2 began he enlisted in the service and 
was sent to the Niagara frontier, where he took part in the 
battles of Lundy's Lane, Chippewa, Queenston Heights, and 
was at Buffalo while its ruini^ were yet smouldering from the 
effects of the torch applied by the British and Indians. One 
morning after he had stood sentinel all night, for a very trivial 
offense he was struck with a sword by one of his superior of^- 
cers. Deeming himself grossl\- misused he thought as did 
Hamlet : 

" Who would bear the whips and scorns of time, 
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely 
The insolence of office, and the spurns 
That patient merit of the unworthy takes." 



in(M;KAriii(Ai. skktciiks. 521 

And he decided, "rather than bear those ills we have, to fly- 
to others that we know not of." 

He became a deserter and made his way southward from Buf- 
falo into the almost unbroken wilderness which stretched south- 
ward to Olean, then called Olean Point. A reward was offered for 
his capture, and when he reached Hamburg he and two fellow 
deserters were overtaken and captured. And while stopping at 
a hotel on their return Mr. Weeden escaped the vigilance of the 
sentinel, and being a swift runner he secreted himself in the 
forest before he could be recaptured. Hunger would some- 
times compel him to ask for food at the scattered log cabins of 
the pioneers ; he was at one time about to stop at a cabin what 
is now Boston, when the woman came out, who recognized his 
true character, with a loaf of bread, which she gave to him and 
admonished him to exercise caution in his movements, as a 
large party were in pursuit of him, her husband among the 
number. He acted upon the advice. Several days afterwards 
he took dinner at a Mr. Plumb's, who had settled in the Chafee 
neighborhood near .Sjiringville. on land which Mr. Weeden 
afterwards located on. From Mr. Plumb's he made his way 
eastward up the Cattaraugus creek, when near the vicinity 
where George Richmond, Sr.. grandfather of Nelson Rich- 
mond, of Springville, had located ; he climbed a bluff to get a 
better view of his surroundings ; looking down on to the flat at 
his feet, he saw Mr. Richmond's clearing and Mr. Richmond 
engaged at work, and recognized him at once as a man he had 
known well in W-rmont, but he dare not make himself known 
for fear of being apprehended. He continued eastward along 
the creek until he struck the Indian trail leading from Olean 
Point to Buffalo; he took this and directed his steps south- 
ward ; after several days he came in companv- with a per- 
son dressed in full uniform ; the\- became boon companions, 
but each said nothing to the other of their past life ; doubtless 
they both thought as did Hamlet when he said to his friend 
Horatio : , 

" Nor shall ^ou do mine e ir that violence. 
To mak; it truster of your own report 
Against yourself." 

Reaching Olean they bought a boat in company and rowed 



522 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

•down the river to some point in Ohio where they sold their 
boat for a quart of rum which they drank and then separated. 
Mr. Weeden remained in Ohio until a proclamation was issued 
declaring deserters free from further molestation, when he 
returned to Vermont, where he was married in 1815, to Amy 
Chafee, by whom he had three children : 

John W., who died young. 

Deliza J., married Elikum Shultes. 

Alzina S., married Peter Widrig. 

Early in the Spring of 18 17, Mr. Weeden loaded his family and 
all his effect.-^ on an ox sled and started for Concord. He found 
good sleighing all the way. After a year's pioneering he located 
on lot thirteen, township six, range six. In 1830 he moved 
into a log-house on the premises now owned by George Weeden, 
where he lived until his death. 

His first w^ife died in 1822, at the age of twenty-four and he 
was married a second time to Anna Paine, in 1827, by whom 
he had one son, George W. Weeden. She died Oct. 28, 1878, 
aged seventy-three years. Mr. Weeden died March 18, 1867. 

As before mentioned, Mr. Weeden brought all his effects 
when he came to Concord upon an ox sled ; he added to his 
meagre foundation until at the time of his death he had prop- 
erty probably worth $30,000. 

Mr. W^eeden was for a number of years Captain of militia. 

Willaid White. 

Mr. White's father, Nehemiah White, was born in Vermont, 
Aug. 6, 1775, where he died Sept. 27, 1816; he was a farmer 
by occupation. 

Willard White was born in Vermont, June 24, 1806 ; he came 
to Zoar, in Collins, when fifteen years of age; he resided there 
and in East Otto, until 1863, when he moved to Springville, 
where he lived until his death, July 16, 1882. Mr. White had 
five brothers, all of whom died in Vermont, and four sisters ; 
two are still living, (1882): 

Mrs. Sophia Pine, who resides near Binghamton, N. Y. 

Mrs. Cynthia Wilber, of Danby, Vermont. 



hio(;rai'I1ical skhtciiks. 523: 

Mr. White was married Nov. 25, 1827, to Mary Cox. They 
had four daughters : 

Cynthia, born Au<^. 30. 1828; married in 1852 to Leonard 
Utley. 

Lorinda, born Oct. 8, 1830; married in 1865 to Clark Wells. 

Lucinda, born March 6, 1833; married in 1852 to Daniel W> 
Ticknor. 

Lucy J., born March 8, 1837; married in 1868 to Lorenza 
Cook. 

Willard White died July 15, 1882, aged seventy-six years and 
two months. 

William Wilcox. 

William Wilcox, son of Samuel and Deborah (Smith) Wilcox,, 
was born in the town of Sardinia, Sept. 8, 1826, but the family 
soon moved to Concord and after some shifts located on the 
east part of lot forty-four, township seven, range six, which he 
(William) now owns and occupies. He was married to Miss 
Avina Barker in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox are both mem- 
bers of the Free Baptist Church, Mrs. Wilcox having joined 
that church in 1854 and retained her membership ever since. 
The}- have five children, v\/, : 

Jennie A., born Feb. 23, 1846; died Dec. 18, 1874. 

Octavia A., born Oct. 18, 1857: died Dec 29, 1875. 

Etta Ann, born June 2, 1864. 

F'rank W., born March 28, 1869. 

Samuel J,, born ^Larch 8, 1871. 

Matthew Weber. 

Matthew Weber was born in the town of h^-ankfort, Herki- 
mer county, \. y , Dec. 4, 1818 ; came to the town of Ashford,. 
Cattaraugus count)-, in 1836; is a farmer. Was married in 
1841 to Betsey Hemstreet. He has lived in Concord about 
twent)' years. His fatlier's name was Jacob Weber; his 
mother's maiden name was Margaret Williams He .'^ays : "At 
the beginning of the rex-olulionai}- war m}- grandfather, John 
Weber, was in the Continental arm\-, and at an early period in 
the war was killed with hisi)arty by Indians in ambush. After 
killing grandfather the same band of Indians went to his house- 
and drove urandmother, with the famil\- of seven children, out 



524 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

of the house ; they allowed grandmother to go into the cellar 
to get a loaf of bread. She got the bread and a kettle and 
some meal in the kettle and they went to the woods and staid 
that night and next morning their cow came to them and they 
had milk. The Indians took all that was of use and burned the 
Jiouse. Grandmother and the children were taken to Fort 
Herkimer, near Little Falls." They had four children : 

Ellen Elizabeth, born Nov. 8, 1842. 

Ann Eliza, born May 22, 1843 ^ married Sept. 24, 1868 to A. 
W. Ferrin ; died Feb. 14, 1872. 

Blanchard B., born April 16, 1848 ; married Dec. 28, 1868 to 
Phalena L. Ferrin. 

Lucretia N., born May 4, 1865 ; died April 28, 1865. 

The Wheeler Family. 

The Wheelers came here in the Spring of 18 16, and Joshua 
Sr. died nine years after. The\' located at the foot of Town- 
send Hill. 

The children of Joshua Sr., were : 

Benjamin, who married Sally Perry, and died May 19, i860, 
aged eighty-two ; his wife died Feb. 16, 1865, aged eighty 
years. 

Joshua died man)' years ago. 

Pliny married Martha King, and is now living in Little Val- 
ley, Cattaraugus county. 

Silas is living in Little Valley, Cattaraugus county. 

Clarissa married a man by the name of Collar. 

Betsy married James Stratton ; is dead. 

Patty married LTzial Townsend ; is dead. 

Polly married Suel Townsend ; is dead. 

Fanny married John Gould and is living West. 

Hittia married John Loomis ; is dead. 

The children of Benjamin Sr. were : 

Acsah married Noah Townsend, and li\es on Townsend Hill. 

Alanson married Diademia Townsend ; both died in the 
Spring of 1883. 

Mary married Allan Drake and lives in Milwaukee. 

Sally married Hosea Townsend, and died soon after her mar. 
riaee. 



bio(;kafiiical sketches. 525 

Samuel married Hannah Flemmings; after her death, he 
married Sarah Ashman and Hves in this town. 

Betsy married N. A. Godard, and died Nov. 17, 1845, aged 
thirty-two years. 

Benjamin Jr. married first Sally Yaw ; after her death he mar- 
ried Mary Childs, and lives in Concord. 

Porter lives in Springville. 

Almeda lives in Springville. 

John B. Wells. 

John B. Wells, son of J. T. Wells was born March i, 1840, in 
Concord, of which town he has always been a resident ; his 
occupation is farming. He was married March i, 1863, to An- 
nis M. Pierce. 

They have six children, viz.: 

George M., born June i, 1864. 

Maggie L., born July 28. 1865. 

Ida, born Jan. 8, 1868. 

James E., born Aug. 17, 1871. 

Leslie J., born June i, 1873. 

John, born Aug. 20, 1878. 

Saimiel Wheeler. 

Samuel Wheeler was born in Massachusetts, July 12, 18 10. 
Came to this town with his parents in 18 16; has resided in town 
since that time ; is a farmer and mechanic. He was married 
Nov. 14, 1833, to Hannah Flemmings. 

Their children living are : 

Maryette, born 1835; married Horace Wilson ; lives in Min- 
nesota. 

l^enjamin, born 1838. 

Samuel, born 1840; lives in this town. 

His wife died and he afterwards married Sarah A. Ashman, 
in 1842. Their children are: 

Albert T., born 1844. 

Sarah A., born 1848: married, in 1866, to Harvey Richard- 
son ; lives in Aurora. 

Helen M.. born in 1850; married, in 1875, to G. W. Wilson ; 
lives in this town. 



526 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Alma S., born in 1853 ; married in 1876, to W. H. Tichenor ; 
lives in Springville. 

AmaziahA. married Dolly Waite ; lives in Concord. 
Ellen T. 

Hiiram Wickham. 

Huram Wickham was born in Montgomery county, N. Y.,. 
Aug. 30, 1865. He learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, 
and came to the Town of Collins in 1825 ; here he followed his 
trade for several years. But for the last thirty years his atten- 
tion has been directed more or less to farming. 

In 1833, he was united in marriage to Miss Louise Irish, and 
three children were born to them, viz : 

Marinda, born Nov. 25, 1833. 

Chauncy L., born Aug. 11, 1839. 

Matilda, born July 2, 1848. 

In his younger days, Mr. Wickham had a great taste for 
hunting, and he relates the incidents of a squirrel hunt that took 
place in Collins in 1830. Two sides were chosen, coi\sisting of 
eight hunters on a side, and the party that scored the most 
points by producing the tails of the game secured, were de- 
clared the victors. Timothy Clark was one of the captains and 
his brother William the other. The men who were with Tim- 
othy were as follows : Hiram Wickham, Ralph Cohley, Ben- 
jamin Albro, Howard Albro and three others. Those who 
were with William Clark were: Jake Palmer, Rufus Col- 
burn and five others, making eight on a side. About 
4 o'clock P. M. the hunters came in and the scores counted up, 
and it was found that Timothy Clark's side were victorious by 
over one hundred counts, and the day's sport wound up by an 
o.ld fashioned game of base ball, in which Timothy Clark's 
men again came off victorious. He was also one of those who 
engaged in the great wolf hunt of 1830. 

In the Spring of 1880 Mr. Wickham sold his farm in Collins 
and bought the old Morton homestead at Morton's Corners. 
Here he and his venerable companion expected to pass the 
evening of their life together, but man proposes and fate dis- 
poses. Mr. Wickham was taken sick in the Fall of 1882, 
which resulted in death a few weeks after. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 52/ 

Samuel Wheeler, Jr. 

Samuel Wheeler, Jr., son of Samuel and Hannah Wheeler, 
was born Jan. 25, 1840, in Concord, where he has since resided. 
At present he is proprietor of a blacksmith shop at Morton's 
Corners. Mr. Wheeler at a very early age displayed rare tal- 
ents for the mechanical arts, and though he never learned a 
trade, yet there is scarcely anything but what he can construct 
out of wood or metal. His shop is a model of neatness and 
convenience ; the most of his tools being the work of his own 
hands. He was married April 25, 1863, to Miss Caroline Bea- 
sor, daughter of Christian Beasor. 

They have one child ; 

Alta F.. born Jan. 19, 1877. 

Frank AVeismaiitle. 

Frank Weismantle was born in Bavaria in 1842. His father's 
name was George Weismantle ; his mother's maiden name was 

Margaret K. . He came to this country in the year 

1861. In the year 1865 he went in company with his brother 
Peter, and they carried on the blacksmithing business together 
for nine years. In 1874 he built the shop No. ii Mechanic 
street, where he has since conducted the business alone. In 
1865 he was married to Miss Mary M. Fox. 

Their children were : 

George F. 

Frederick William, who died, aged one year. 

Edward, who died in 1877, aged seven years. 

Lottie, Clara, Frankie S., John. 

AVilliain AVriiiht. 

William Wright was born in Vermont in the year 1767, and 
came here in the .Spring of 1814 and settled on lot thirty-four, 
township seven, range six, where Mr. Bloodgood lives. He 
lived there until 1827 and then moved to lot twenty-nine, where 
Abram Gardenier now lives. He sold out to .Vbram Gardenier 
in 1837 ^^^^ went to Sardinia to live with his son Reuben. 
They all went away from this town about forty years ago, most 
of them going West. William Wright died in Sardinia in 
1841 ; his wife died in 1839; they were buried in the old ceme- 
tery in Springville. 



528 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

William Wright's children were : 

Oliver, dead. 

Reuben, lives in Fredonia, N. Y., aged eigty-two. 

Rebecca, dead. 

Stanbury, lives in Morrison, Col., aged seventy-eight. 

Charles, dead. 

Stephen, dead. 

Mary lives at Gardner, 111., aged seventy. 

Sally, dead. 

John A. Wilson. 

John A. Wilson was born in Brattleboro, Vt.. in 1805. He 
married Miss Rebecca Minott, who was born in Brattleboro. in 
1810. About 1835, they moved to Ashford, Cattaraugus 
county, N. Y., and settled there. In 1849, the)- removed to 
Concord, where he has since resided. 

They had ten children : 

Warren W. married Susan Metcalf, and lives in Bath, Steu- 
ben county, N. Y. 

Horace married Mariette Wheeler, and lives in Minneapolis, 
Minn. 

Mary married Augustus Chafee, and lives in Springville. 

John married Carrie Bull, and died in Bath, Steuben county, 
N. Y. 

George married Hattie Moore ; she died, and he married 
Helen Wheeler; he lives in Concord. 

Charlie married Hattie Blanchard, and lives in Gicncoe. 
Minn, 

Wallace married Mollie Blossom, and lives in Buffalo. 

Sophia married Edward Bement, and lives in Springville. 

Ella married Alonzo Hadley, and lives in Springville. 

Ida married Henry Severance and lives in Springville. 

Mrs. Wilson died in Concord in 1876. 

Mr. Wilson is now living with his son Cieorge, in Concord. 

The Wadswoith Family. 

William Wadsworth came from England in 1632, and settled 
in Hartford, Conn., 1635, and died there in 1675. 

Capt. Joseph Wadsworth, son of William, preserved the 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 529 

Charter of Connecticut in the historic oak, Oct. 31, 1687. He 
died in 1729. 

Sergt. Jonathan Wadsworth, son of Joseph, died 1739. 

Capt. Jonathan Wadsworth, Jr., was killed at the Battle of 
Saratoga, Sept. 19, 1777. 

Henry Wadsworth, son of Jonathan, died Oct. 13, 1821. 

Richard W'adsworth, son of Henry, married Ann McLean. 
They moved from Connecticut to Canandaigua, and from there 
moved to Buffalo in 181 5, and to Springville in 1833. He was 
a cabinet-maker by trade. Richard Wadsworth died April i, 
1861 ; his wife died Oct. 15, 1859. 

Their children were: Walter, Henry T., Anna Maria, Fred- 
erick, John B., Cornelius, Richard. 

Walter, brother of H. T. Wadsworth, lives in Dixon, 111. 

His sister, Anna Maria, lives in Dixon, 111. 

Frederick lives in Vicksburg, Miss. 

John B. was born in Buffalo Dec. 25, 1823; was brought up 
in Buffalo and Springville ; was in California and Oregon sev- 
eral years ; was Commissary-General in the forces raised in 
Oregon to fight the Indians ; was sutler to the army at Wash- 
ington and other places, in the War of the Rebellion. He accu- 
mulated a good property ; he traveled extensively in foreign 
countries, and he came to the home of his youth to die and 
rest by the side of his parents. His respect for his ancestors 
incited him to provide for the erection of the fine and costly 
family monument which stands in the rural cemetery in Spring- 
ville. 

Cornelius died in Illinois. 

Richard lives in Red Oak, Iowa, and is prosperously engaged 

in trade. 

H. T. Wadsworth and Family. 

Henry T. Wadsworth was born in Canandaigua, Nov, 6, 1813. 
His boyhood days were spent in Buffalo; he came to Spring- 
ville with his parents in the Spring of 1833 ; he was then about 
twenty years of age ; he has lived in this town since that time. 
He carried on the harness business in Springville successfully 
for forty years. 

In 1855, he purchased a farm on lots thirty-three and thirty- 
four, township six, range six — a mile east of Springville, on 
23 



530 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

which he resided. He now resides at his pleasant home on 
East hill in Springville. 

In 1843, he married Louisa Jones. They have four children : 
Charles R., Morris, Helen and Louisa. 

Charles R. Wadsworth was born in Springville, Sept. 27, 
1845. I'l 1862, "63, '64, he was with his uncle, John B. Wads- 
worth, who was engaged in the business of sutler to the army 
in Washington and elsewhere. He now, and for several years 
past, has carried on the harness business in Springville. He 
has also built and owns several dwelling houses in the village. 

He married Edna, daughter of Edwin Wright. They have 
two daughters : 

Mary and Lena. 

Morris, son of H. T. Wadsworth, was born in Springville, 
July 25, 1849. He attended school at Springville Academy, 
and Eastman's Commercial College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. For 
several years, he held the position of salesman for Richmond 
& Co., of Springville. 

In 1873, hs went West, and is now doing an extensive busi- 
ness in company with his uncle, Richard Wadsworth, in Red 
Oak, Iowa. 

Williaii» J. Wiley. 

W^illiam J. Wiley was born in Concord April i, 1831. His 
wife, Lucretia Vosburgh, was born in Kinderhook, Columbia 
county, N. Y., Feb. 9, 1831 ; her father came to Congord in 
1856. His father's name was David Wiley; he came to Con- 
cord in 1813 ; lived in the town until his death, which occurred 
June 9, 1879; ^^i^ mother's maiden name was Alyda Vosburgh ; 
she is still living, aged seventy-nine years. 

William J. Wiley was married Aug. 2, 1856, to Lucretia Vos- 
burgh. 

Mrs. Wiley's father, Matthew Vosburgh, who now lives on 
the old " Saxe " farm, one and one-half miles east of Spring- 
ville, fell and injured himself on the 15th day of March last 
and is seriously ill ; his eighty-third birthday occurred on the 
preceding day. Her mother was seventy-three years of age Jan. 
13, 1882. 

Family record : 

William W, born Nov. 13, 1857. 



BIOORArmCAl, SKETCHES. 53 1 

Thomas S.. born Dec. 23, 1859. 

Alyda J., born Nov. 20, 1862; died in September, 1863. 

Nelson R., born Sept. 15, 1867, 

Ira C. Woodward. 

The Woodwards are of English origin. Benedict Wood- 
ward, grandfather of Ira C, was born in the eastern part of New 
York, Feb. i, 1756, and died there Dec. 20, 181 3. His wife, 
Elizabeth, was born July 15, 1763, and died Sept. 14, 1841. 

Ira, father of Ira C, was born in New Lebanon, Columbia 
county, N. Y., March 28, 1795. He married Anna Carr in 
1817; about 1830, he removed to Concord — Horton Hill — he 
lived there about ten years, and then moved into Concord 
Valley, where he died Aug. 23, 1863. His wife died April 26, 
1869. 

They had a family of nine children : 

Eliza A., born Nov. 8, 1819; married Joseph C. Whiting; 
died May 29, 1 870. 

Ordelia, born Sept. 11, 1821 ; died Aug. 5, 1837, on the ocean 
on his way to California. 

Benedict C, born Aug. 21, 1823 ; married Mary A. Potter; 
died April 14, 1852. 

Amanda M., born June 26, 1845 ; died Oct. 23, 1841. 

William L., born Dec. 25. 1827; married Harriet li. Rector. 

Fred L., born Aug. 8, 1830; died Oct. 27, 1850. 

Ambrose K., born Aug. 9, 1835 ; married Mary J. Jones. 

Nelson V. B.. born Sept. 27, 1837; married Anna Zwipp ; 
died May 30, 1872. 

Ira C, born May 3, 1847 '■> married Viola A. Briggs. 

Ira C. Woodward was born in Concord, N. Y., he remained on 
his father's farm until sixteen years of age, when he went to 
Buffalo and entered the paper warehouse of V. B. Nelson. In 
1868, he entered into partnership with Charles Baker and con- 
ducted the paper business under the firm name of Baker & 
Woodward He sold out his interest and engaged as traveling 
agent in selling furniture, which business he has since followed. 

He now represents large firms in New York, Boston, Chicago, 
Cincinnati and Grand Rapids, and is one of the most success- 
ful salesmen on the road. 



532 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

In 1883, he removed to Springville, where he now resides, 
several years previous to which he Hved at Boston, Erie county, 
where he was engaged in mercantile business, under the firm 
name of Woodward & Churchill, 

Mr, and Mrs, Woodward have one daughter, Mattie I., born 
Aug. 12, 1871. 

Joseph Yaw^. 

Joseph Yaw came to this town with Samuel Cochran, and 
took up land in what is now the village of Springville. Coch- 
ran took one hundred acres on the south part of lot two and 
Yaw took all the remainder. Soon after he married the widow 
of John Ures. His house stood where Miss Goddard's now 
stands. Here he lived about twenty years and cleared up a 
farm He died in 1829. The widow went to Minnesota many 
years after and died there. 

They had four children : 

Sally, married Benjamin Wheeler and died soon after. 

Aurelia, went to Minnesota and died there. 

Marietta, is married ; lives in Minnesota. 

Joseph, enlisted in the army during the Rebellion and was 
killed. 

Peter Ziniiner. 

Mr. Zimmer was born in Sardinia March 5, 1838, where he 
lived until 1876, when he removed to Concord, where he has 
since resided. He has been farmer, carpenter and the owner 
of saw mills in Sardinia and Concord. 

He was a soldier in the Rebellion, enlisting Aug. 1 1. 1862, in 
Company C, One Hundred and Sixteenth regiment, New York 
State volunteers ; first went into camp at Fort Chapin, near 
Baltimore ; from there his regiment was transferred on board 
the steamship Atlantic for Ship Island, but on account of sick- 
ness he was left ofi at Fortress Monroe, where he remained in 
the hospital two months, at the expiration of which time he 
sailed to join his regiment ; at the mouth of the Mississippi his 
ship lay in quarantine sixty days ; he met his regiment at Baton 
Rouge in April, 1863. He participated in every action in 
which his regiment took part throughout the war, being 



i?io(;rai'hi( Ai. sKi:r( HKS. 533 

wounded in the last one, Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864. He was 
mustered out of the service June 8, 1865. 

Mr. Zimnier was married June 14, 1866, to Miss Mary K. 
Brink. 

One dau<;hter livini^ : 

Hattie A., horn Feb. 28, 1868. 

Au!:^usta, born in 1878: died in November, 1880. 

Stjitoiiiout of Mrs. I'^liza t*<\vnul<ls. 

My father, David Shultus, walked from Vermont to the town 
of '. oncord in Junc\ 1810, located land and then walked back 
again ; he moved to Concord from the town of Salsbur\-, Addi- 
son county, Vt., Oct. i, 1810. We were three weeks c^etting to 
BufTalo and one week gettine^ to Springville. We had to cut 
our road as we went along, and we frequently camped out 
nights. We came with a team, consisting of two yoke of o.\en 
drawing along-reached covered wagon; the cover was of tow- 
cloth of mother's making; I was six years old, past ; when v\e 
come we found George Richmond living on the Cattaraugus 
creek, and Esquire Eaton lived in Springville; soon after Stick- 
ney and a blacksmith came; 1 think the latter's name was 
Plumb. 

I attended school at Spring\-ille in 1812: Waitec Eaton, 
teacher; I also attended school at the Libert)- Pole Corners; 
Waitee Flaton, Eliza Buttcrworth and a young doctor from Ver- 
mont were the first teachers that 1 remember. 

A man by the name of Stannard opened the first store, but 
so long ago that I cannot name the \ear. 

1 think Eaton built a saw- mill about 1812. 

Abial Gardner was the first miller I remember. 

The houses were all of logs with stick chimne\s and bark 
roofs, with open. Dutch fire-place. Father made a table out of 
part of his wagon box ; chairs were mostl\- benches and bed- 
steads were made of poles interwoven with elm bark, similar to 
the seat of a splint-bottomed chair. Father brought our cook- 
ing utensils, together w-ith his farming utensils, from N'ermont. 
We used to hear the wolves howl almost every night for many 
years after we came to Concord ; they were so destructive to 
the sheep that the earh- settlers were compelled to build log 



534 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

pens, and the sheep would have to be put into these nights and 
the pens had to be covered with logs, and even then the wolves 
would come nights and try to gnaw the logs ioff to get at the 
sheep. Bears were also plenty ; u'pon one occasion I met one as 
I was coming from school on the path. There was also plenty 
of deer and now and then a panther would be seen. 

We had no post route or post system, and the only Avay we 
communicated with our friends was to send letters by those 
who were going and letters would be received by us in a like 
manner by those who would come here. 

Grapes and wild plums were of spontaneous growth along 
the banks of the Cattaraugus, while the woods would yield an 
abundance of beech and butternuts. 

The streams were also full of fish, just such fish as are caught 
in the lake to-day. Our people made a net and we caught an 
abundance; sometimes we supplied our neighbors, though they 
were not very numerous or near. 

We lived in the wagon until father built us a house. 

Chester Spencer. 

Mr. Spencer was born in Hartford, Conn.; from there he 
came to Cortland county, N. Y., where he was married to Abi- 
gail Badgely, sister of the late Morgan L. Badgely ; from Cort- 
land county he removed to Augusta, Me., and engaged in 
trade; from Augusta he came to Springville, N. Y., in 1840 or 
1 841, and entered into the mercantile business, which he pur- 
sued for many years; at different times he was in company 
with Morgan L. Badgely, J. N. Richmond and his son, Hor- 
ace C. He was a successful merchant and a highly respected 
citizen; he died in Springville July 26, 1868; his wife died 
aged fifty-four. 

They had five children, viz: 

Frances, married Rev. George Button ; resides at Saginaw, 
Mich. 

Horace C, married Miss Kate Morris; he has been ver)- suc- 
cessful as a merchant ; he now resides at Flint, Mich. — a person 
of wealth and influence. 

Thomas \\, is a hardware mcrchaiit at Saginaw, Mich. 



lilOCKAl'llICAl. SKETCIIKS. 535 

Cornelia, married Lorenzo Colt ; died in S]:)rin<^ville, aged 
nineteen. 
Charles. 

C. C. McClure. 

C. C. McClure son of John McClure, is of Scotch origin 
and was born March 6, 1812, in Cazenovia, Madison count}', N- 
Y., and removed with his father's family to Griffin's Mills, Erie 
county, in 1825. At the age of fifteen years he began the 
trade of shoe-making, which, together with farming, he has 
folhnved more or less since. On the 24th day of Nov., 183 1, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Laura Thompson and the 
fruits of this marriage were seven children, four of them sur- 
viving at the present, viz : 

Olive, born Feb. 21, 1836. 

George W., born Feb. 22, 1838. 

C. C, Jr., born Feb. 12, 1845. 

L. Alice. 

In 1836 Mr. McClure settled in Springville, which has been 
his abiding place since. For forty-six years he has lived upon 
the same lot. At one time he quite extensively carried on the 
business of boot and shoe making, but of late he has more or 
less lived at his own leisure, his attention being divided between 
farming and his shop. He lives to enjoy the society of his 
friends without ostentation and the steady, even course of his 
life has secured to him the respect of the communit}' where he 
has so long resided. 

C. C. McClure, Jr., 

Son of C. C. McClure, was born in the village of Springville, 
Feb. 12, 1845. Soon after gaining his majority he engaged 
with a mercantile house in Buffalo as salesman and afterwards 
as traveling salesman and several years he passed upon the 
road. A short time since he entered into co-partnership with 
another young man, and they are at present engaged in the 
manufacture of boots and shoes in the cit}' of Buffalo. 

Some time in the year 1872, he was married to Miss Lora 
Albro, of his native village. 



536 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Gencalogry of tlie Godard Family. 

Edward Godard, farmer, was born about the year 1595, in 
Norfolk county, England, where he continued to reside; was 
once very wealthy but afterwards much reduced by oppression 
during the civil war. 

Being on the Parliament side his house was beset and demol- 
ished by a company of cavaliers, who also plundered his sub- 
stance. He escaped through the midst of them in disguise, but 
died soon after. 

EDWARD GODDARD'S WRITINGS. 

Second Generation. William Goddard, seventh son of Edward 
a citizen and grocer of London, was born in 1625. Traded 
largely at wholesale, met with great losses at sea ; came to New 
England in 1665, and settled at VVatertown, Mass. 

Third Generation. Edward Goddard, twelfth son of William, 
was born at Watertown, Mass., March 24, 1675 ; became teacher 
in a Boston school. He was many years in commission for the 
peace ; nine years chosen and served as Representative of the 
town in the General Court, and also chosen and served three 
years in his Majesty's Council for the Province. 

Fourth Generation. Edward Goddard, eldest son of Ed.vard, 
2d, was born at Watertown, May 4, 1698; was one of the first 
proprietors and owned five rights in the town of Shrewsbury, 
Mass. 

Fifth Generation. Nathan Goddard, eldest son of Edward 
3d, a farmer. Orange, Mass., born Jan. 18, 1725; was for several 
years a prominent of^cer in the Congregational Society of 
Orange; died Feb. 12, 1806. aged eighty-eight years. 

Sixth Generation. Nathan Goddard, son of Nathan ist, was 
born about 1760, and resided in Orange, Mass. 

Seventh Generation. Nathan Goddard. son of Nathan 2d, 
was born in Orange, Mass., Aug. 31, 1786; married Ruth 
Briggs, of Orange. Children born in Massachusetts : 

Nathan A., Emeline B., Seth W., and Lemuel. 

Nathan with his family, moved from Massachusetts to Erie 

county. N. Y., in 1816 ; purchased and settled on what is known 

as tile Steele farm, at East Concord. Five or six years after 



BKXiRAl'HICAI, SKKTCHICS. 537 

bought the Hcnjamiii Whjjlcr fariii at the foot of Townsend 
Hill, south-east slope, to which he removed, where the family 
lived many years. Children born after coming to New York : 

Calista, Edward. Silenus A., Elmina R., Emily R. and Lem- 
uel. Ruth, the m )ther, died Nov. 19, 1846. In 1848, Nathan, 
the father, moved to Springville ; lived with his son Edward, 
and died July 27, 1854. 

Nathan A. Goddard, eldest son of Nathan 3d, was born in 
Orange, Mass., in 181 1 ; was in his 5 th year when his father came 
to the HolKmd Purchase. At an early age hired out, and as the 
country was then a comparative wilderness, chopping trees and 
clearing Ian 1 formed a very important branch of farming and with 
most sc:tlers it was the first business; of course young Nathan 
shared with other farmer boys in the then common, hard and 
laborious work. Being young and ambitious, he over-worked, 
which resulted in impaired health, from which he never fully 
recovered. He afterwards learned the trade of boot and shoe 
maker, which avocation was pursued a number of years, or 
until a further decline in health, when he quit the shoe-bench, 
and went into the grocery trade, which was carried on for 
several years either alone or in partnership. He was for several 
terms Town Collector, discharging all business put into his 
care, whether public or private, with fidelity. His wife's 
maiden name was Betsy Wheeler, fourth daughter of Benjamin 
Wheeler. Tiiey had two children : Nathan A. jr.. and Benja- 
min S. Betsy, the mother, died Nov. 17, 1845, aged thirty- 
two years. Nathan A., the father, died Sept. 23, 1878, aged 
sixty-seven years. 

Ninth Generation — Nathan A. Goddard, jr., son of Nathan 
A. 4th, born in Concord, N. Y., followed teaching in the Win- 
ter season for several terms ; lived in Vermont and Massachu- 
setts ; graduated at the Boston Normal and Training School of 
Physical Culture, in 1868; returned to Springville in 1872- 
went to Philadelphia in 1874; making it his home till 1879; 
returned the same year and is now living at Springville. 

Benjamin S. Goddard, second son of Nathan A. 4th, also 
born in Concord, N. Y., married Ellen Jewett, of Springville. 

Their children are : Jessie and Edna, born in Concord, N. 
Y., and Mamie, born in Philadelphia, Pa. 



538 ■ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Benjamin S. Goddard, enlisted in the Union army, Aug. 12, 
1862, and served three years. He now resides in Philadelphia. 

Edward Goddard, one of the first business men of Spring- 
ville, in his day, and a brother to Seth W.. was born in Con- 
cord, N. Y., April 25, 1820. His services were required at 
home when very young. The older brothers having left the 
parental roof to cut their own way through the world, his 
father in poor health, and work that must be performed, Ed- 
ward could not be spared; had little time for school; in fact 
such an institution was no place for him. affording no adequate 
field for the exercise of his ambitious and stirring nature ; with 
him it was work, action, and business practically ; this passion 
was then, and ever after, uncontrolable. He began when a 
mere boy to assume the care and duties of the farm at home, 
and a few years later, he would hire, or take a neighbor's farm 
on shares, working them both. When twenty-one years of 
age, his health failed, was compelled to abandon actual farm 
labor. At the age of twenty-eight, he came to the village with 
the small capital of five hundred dollars, and became partner 
in a grocery store, in which business he continued with but one 
or two short interruptions for six or eight years; meanwhile he 
commenced buying cattle in a small way, from one to five or 
six heads at a time ; soon after these had been disposed of, he 
would replace them with others, continuing the traffic till at 
length he was able to purchase a farm, on which he could keep 
a dairy of twenty or thirty cows. Thus his business and its 
profits gradually increased, until thirty years later (1879) ^^^ 
possessed farming lands amounting to about fifteen hundred 
acres. For many years he was one of the Town Assessors, 
and his judgment of the value of real estate was highly re- 
garded. He died Dec. 12, 1879. 

Calista Goddard, the third daughter of Nathan 3d, and at 
this time the only surviving member of her father's famil}', was 
born in Concord, N. Y. When quite young she commenced 
teaching in the district school, teaching Summers and working 
at the tailoress trade during the Fall and Winter season ; this 
double avocation was followed a number of years. In addition 
to her own means, which she had acquired by diligence and 
economy, she inherited a portion of her brother Seth W.'s 



bi()c;kai'1iicai. sketches. 539 

property, and at his decease she came in possession of her 
brother Eldward's estate. She immediately assumed the man- 
agement of the business and its attendant responsibiUties, 
which was conducted the same as before for two years, at which 
time she decided to distribute among her heirs a portion of her 
landed property; this she accordingly did, giving to them six 
or seven farms, amounting in the aggregate to some eleven 
hundred acres. This act on her part was deemed wise by those 
disinterested, as she was relieved of a burden of care, affording 
a period for rest, an opportunity which she is improving by 
living in comparative ease and quiet. Within the last forty 
years she has faithfully watched over, cared for and ministered 
to the wants of father, mother and several brothers and sisters 
during their last sickness. 



SPRINC.VILLE INCORPORATED. 54I 

SPRINGVILLE. 

This village was incorporated by an act of the legislature 
passed April 11, 1834. 

As early as 181 8 Rufus Eaton, one of its principal founders^ 
caused a map or survey of the village to be made by one 
George VV. Robinson, a surveyor, in which a portion of his 
lands were divided up into lots, numbering as high as thirty- 
nine (see map published). For many years lots were sold and 
conveyed by him by a reference to said map. 

Mr. Eaton may be said to have given the name "Spring- 
ville " to the village, though undoubtedly it was suggested, 
very appropriately, from the numerous large springs in its imme- 
diate neighborhood, which made the creek known as Spring 
brook, on which at an early day were erected mills and manu- 
factories. 

The village, as incorporated, included lots two, three, eight 
and nine of township six, range six, of the Holland Land com- 
pany's surveys. The improvements as early as 181 8 were 
mainly confined to lot three, as appears on Mr. Eaton's map. 

We have spoken elsewhere of its once popular name, " Fid- 
dler's Green," and of its origin. 

The first election of village officers under its charter was held 
May 6, 1834, and the officers elected were: 

Trustees — Carlos Emmons, Ebenezer Dibble, Jacob Rush- 
more, Joseph McMillen, Samuel Cochran. 

Assessors — Johnson Bensley, Richard Wadsworth, Theodore 
Smith. 

Clerk — Peter V. S, Wendover. Collector — Mortimer L. Arnold. 
Treasurer — Pliny Smith. Constable — Freeman Baily. 

Pound Master — Abial Gardner. 

The Hon. Carlos Emmons was duly appointed President of 
the Board of Trustees. 

Mr. Emmons was a member of the State Legislature in 1834 
and was the author of the act of incorporation. 

One of the first acts of the Board of Trustees of the village 
was to cause a resurvey of the several streets within its limits 
and naming them. 

The following are the names given to the several streets 
within the limits of the village at the time of its incorporation . 



;42 



NEW CHAKTEK. 



Main, Buffalo, Franklin, Cattaraii<jus, Mill, Water, W'averly, 
West, Church, White and Smith streets. 

In 1836 two new streets were laid out — Elk and Academ)-. 

In 1843 Chapel street was laid out on the north and east side 
of the old park. Both streets and park were donated to the vil- 
lage by Rufus Eaton. The park had been donated as early in i S 1 8 

In 185 1 was laid out Eaton street, and Smith street was 
continued north to Eaton street, 

Amendments were made to the charter of the village frcMii 
time to time up to 1876, when an entire new charter was made 
under the supervision of Hon. B. Chafee, who was Member of 
the Assembly that year, and sundry amendments have since 
been made. 

In 1864 the Springville Rural Cemetery association was or- 
ganized and the remains within the old burial ground in said 
village, on the corner of Franklin street and Central avenue, 
(formerly West street), have recently been removed and re-in- 
terred in the new cemetery, pursuant to an Act of the Legisla- 
ture, passed in 1883, and the village has decided to take and 
hold the old burial ground for village purposes. 

The recent Rail Roads, Springville & Sardinia Narrow 
Guage and the Buffalo Extension of the Rochester & Pitts- 
burgh Rail Road, has given to the village an impetus to growth 
and prosperity which will soon place the village second to none 
of the villages in Western New York. 




CHRISTOPHER STONE'S LOG-HOUSE— The lirst house buili in Spnnfe\illi- in ito?. 



HISTORY OV THE TOWN OF COLLINS. 543 



CHAPTER XVII. 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF COLLINS. 

General History— Names of the Settlers of each Lot— Names of persons 
who took Land of the Holland Company— Copy of the Assessment Roll 
for 1S23— Act Creating the Town and Extracts from the Records— Local 
Names — "Zoar"— Deeds given by the Holland Company, etc. 

COLLINS. 

Nearly eighty years ago The Friends Yearly Meeting sent a 
mission to Cattaraugus Reserve, for the very laudable purpose 
of instructing the untutored red-man in the arts of civilization. 
That mission was composed of Jacob Taylor, Stephen Twin- 
ing and Hannah Jackson. The exact date of their advent 
there is not definiteh' known. They came as members of one 
family, under the management of Jacob Taylor. He located 
on lot seventy, adjoining the Reserve; this was in 1806 or 
1807, '^rid consequent!}' the wild state of this rich and prosper- 
ous town must far exceed all our pre-conceived ideas. It is true 
that the Indians had a trail that led the indomitable Taylor 
and his two co-workers to their new home that for years must 
necessarily be shut off from civilization by the vast forests that 
environed it on all sides. Many a stouter heart would have 
quailed and turned back, but Jacob Taylor was a God-fearing 
man, who fully believed in the good old Quaker doctrine of 
universal brotherhood, and even to this day, the influences im- 
parted by him are felt and followed. For years he was sole 
arbiter of all contentions that arose in the settlement, and 
his decisions, though some of them were novel, hardly ever 
failed to satisfy. 

He built the first saw and grist-mill south of the Eighteen- 
mile creek, and at one time he owned a great deal of land which 
upon his death was divided among his nephews and nieces. 

Of those who were next to follow, we find the names of Tur- 
ner Aldrich, Stephen Lapham, Joshua Parmeston, Stephen 



544 EARLY SETTLERS OF COLLINS. 

Peters. Arad Howard and Aaron Lindsley. All of these entered 
land in 1809, but did not actually settle there until 18 10. In 
181 1 the new settlement received the following acquisition: 
Stephen Wilber, Sylvenus Bates, Luke Crandall, Benjamin 
Albee, Allen King, Arnold King, John King, Nathan King, 
(the father), and Warren Tanner. In the meantime a begin- 
ning had been made in " Zoar," in the south-east part of the 
town, which will appear hereafter. 

LIST OF NAMES OF ONE OR MORE OF THE FIRST SETTLERS 
ON EACH LOT IN THE TOWN OF COLLINS: 

TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE SEVEN. 

LOT. LOT. 

30. Jesse Frye. 64. Erastus Colburn. 

31 and 32. Peter Pratt. 65. William Clark. 

33. Isaac Belote. 75. John Millis. 

34. Tristam Codin. 76. William Hazard. 
2S- Stephen Peters. 84. Jonathan Irish. 
36. Com. Boutwell. 85. Henry Palmerton. 
27. Com. Boutwell. 92. Joshua Pike. 

38. Samuel Hill. 93. Enoch Albee, 

52. David Beverly. 94. Erastus Mack. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANOE SEVEN. 

LOT. LOT. 

.49. Levi Canfield and W. H. 57. Jehial Albee. 
Loveland. 65. Isaac Hunt. 

TOWNSHIP SIX, RAN(;E EIGHT. 
lOT LOT. 

9. Jehial Hill. 29. David Beverly. 

14. Daniel Prindle. 30. Job Irish. 

15. Ahaz Allen. 3i- James Nichols and Mr. 
18. Adam Ballard. Silver. 

ig. Nathaniel Ballard. 32. Arad Howard and Aaron 

20. Luther Pratt. Lindsley. 

21. Luther Town. 33. Ira Lapham. 

22. Isaac Allen. 34. Hadwin Arnold. 

23. Arunah Eaton. 37. Turner Aldrich. 

24. Jonathan Eaton. 39. Sylvenus Parkinson. 

25. David Brand. 40. Reuben Parkinson. 



EARLY SKTTLKRS OF COLLINS, 



545 



TOWNSHIP SIX. RANGE EIGHT— Con/inm;/. 



LOT. 
41. 
42. 

43- 
44. 

45- 
46. 

47- 
.48. 
49. 

50. 

5'- 

.52. 
53- 
54- 
55- 
56. 

S7- 



Amasa Bates. 
Arnold King. 
Truman B. Payne. 
Eli Laphani. 
Stephen Lapham. 
Sylvenus Cook. 
Warren Tanner. 
Stephen Peters. 
Stephen Wilber. 
Joshua Pahnerton. 
Angustus Smith. 
Benijah Hallock. 
David Pond. 
Cary Clemens. 
John Gibbons. 
John and Allen King. 
Philetus Crandall. 



LOT. 

58. Smith Bartlett. 

59. John Smith. 

60. William Sisson. 

61. Abel Hallock. 

62. Obadiah Brown. 

63. William Crandall, Benjamin 
Albee, Jr. and Adolphus 
Albee. 

64. Benjamin Albee and Luke 
Crandall. 

65. Eli Heath. 

66. Lyman Steele. 

67. Benjamin Godfrey. 

68. George Morris and Mr. 
Cleveland. 

69. Mr. Gleason. 

70. Jacob Taylor. 



TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE EICillT. 



LOT, 

I. Robert Riley. 

9. Jamt's Goodell and Ken 

dall Johnson. 
17. Sidney Smith. 
25. David Healy and George 57. Smith Bartlett 
Southwick. 



33. Joseph Woodward. 
41. John Lawton. 
49. Nathaniel Sisson and .Moses 
Tucker. 



LIST OF THE PERSONS WHO BOUGHT LAND OF THE HOLLAND 
COMPANY IN THE TOWN OF COLLINS, NUMBER OF LOT, 
NUMBER OF ACRES, AND THE AMOUNT PAID AND DATE 
THEREOF. 

TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE EIGHT, 



Na.mk. 


Datk. 


Land. 


Acres. 


Price 


Turner Aldrich 

Abram Lapham 


1809, Aug. 12. 
1809, Oct. 12. . 


1 27, 28, 36, 

37 & 38... 
I45&n^l34 

&s^l44. 


702 
747 


1930 
1306 



546 NAMES OF PERSONS BUYING LAND 

TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE EIGHT— Con/muec/. 



Joshua Palmerton . . . 

Stephen Peters 

*Thomas Stewardson 

Arad Howard 

Stephen Wilber 

Ethan Howard 

Joshua Pahnerton. . . 

Peter Boss 

Ira Lapham 

Arnold King 

Arnold King 

Arnold King 

Arnold King 

■'•Jacob Taylor 

Luke Crandall 

Luke Crandall 

Seth Blossom 

Silas Howard 

Ahaz Allen 

Arad Lindsley 

George Morris 

Stephen Peters 

Turner Aldrich 

Warren Tanner 

Benjamin Albee 

'"^ Jacob Taylor 

Smith Bartlett 

Turner Aldrich 

Cary demons 

Obadiah Brown 

Henry Palmerton . . . 

Arnold King 

Jonathan Eaton 

Daniel Hull 

Joseph Button 

John Lapham 

Benijah Hallock 

Wheeler B. Smith . . . 

Joseph Nobles 

Philogus L. Pratt.. . . 



Date. , Land. Price 



809 

809 
809 
809 
O 

8 

8 
8 



Oct. 12. . 
Oct. 12. . 
Oct. 4. . . 
Sept. 29. 
June 19,. 
July 3... 
May I.. . 
Sept. 19. 
Aug. 10. 
Feb. 27.. 
June 8. . 

P^b. 27.. 
Sept. 3.. 
May 22.. 
March 2 1 
Aug. 15. 
Oct. 18.. 
Oct. 17.. 
Feb. 7. . . 
June II.. 
March 10 
Mav 12.. 
July 28.. 
March 9. 
April 25 . 
Jan. 26. . 
Sept. 28. 
Sept. 18. 
P'eb. 26. 
April 10. 

Oct. 7. . . 
Nov. 18. 
March 9. 
Nov. 28. 
Sept. 7. . 
June 28. 
July 17.. 
Oct. 25. . 
Nov. 22. 
Nov. 29. j 



w pt 1 48. 
e pt 1 48 . 
I/O 

1 32 

w pt 1 49. 
w pt 1 53. 
e pt 1 50. 
w pt 1 64. 

1 53 

m pt I 49. 
e pt 1 56 & 

ptl5-.- 
m pt 1 49. 
s-w pt 1 42 
n pt 1 69. 
pt 1 64. . . 
ptl 56... 
n-e pt 1 31 
s-e pt 1 31 

1 15 

w pt 1 3 1 . 
n pt 1 68 . 
pt I 50. . . 
n-w pt 1 44 
w pt 1 47 . 
e pt 1 64. 
n pt 1 62 . 
s pt 1 58. 
n-w pt 1 42 
s pt 1 54.. 
s pt 1 62 & 
pt 1 54. 
m pt 1 48. 
w pt 1 35. 
w pt 1 23 . 
n pt 1 60. 
s pt 1 46. 
n-e pt 1 52 
w pt 1 52. 
m pt 1 54 
n-e part 1 44 
pt 1 20 



125 
100 

364 
362 
120 
200 
120 
120 

354 
100 

2CO 
100 
100 
140 
140 
80 
130 
100 
169 

100 
50 
100 
100 
lOI 

206 

176 
96 

140 



108 
100 

170 

322 

200 

60 
198 

134 

94 
140 



FROM llll'; HOLLAND CO.MI'AW. 
TOWNSHIP SIX. RANGE EIGHT— Co„/,nuet/. 



547 



N' AMI.. 

Nathaniel Ballard. 

Daniel Sis.son 

Jacob Taj'lor 

Abraham Gifford . . 



Date. 



1815, 
1816, 
1816, 
I 8 16, 



June 27. 
Nov. 2. . 
June 6. . 
April 2/ . 



Land. Acres. Price 



e pt 1 19. . 
e pt 1 53.. 
pt 1 68 . . . . 
\v pts 1 67 & 



Nathaniel Hanson. . . . 


1816, 


Sept. 27. 


Timotlu- Clark 


1816, 


March 26 


Alexander Brown .... 


1 8 16, 


Dec. 6... 


Phineas Orr 


1 8 16, 


May I.. . 


Jonathan Eaton 


1 8 1 6. 


May 25.. 


Fred A. Redfield 


1816. 


Jan. 12. . 


Peter Pratt 


1815, 


June 24. 


Pet^r Pratt 


181S, 


Nov. 18. 


Job Irish 


18 1 5. 


June 27. 


David Brand 


1815, 
1 8 1 5 , 


July 8... 
March 10 


Jonathan Eaton 


Isaac Allen 


1815, 
181 s. 


July 11.. 
Aut,^. 3 . . 


Phineas Orr 


Luther Town 


1815, 


June 7. . 


Luther Town 


1815, 


Nov. 2. . 


John Albro 


181 5. 
1817, 


Nov. 9. . 
April 24. 


Jonathan Eaton 


William Crandall 


1817. 


Julv 18.. 


Adolphus Albee 


1817, 


July 17.. 


Abel Hallock 


1817, 


Jan. 8. . . 


John Thurston 


1817, 


Jan. 26. . 


John J. Harrington . . . 


18 1 7, 


Nov. 27. 


Timothy Clark 


1817, 


July 16.. 


William Boyce 


1817 


April 21 . 


Truman B. Payne. . . . 


1817 


March 14 


John White 


1817 


Oct. 4... 


Hadvvin Arnold 


1817 


June 26. 


Ben Albee, Jr 


1 8 1 8 


Oct. 20.. 


James Cook 


1S18 


Nov. 7. . 


John Thornton 


1820 


July 29.. 


Jahial Hill 


1821 


Aug. 2 . . 


Charles M. Bardcn . . . 


1822 


, April 17. 


William Sisson 


1823 


, Nov. 20. 



pt 1 67 

m & e i^t 47 
e pt 1 49. . . 
e pt 1 20. . . 
e pt 1 23 & 
w pt 1 19. 
w pt 1 13... 

W pt 1 ^0. . . 

e & w pt 1 2 1 

pt 1 30 

1 25 

1 24 

w & m pts 1 



250 
160 

254 



250 
209 
210 
•23 
63 

309 

100 
261 
100 

135 
237 



e pt 1 22 . . . 
pt 1 14 

W pt 1 2 1... 

w pt 1 20. . . 
ept 1 35... 
s-\v pt 1 63 . 
s-e pt 1 63. . 
s pt 1 6 1 . . . 
w pt 1 59. . . 

pl 55 

.s-e pt 1 55 & 

1 39 

pt I50 

pt 1 43 

e pt 1 43 • • • 
s pt 1 34.. . . 
n-e pt 1 63.. 
n pt 1 46 . . . 
n-w pt 1 44. 
ept 1 9 ... . 
n-w pt 1 63 . 
s-w pt 1 60 & 
s-e pt I60. 



220 
1 22 

237 

100 

180 

217 

60 

60 

120 

100 

50 

661 
100 

ICO 

130 

184 

50 

139 

60 

84 
157 

161 



875 

720 
1016 

1000 

940 

393 

555 
252 

1236 
352 
350 
978 

350 
506 
808 

770 
427 
888 
375 
675 
1085 

315 
315 
54> 
500 
262 

2420 
500 
450 
650 
920 
262 
695 
255 
315 
745 

573 



548 NAMES OF PERSONS BUYING LAND 

TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE EIGHT— Coniinufd. 



Name. 




Samuel D. Green 

Joshua Palmerton . . . . 
William L. Mosher. . . 

Amasa Bates 

William C. Cross 

Abel Colburn 

Sam. Gunnand James 

Sampson 

Reuben Parkinson . . . . 

Martin Potter 

Sylvenus Cook 

Adam Ballard 

David White 

David Wilber 

Amherst Hopkins. . . . 

Abel Hallack 

*Arnold King 

John Thornton 

*Smith Bartlett 

Smith Bartlett 

Worcester Holcomb. . 

Michael Bader 

*Ezra Southwick 

John Colburn 

Elisha Roberts 

Martin Perrin 

Thomas B. Sowle . . . . 

Hosea White 

^Stephen Southwick. . 

Zoeth Allen 

David Grannis, Jr. . . . 

Allen King. . . 

George ¥. King 

John Griffith 

Charles Peters 

John Conklin 

John M. Potter 

David Strang 

Daniel Potter 

Joseph Waldren 

Dorous Pain 

Stephen Sowle 



823 
823 
824 
823 
823 
823 

823 
823 
823 
824 
824 
824 
824 
825 
825 

835 
828 
829 
830 
826 
826 
826 
826 
827 
828 
828 
829 
828 
828 
828 
828 
828 
829 
829 
829 
829 
829 
829 
829 
829 
829 



April 24 
Aug. 14 
Aug. 30 
Oct. 20. 
Sept. 22 
Sept. 22 

July 22. 
April 2 1 
Feb. 15 
Mar. 24 
May II 
Nov. 13 
Feb. 13 
June 14 
June 14 
Feb. 20. 
Dec. 5 . 
Jan. 3. . 
Nov. 8. 
June 15 
Sept. I . 
Nov. 10 
Nov. 22 
April 27 
Mar. 14 
Mar. 14 
Oct. 15. 
April 24 
June 18 
Dec. 5 . 
Dec. 24. 
Dec. 24 
Jan. 9.. 
Jan. 9.. 
Jan. 15. 
Feb. 16 
July 17. 
Oct. 13. 
Oct. 19. 
Nov. 16 
Nov. 30 



pt 1 61 j 120 

w pt 1 50 . . . 66 

Ptl48 1 58 

e pt 1 41 . . 
w pt 1 40 . . 
pt 1 40 . . . . 



pt 1 40. . . . 
pt 1 40 . . . . 
e pt 1 40 . . . 
n-e pt 1 31. 
pt I41.... 

pt 1 46 

n-w pt 1 42. 
ptl 52.... 
s-w pt 1 52 
s-e pt 1 43 . 
n-e pt 1 46. 
ptl58.... 
n pt 1 58. . 
n-e pt 1 18. 
pt 1 29.. . . 
e pt 1 51.. 
n-e pt 1 29 . 
ptl 51.... 
pt I23.... 
n-w pt 1 23 
s pt 1 34 . . 
pt I23.... 
n-w pt 1 22 
pt 1 46 

ptl 33 

pt I33 

pt I35 

ptl 35 

ptl 59 

pt 1 29 

s-w pt 1 43 . . 

Ptl56 

s-w pt 1 61 . . 
wpt 1 56. . . 
n-e pt 1 23. . 



190 

87 
50 

50 
50 
80 

65 
100 
200 
96 
50 
50 

73 
60 

50 

44 

50 

50 

100 

100 

55 

91 

50 

184 

55 
59 
79 
28 
42 

139 
28 

50 
50 
50 
50 
60 

63 
89 



FROM rilK HOLLAND COMPANY. 
TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE EIGHT— Con/inueJ. 



549 



Name. 



Warren Foster 

* A very Knight 

Ezra Bull 

Horace Palmer 

Ira Waterman 

Nathaniel Sisson 

Joel Phillips 

Sylvester Pierce 

Harriet Lindsley 

Ralph Plumb 

Ralph Plumb 

Ralph Plumb 

Andrew Hopkins 

Elisha Hopkins 

Joel Smith 

David Wilber 

Daniel Lee 

Peter Cook 

Timothy Smith 

Charles S. Straw 

Curtis F. Camp 

Hiram Hazard 

Samuel E. Day 

Joseph Plumb 

John S. Dean 

Elisha B. Page 

Howard Albee 

Benjamin P. Wells. . . 
William Palmerton . . . 

Garritt Polhamus 

Henry D. Barnhart .. . 
William S. Herrick. . . 
*William S. Herrick. . 

*Abner Taft 

William Potter 

Philander H. Crandall 

Hiram Hunt 

Eli Heath 

Christian Parkinson.. . 

Philip Guile 

Stephen Wilber 



Date 



829 
829 
829 
829 
829 
829 
830 
830 
830 

828 

829 

829 

830 

830 

830 

830 

830 

83 

83 

83 

83 

83 

83 

83 

83 

83 

83 

83 

832 

832 

834 
829 

834 
834 
834 
834 
834 
831 
836 
823 
817 



Dec. 3 . . 
Dec. 3 . . 
Dec. 21 . 
Dec. 25. 
Julyi;.. 
Dec. 31 . 
Jan. 4. .. 
Jan. 6. . . 
May 7.. . 

Mar. 29.. 
Nov. 18. 
Dec. 30 . 
Aug. 28. 
Aug. 28. 
Sept. 15 . 
Sept. 22, 
Nov. 30. 
Jan. 17. . 
Feb. 16 , 
Mar. 31 , 
April 18, 
May 16. 
June 21 . 
May 30. , 
Sept. 26 
Oct. 29. 
Dec. 6 . 
Dec. 15 
Mar. 9 . 
Oct. ly. 
Feb. 19., 
June II 
June 6. 
Aug. 7. 
Sept. 18 
Sept. 20 
Dec. 5 . 
Jan. 28. 
Aug. 24 
Dec. 31. 
Feb. 7.. 



Land. 



Acres. Price 



pt 152.... 
pt I53.... 
s-e pt I 43 . 
s-w pt I 67 
n-w pt 1 43 
pt 1 68 . . . 
pt I30. .. 
n-e pt 1 54 
w pt I41 & 
pt I 42 . 
s-e pt 1 46. 

I25 

n-e pt 1 13 
w pt 1 66. 
ptl58... 
ept 1 57. 
pt I57... 
pt 1 30. . . 
n-e pt 1 55 
n-e pt 1 1 1 
s ptli3. 
pt 1 29. . 
ept 1 65 . 
pt 166.. 
pt 1 1 1 & 1 
pt 166.. 
pt 1 66 . . 
pt 1 63 . . 
pt 1 21 . . 
pt 166, . 
pt 1 20. . 
pt 1 10. . 
e pt 1 64 
pt 1 65 . . 
e pt 1 10 
ptl65.. 
pt 1 57.. 
pt I9... 
pt I 64 . . 
n-w pt 1 
n pt 1 61 
w p 1 43 



20 



50 
97 
73 
50 
90 

65 
50 
50 

252 
147 

135 
123 

50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
62 
20 
105 
61 

75 

50 

920 

50 
100 

57 
80 

50 

10 

200 

lOI 

100 

75 
100 

50 

120 

60 

50 

82 

140 



212 
407 
312 
212 
382 
276 
212 
212 

[1008 

I 594 
; 573 

! 369 

! 200 

200 

I 200 

] 200 

200 

248 

80 

420 

244 

300 

200 

i 253 

I 200 

I 400 

I 268 

379 
200 

396 
800 

i 429 
! 300 
225 
400 
200 
480 
210 
212 
348 
630 



550 NAMES OF I'KRSONS HUVINC LAND 

TOWNSHIP SIX. RANGE EIGHT— Coniinuecf. 



Name. 



Aui^Listus Smith . . . . 

John R. Smith 

John Wilber 

Michael Bader 

Wilham S. Hcrrick. 

Truman Paine 

John R. Smith 

Job Irish 

John J. Harrington. 
George F. King.. . . 

Timothy Clark 

Sylvenus Cook 

Adam Ballard 

Harvey Hunt 



Datk. 



Sept. 25 
May 28. 
Feb. 22. 
May 5.. 
Nov. 16 
Dec. 12. 
Apr. 28. 
June 23. 
May 19. 
May 24. 
Apr. 29. 
Jan. 30.. 
Nov. 30. 
Nov. 22. 



Land. 



ptlsi. 
s-e pt 1 59 
pt I42. . 
pt I56.. 

pt 1 57- • 
ptl 57.. 
e pt 1 59. 
pt 1 59. . 
w pt 1 65 
e pt 1 66. 
pt 1 40 . . 
pt I30.. 
w pt 1 18 
pt 1 1 8 . . 



Ac kes.IPrice 



30 

50 



148 
162 
212 



50 


200 


75 


300 


37 


148 


SO 


200 


70 


280 


84 


336 


49 


196 



75 218 

50 : 277 

5u I 212 

60 ! 255 



TOWNSHIP SEVEN. [-lANGE EIGHT. 



David Woodward 
David Woodward 
David Woodward 
Warren Foster. 
David Lawton . 
Jacob Taylor. . 
Henry Tucker. 
Abram Tucker. 
Stephen Twining 

Thomas Stewardson 
& Co 

John Goodell 

John Arnold 

Robert Riley 

James Goodell 

James Goodell 

Daniel Healy 

John Goodell 

Sidney Smith 

George Lomax 



814, June 18 

815, May 23 
815, May 23 
815, Sept. 19 
813, Dec. 15 
6 16, June 6. 
5 1 6, Nov. 29 

810, Nov. I . 

811. May 22 

809, Oct. 4.. 

815, Nov. 7. 

816, Mar. 5. 
816, Oct. 25. 
811, April 2. 
811, May 7.. 
819, Mar. 19 
815, Nov. 7. 
833. Aug. 21 
832, April 30 



n-e pt 1 37, 
s-e pt 1 33. 
n-w pt 1 33 
w pt 1 41.. 
s-e pt 1 41 . 
n-e pt 1 41. 
n pt 1 49. . 
s-e pt 1 49 . 
( s-w pt 1 I 

( &sptl58 ' 
w pt 1 I . 
e pt 1 1 . . 
pt' 1 1 . . . . 
w pt lot 9 
e pt 1 9 . . 
w pt 1 17. 
e pt 1 17. 
pt 1 1 7 . . . 
pt 1 17... 



359 1077 
100 350 



80 
181 
100 
130 
129 
100 



150 
120 

72 
200 
177 

60 
150 

91 
50 



280 
678 
300 
520 
580 



209 459 
336 524 



562 
450 
3^4 
550 
486 
300 
562 

364 
200 



FROM TIM-; HOLLAND COMl'AXV. 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE SEVEN. 



551 



Namk. 



William H. Loveland 

Levi Canfield 

John Arnold 

Rut us Col burn 

Isaac Hunt 

Dennison C. Pierce. . 
Charles Pierce 



Date. 



1831, Mar. 2. 

1831, Mar. 2. 

1 8^1 6, Mar. 5. 

1S37, June 7. 

1838, Dec. 10 

1 84 1, Nov. I . 

1 841, Nov, I . 



Land. 



s-w pt 1 49 
s-e pt 1 49 

w pt 1 57. 

pt l49- •• 
w pt 1 65, 

pt 1 65 . . . 
pt 1 65 . . . 



AcRKS. Price 



50 
50 
120 
100 
80 
50 
65 



200 
200 

450 
400 
240 
250 
325 



TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE SEVEN. 



Samuel Nichols. . . . 

John Hinman 

Peter Pratt 

Stephen Peters 

Samuel Hill 

Isaac Belote 

John Polle)^ 

Joseph Bartlett . . . . 

David Beverh' 

John Millis .' 

Timothy Clark 

Henry Kimball . . . . 
Jonathan Irish, Jr. . 

Wilbur Irish 

Wilbur Irish 

Joshua Pickens 

Austin Graham . . . . 

William Clark 

David Wilbur 

Peter Pratt 

James B. Parkinson 

Aver)' Knight 

Truman Colburn . . . 
Nathaniel Knight. . 
Nathaniel Knight . . 

Avery Knight 

Abel Colburn 

Erastus Colburn . . . 
Nehemiah Heath . . 
John C. Adams. . . . 



809 
810 
811 
814 
815 
815 
814 
816 
817 
816 
817 
815 
817 
817 
823 
819 
820 
821 
822 
815 
824 
823 
823 
823 
823 
823 
823 
823 
823 
824 



May 2 

July3- 
Sept. 6 
Dec. 8 
Apri 
Mar. 
Oct. 
Jan. 
Dec. 
June 4. 
July 16 
Nov. 21 
Sept. 13 
Sept. 25 
April 19 
Sept. 28 
Mar. 24 
Nov. 9. 
April 25 
June 24 
Feb. 12 
May 14. 
Aug. I 4 
Feb. 15. 
Mar. 3.. 
April 19 
Sept. 2 . 
Sept. 23 
Oct. 29. 
July 12. 



21 

13 
10 

23 

5 



1 32 

I31 

^37 

I35 

w pt 1 38. 

I 33 & 34- 
s pt 1 30 . 
ept 1 38. 
w pt 1 52 
e pt 1 75 . 
pt 1 85 . . . 
w pt 1 76 
pt 1 76. . . 
pt 1 76. . . 
n-\v pt 1 75 
s pt 1 85 . 
w pt 1 74. 
n-e pt 1 6; 
pt 1 65 . . ."^ 
\v pt 1 65. 
pt I52... 
s-e pt 1 84 
s-w pt 1 84 
s-w pt 1 75 
s-e pt 1 84 
pt I75... 
w pt 1 64. 
pt 1 64 . . . 
pt 1 65 . . . 
s-e pt 1 65 



140 i 
182 I 

193 I 

143 : 

100 i 

278 

125 

104 I 

100 

175 

120 ! 

150 

100 

65 I 

39 I 
100 

120 

100 

50 
100 

50 ' 

49 
60 
no 
50 
40 
50 
50 
50 
90 



420 
546 
627 
536 

375 
1042 

437 
416 

500 
700 
600 

525 
500 

341 
156 
500 
600 
350 
200 
350 
200 
196 
240 
440 
200 
160 
200 
200 
200 
360- 



552 



NAMES OF PERSONS BUYING LAND 
TOWNSHIP SIX. RANGE S^WE^i— Continued. 



Name. 



Date. 



Morgan Leak 1 826, 

1826, 
1826, 
1827, 
1828, 
1828, 
1829, 



David Heath 

George C. Tripp. . 

Job Howland 

Daniel Pratt 

Jehial Hill 

Wells Ji. Atwood . 

William Beebe j 1829, 

Jasper Tabor I 1829, 

John J. Borst | 1829, 

Enos Woodward 1831, 

1831, 
1832, 
1832, 



William Crandall . 
Samuel Merrill .... 

Titus Roberts 

Joshua Pike | 1835, 

Austin Fuller 1835, 

Joshua Pike 1835, 

Isaac Brown 1837, 

Gilbert Salnave j 1837, 

Na haniel Knight . . . . | 1837, 

Francis Knight j 1838, 

Jason Hopkins i 1839, 



Aug. 14 
Feb. 3.., 
Dec. 21 , 
Jan. 13.. 
June 18. 
Aug. 22. 
Feb. 20. 
Aug. 21 . 
Nov, 10. 
Dec. 3. . 
May 31. 
Aug. 23. 
Jan. 26 . . 
Nov. 19. 
Aug. 4.. 
Sept. 1 1 . 
Oct. 27. . 
April 5. . 
June 30. 

July 5-- 
Mar. 2 . . 
F"eb. 20. 



Land. 



Acres. Price 



pt I64 

pt I52.... 
n-e pt 1 64 . 
e pt lot 76. 

pt I 32 

n-w pt 1 38 
n-e pt 1 30. , 
s-w pt 1 94 
e pt 1 52. . 

Ptl85 

\Y pt 1 63. . , 
n pt 1 85. . . 
e pt 1 74. .. 
n-w pt 1 94. 
pt 1 92 

Pti 74 

s-e pt 1 92 . . 
s-w pt 1 93 . 
n pt 1 b'4 . . . 

pt 1 63 

pt 1 14 

pt I93 



100 
160 
90 
70 
42 
50 
50 
50 
76 

75 
50 

57 
100 

50 

25 
100 

50 
50 
50 
50 
84 
50 



400 
640 
270 

297 
90 
200 
200 
200 
306 

200 
228 
400 
200 
100 
400 
150 
187 
200 
200 

200 



TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE SIX. 



William Ballou 

Charles Boutwell 

Peter Pratt 

Phineas Orr 

Sylvenus Bates, Jr. . . 
Huram Wickham . . . . 
John D. Beverley. . . . 

Jonas Howe 

Stukely Hudson 

Nehemiah Reynolds.. 

Abram Hodges 

William Stephenson. . 

John T. Johnson 

Daniel Newel 

Norman Reynolds. . . 
William Stephenson. . 
Henry W. Palmerton. 



1828, Sept. 22. 
1819, Sept. 7. . 
1 8 19, May 3 . . 
1827, Feb. 21 . . 
1842, Jan. 15 . . 
1839, Mar. 13.; 
1830, Jan. 6. . . 
1836, Dec. 30.1 
1830, Dec. 30.! 
1842, Jan. 15. .j 
1842, Jan. 15.. i 

1829, Jan. 4. . . ! 

1830, Jan. 6. . . t 
1842, Jan. 15 . .j 
1842, Jan. 15. .! 
1836, Dec. 8. .1 
1829, Jan. 7. . . t 



w pt 1 34. . . 

1 ?>7 

e pt 1 32. . . 

1 30 

s-e pt 1 65 . . 

pt 1 14 

w pt 1 52. . . 
w pt 1 65 . . . 

pt 1 65 

w pt 1 64 . . . 

Ptl76 

pt I75 

s-w pt 1 74. 

pt 1 76 

s-w pt 1 75 . 
t pt 1 75... 
s-w pt 1 15. 



100 

193 

100 

I 12 
90 

55 
100 
100 
50 
50 
90 
60 
60 

75 
50 
40 
50 



400 
916 
350 
519 
495 
21 1 

425 

727 

293 
275 
500 
228 

255 
412 

275 
233 
212 



FROM TllK HOI. LAND COMPANY. 
TOWNSHIP SnVEN. RANGE Sl"^— Continued. 



553 



Name. 



Date. 



William Skeggs ' 1828, Sept. 4. 

Orton J. Knight 1837, April 28 

Jason Hopkins ! 1839, Feb. 20 

Edward Vail , 1837, Dec. 12 

Francis Matthews. . . . 1842, Jan. 15 . 

William Warner 183.S. Oct. 18. 

Moses Blakeley 1842, Nov. 3. 

Joseph Jenkins 1842, Jan. 25 . 

Edward Brown 1838, Oct. 22. 



Land. 



Acres Price 



s-e pt 1 I 5 . . 50 183 

Pt 1 15 135 77^ 

pt 1 93 50 200 

pt 1 52 1 10 674 

pt 1 64 50 280 

s-w pt 1 94. 50 317 

pt I92 : 25 128 

pt 1 74 60 219 

n-w pt 1 93. 45 182 



Copy ov the Assessment Roll of the Town of Col 
llns for the year 1 823, 

township seven, rancie eight. 



Name. 



Land. 



Da\\d Conger w pt 1 33 



Josj^jh Woodward 
William Sisson. . . . 
William Sisson. . . , 

David Healy 

George Southwick 
Gilbert Bardon. . . 
John Sherman . . . , 
James Goodal. 



n-e pt 1 33 

n-e pt 1 49 

n-e pt 1 29, in N. C . 

w pt 1 1 7 

I25 

s-e ptl 33 

e pt 1 33 

n pt 1 9 



Kendall Johnson s pt 1 9 

Jacob Taylor .s-eptsls49&4i & 1 70' 

VVillink & Co i ptl 17 



IAckes. 
179 


Val. 


$ 627 


98 


254 


54 


233 l| 


97 


2461' 


59 


147 , 


347 


II35 i 


40 


100 


3« 


95 


'74 


7^7 


196 


597 


141 


352 1 



Tax. 



I 95 

3 67 

I 13 

8 73 

77 

73 

5 88 

4 63 



2 71 



TOWNSHIP SIX. RANGE EIGHT. 



John Mack ! s pt 1 68 1 123 

Philander Hanford . . . | m pt 1 68 1 24 

Mo.ses Kimball | n-w pt 1 60 ■ 59 

Benjamin Godfrey . . . . ! w pt 1 67 99 

n pts ls62, 68&69,^■ 
Jacob Taylor 1 70T. &V. together 785 

J ulius Perry m pt 1 69 99 



356 
328 
127 
207 



2 74 
2 52 

99 
I 60 



7589 58 43 
260 2 00 



554 



copy OF EARLY ASSESSMENT ROLL. 
TOWNSHIP SIX. RANGE EIGHT— Continued. 



Name. 



Jonathan Sowle n-e pt 1 60. 

Hopkins m pt 1 52 



Land. 



lACRES. 



95 

48 

58 

95 
80 

97 
Smith Bartlett ! .s-w pt 1 58 116 



Asa Lapham ; n-e pt 1 52 . 

Augustus Smith w pt 1 5 i . . 

Augustus Smith s-w pt 1 6l 

Joel Matison j s-e pt 1 52 



Smith Bartlett 

Luke Crandall 

Luke Crandall .... 
Christian Parkerson 
John Blancher. . . . , 
Jonah H. Smith . . . , 

David Pound 

Benajah Hallock . . 
Powell Hallock . . . , 
William Sisson . . . . 
Lemuel Sisson .... 

Peter Gile 

Sylvanus Strang. . . 
Elisha Roberts. . . . 

Philip Gile 

John R. Smith .... 
John Blancher. ... 

Asa Smith 

David Wilber 

John Wilber 

Oliver Reese 

Allen Kins 



Daniel I^rindle 

Joseph Kibbe 

Joseph Lapham .... 

Joel Phillips 

Job Irish 

Nathaniel Ballard.. . 

Harry Dairy 

Adolphus Albee. . . . 

Benjamin Albee, Jr. 

James B. Parkinson. 

Sylvanus Parkinson 

Robert McNeal m pt 1 40 



m pt 1 67 1 50 

m pt 1 64 ! 137 

m pt 1 56 ! 15 

s-e pt 1 58 60 

n pt 1 54 i 97 

m pt 1 54 j 63 

w pt I53 195 

m pt 1 5 2 46 

n-w pt 1 52 ' 47 

s-w pt 1 60 j 81 

s-e pt 1 60 48 

n-w pt 1 59 j 6S 

s-w pt 1 59 I 29 

s-e pt 1 61 I 39 

n pt 1 61 200 

s pt 1 69 1 119 

m ptl 53 j 42 

n-w pt 1 1 113 

n-w pt 1 1 93 

m pt 1 42 [ 46 

e pt 1 43 128 

.s-w pt 1 43, n-e pt 1. 

34, w pt 1 35 

e pt 1 I4&s-e pt 1 23. 

m pt 1 43 

m pt 1 33& w pt 1 22. 

w pt 1 30 

m pt 1 30 

e pt 1 19 

mpt 1 55 

s-e pt 1 63 

n-e pt 1 62 

e pt 1 39 



126 
184 

48 
464 

96 

96 
142 

48 

56 

46 

60 

m pt 1 39 j 140 

73 



Val. Tax. 



$259 
120 
167 
362 
200 
242 

379 
125 , 

450 

37 
120 
264 
202 
891 

137 
130 
100 
120 
170 
72 

97 

513 
297 

105 

367 

232 

115 

320 

368 
420 
120 

1265 
242 
267 

395 
128 
160 
124 

150 
550 
182 



> 95 

93 

I 29 

4 32 

1 87 

5 41 
3 86 

93 

2 03 

I 55 

6 85 
I 65 
I 00 
I 77 

92 
I 31 

D3 



74 
3 94 
2 28 

80 
2 82 

1 78 
89 

2 40 



83 
23 
92 

72 
86 
06 
04 
98 
23 
95 
15 
24 
40 



COrV OK KAKI.V ASSESSMKNT ROM- 
TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE EIGHT— Con/inue^/. 



55S 



Namk. 



Land. 



Reuben Parkinson . 

Arnold King 

Arnold King 

Joseph Peters 

William Mosier. . . . 

Joseph Wood 

Daniel Burbank. . . 

Nathan King 

Stephen Wilber . . . 

Ezra Nichols 

William O'Brien . . 
Joshua Palmerton . 
Aaron Lindsley. ... 

James Nichols 

Amasa Bates 

Sylvanus Bates. . . . 

Samuel Hill 

William O'Brien . . 

Piathaway . . . 

Darius Crandall . . . . 



John J. Harrington. . 

Luke Crandall 

Benjamin Albee 

Charles Barden 

Timothy Clark 

John Gibbons 

Isaac Wickam 

\\ arren Tanner 

Martin Potter 

John C. Adams 

John Griffith 

Hadwin Arnold 

Eli Lapham 

John Horton 

Gabriel .Strang 

William Parmerton.. 
Stephen Lapham . . . . 
Stephen Lapham . . . . 
W^illiam Lapham . . . 
Archelaus Harwood., 

Sylvanus Cook 

Hosea Stewart 



m pt I 40 

s-w pt 1 42 

n-wpt 1 35 

e pt 1 48 

m pt 1 48 

w pt 1 48 

e pt 1 49 

m pt 1 49 

w pt 1 49 

m pt 1 50 

n-e pt 1 50 

m pt I 50 

e pt I32 

\^- pt 1 3 1 

n-e pt 1 8 1 

s-e pt 1 3 1 

e pt 1 9 

s-e pt 1 62 

m pt 1 48 

m pt 1 56 

s-e pt 1 56 

m pt 1 56 

e pt 1 64 

n-\v pt 1 63 

^' pt 1 47 

^-^ pt\ 55 

m pt 1 47 

v\- pt 1 47 

e pt 1 40 

m pt 1 4^ 

n-w pt 1 24 

s pt 1 34 & n c pt 1 23 

m pt 1 44 

n-\v pt 1 44 

^-^' pt 1 53 '■ 

e pt 1 44 

s pt 1 44 

n pt 1 45 

M^t 1 45 ■... . 

n pt I 46 

s pt 1 54 

n pt 1 37 



ACKES 


Val. 

120 


4S 


95 


259 


64 


160 


97 


320 


56 


158 


62 


164 


124 


314 


97 


505 


117 


576 


122 


339 


19 


75 


115 


524 


235 


1334 


145 


39« 


126 


552 


96 


340 


77 


192 


69 


2CO 


47 


94 


44 


130 


92 


260 


20 


50 


96 


340 


155 


410 


100 


280 


108 


288 


103 


275 


97 


260 


75 


187 


57 


155 


258 


685 


254 


720 


49 


144 


49 


135 


69 


150 


43 


107 


182 


546 


143 


740 


217 


I 130 


128 


320 


114 


294 


7' 


240 



Tax. 



93 
2 00 

1 23 

2 46 
I 21 

1 26 

2 44 

3 89 

4 44 

2 61 

59 

4 03 
10 28 

3 06 

1 94 

2 62 
I 48 

I 54 

72 

I 00 

1 9Q 
38 

2 61 

3 16 
2 16 
2 22 
2 1 2 
2 00 

I 45 
I 18 

5 27 

5 53 
I 1 1 
I 04 

1 16 
82 

4 36 

5 70 
8 68 

2 46 
12 26 



556 COPV OF EARLY ASSESSMENT ROLL. 

TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE EIGHT— Continued. 



Name. 



Land. 



John Strang 

Sabina Adams 

Isaac Aldrich 

Chancey Mammord.. 

Parker Dailey 

Joseph McMillon. . . . 

Ralph Plumb 

Ralph Plumb 

Turner Aldrich 

Turner Aldrich 

David Brand 

Enos Southwick 

Tibbet Sowle 

Tibbet Sowle 

Daniel Hunt 

Isaac Allen 

Oliver Harris 

Erastus Harris 

Solomon Dunham . . . 

Eseck Harris 

P. L. Pratt 

Luman H. Pitcher . . . 

Noah Scovell 

Eron Thatcher 

Enoch Palmer 

Alvin Bugbee 

Archelanus Harwood. 

Amasa L. Chafee 

Chafee & Bugbee.. . . 

Ralph Plumb 

Ralph Plumb 

Ralph Plumb 

Sarbat & Bugbee. . . 
Jonathan O. Irish . . . . 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 

Willink &Co 

Wiilink & Co 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 



m pt 1 37 

! m ptl37 

|s-w pt 1 37 

m pt 1 36 

m pt 1 36 

s-w pt 1 36 

mptl37 

w pt 1 38 

s-e pt 1 36 , 

■ npt I35 

I25 

w pt 1 24 

e pt 1 24 

n-vv pt 1 23 

s-vv pt 23 

m pt.l 22 

w pt 1 20 

m pt 1 20 

m pt 1 20 

e pt 1 10 

m pt 1 10 

1 38 — village lot. 

1 22^village lot . 

1 37 — village lot . 

1 16 — village lot. 

1 4 — village lot. . . 
\ 1 5 — village lot . . 
I 1 49, village lots. . 



Acres i Val. 



Tax. 



1 3, village lot 

1 48, village lot . . . . 
1 60, village lot ... . 
1 59, village lot . . . . 

m pt Its 76 & 55 

w pt 1 9 

e pt 1 42 

w pt 1 50 

e pt 1 51 

n-c pt 1 65 

w pt 1 56 

1S7 

n pt 1 58 



63 
66 
69 
H 
54 

i 
40 

10 

57 
100 
130 
121 

9' 

49 

59 
106 

48 

49 

78 

60 

120 



100 
220 
141 

66 
244 

61 
163 

342 
130 



288 
295 

633 
115 

55 
200 
220 

80 
807 
250 

334 
300 
280 
120 

147 
300 
100 
100 

195 
130 

333 
30 

15 
10 

15 
15 
15 
20 

59 
40 

150 
25 
15 

246 

550 
352 
165 
610 
152 
407 

855 
^20 



14 

27 

87 

89 

43 

54 

69 

62 

21 

92 

2 57 

2 31 

2 15 

92 

1 13 

2 31 

77 

77 

I 51 

I 00 

I 56 



12 

15 
12 
12 
12 
15 
39 
31 
16 

19 
12 

90 

23 
72 
27 
70 
18 



3 13 
6 60 

2 46 



Cf^PY OF EARl.V ASSKSSMKNT ROLL. 
TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE EIGHT— ConiinueJ. 



557 



Namf. 



Willink& Co 


Willink & Co 


Willink & Co 


Willink & Co 



Land. 



e pt I 59. 
n pt 1 61 

I65 

1 66 



Acres. 


Val. 


220 


$540 


202 


515 


359 


897 


349 


872 



Tax. 



k 24 

3 88 
6 91 

6 72 



TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE SEVEN. 



J. T. Johnson 

Austin Graham 

John Millis 

Nathaniel Knight . . . . 

Avery Knight 

Wilber Irish 

Wilber Irish 

Truman Colburn 

William Skeggs 

Jonathan O. Irish . . . . 

Henry Kimball 

Henry W. Palmertcn. 
William Beckwith . . . . 

William Clark 

Samuel Hill 

John Boutwell, Jr. . . . 

Charles Boutwell 

Charles Boutwell 

Silas Cook 

William Cook 

William Ballou 

Daniel Pratt 

Daniel Pratt 

Daniel & Peter Pratt . 
Daniel & Peter Pratt . 

Peter Pratt 

Peter Pratt 

Elijah Campbell 

Elias Bowen 

Phineas Orr 

David Beverly 

James B. Perkinson . . 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 



s-w pt 1 74 

n-w pt 1 74 

e pt 1 75 

m & .s-w pt 1 75 . . 

m pt 1 75 

n-w pt 1 75 

m pt 1 76 

s-w pt 1 84 

.s-e pt 1 85 

m pt 1 76 

w pt 1 76 

s-w pt 1 85 

e pt 1 65 

n-e pt 1 65 

w pt 1 38 



w pt 1 37 

e pt 1 38 

t-'Pt 1 37 

wptl35 

e pt 1 35 

pt 1 34 

e pt 1 32 

e pt 30 

w pt 1 33 

e pt 1 2 1 

e pt 1 35 

w pt 1 32 

^^■ pt 1 3 1 

n-e pt 1 3 1 

s-e pt 1 3 1 & n pt 1 30 

w pt 1 5 2 

w pt 1 65 

n pt 1 30 

1 -.6 



60 


154 


59 


150 ' 


49 


190 


165 


565 i 


55 


137 i 


35 


87 ; 


20 


68 


56 


140 


47 


126 '• 


97 


240 


144 


400 


48 


124 ; 


48 


120 


96 


224 


98 


330 1 


53 


175 ; 


102 


268 


135 


365 


18 


45 


117 


373 


146 


460 


96 


380 


60 


150 1 


59 


150 


96 


240 


5« 


327 


39 


97 


80 


276 


60 


150 • 


75 


424 


96 


270 


98 


259 1 


1 10 


275 


118 


315 



19 
16 



47 
35 
05 
67 
52 
I 08 

97 
I 85 
3 08 

95 
92 



54 
36 
06 
2 81 

35 

2 87 

3 54 
92 

15 
15 
84 

51 
74 
13 
16 

27 
08 
98 
12 

43 



558 



COPY OF EARLY ASSESSMENT ROLL. 
TOWNSHIP SIX. RANGE SEVEN— Coniinm-d. 



Name. 



Land, 



Willink & Co 1 50 

Willink &Co 1 51 

Willink & Co e pt 1 52 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co.... ., 
Willink & Co 



Willink & Co 
Willink & Co, 
Willink & Co, 
Willink & Co, 
Willink & Co. 
Willink & Co. 
Willink & Co 
Willink & Co. 



63 
1 64 

.s-e pt 1 65 

e pt 1 74 . 

e pt 1 76. 

1 83 

pt I 84. .. 
n pt 1 85. 
1 92 

•93 

1 94 



Acres. 


Val. 


232 


$ 580 


220 


550 


186 


465 


4C9 


1022 


37» 


927 


133 


332 


285 


712 


70 


175 


392 


980 


281 


700 


132 


330 


i 3«7 


967 


, 336 


840 


361 


902 



Tax. 



47 
24 

58 
86 

14 
2 55 
5 49 

1 35 
7 55 

5 39 

2 53 
7 44 

6 47 
6 94 



TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE SEVEN. 



Willink & Co i I65 

Willink & Co 1 49 

Willink & Co i 1 57 



367 


917 


358 


892 


380 


950 



7 06 

6 90 

7 32 



The Assessors for the year that the above tax was levied 
were Nathaniel Knight, John Stancliff, Jr., and John Arnold. 
Luke Crandall was Collector. The total valuation of the town 
as shown by the assessment roll was $74,019; the valuation of 
the real estate was $71,451 ; personal property, $2,568; tax. 
$705 ; Collectors' fees were $20.69. The above figures refer to 
the present Town of Collins. North Collins and Collins were 
then one town. 

The following are the names of the Supervisors who signed 
the assessment roll: 



James Green. 
Morton Crosby. 
Stephen White. 
Ebenezer Holmes. 
James W. Grififin. 
Oziel Smith. 



Edmund Badger. 
Lemuel Wasson, 
James Aldrich. 
Simeon Fillmore. 
John Twining. 
Thomas M. Barret. 
John Boyer. 



TOWN OF CON'CORI) ])I\ II )i:i-). 559 

•COPY OF THE ACT CRKATING THE TOWNS OF COLLINS ANlJ 

SARDINIA. 

An Act to di\ idc the Town of Concord, in the County of 

Niagara. 

Passed March i6, 1821. 

Section i. Be it enacted by the People of the State of 
New York represented in Senate and Assembly, That from and 
after the Jhirty-first day of March, instant, all that part of the 
Town of Concord, in the County of Niagara, comprehending 
township No. 7, in the eighth range, and all that part of town- 
ship No. 6 in the eighth range lying within the County of 
Niagara together with three tiers of lots on the west side of 
township number sexen in the seventh range, and three tiers of 
lots on the west side of township number six, in the seventh 
range, within the County of Niagara, of the Holland company, 
shall be and is hereby erected into a separate town by the name 
of Collins, and that the first town meeting shall be held at the 
dwelling house of George Southwick in said town. 

Section 2. And be it further enacted that from and after the 
Thirt}'-first day of March, instant, all that part of the said Town 
of Concord comprehending township number seven in the fifth 
range and three tiers of lots on the east side of township num- 
ber seven in the sixth range, and all those parts of township 
number six in the sixth range of the Holland company's lands 
h-ing within the County of Niagara, shall be and is hereby 
erected into a separate town by the name of Sardinia, and the 
first town meeting shall be held at the dwelling house of Giles 
Briggs, in said town, and that all the remaining part of the 
Town of Concord shall be and remain a separate town by the 
name of Concord, and that the next town meeting shall be held 
at the dwelling house of Harry Sears in said town. 

Section 3. And be it further enacted that as soon as maybe 
after the Thirt)'-first day of March, instant, the Supervisors and 
Overseers of the aforesaid towns shall by notice to be given by 
the Supervisor and Overseers of the Poor of the Town of Con- 
cord, meet together at the dwelling house of Harry Sears, in 
said town and apportion the poor maintained b)' the said Town 
of Concord and the poor mone\' belonging to the same previous 



560 TOWN MEETING RESOLUTIONS. 

to the division thereof agreeably to the last tax list, and that 
each of the said towns shall forever respectively support their 
own poor. 

SUBSEQUENT ACT DEFINING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TOWN 
OF COLLINS — REVISED STATUTES, VOLUME 3, TITLE 4, 
PAGE 114. 

The Town of Collins shall contain all that part of said county 
comprising township number seven, in the eighth range of 
townships in the Holland company's purchase, together with 
all that part of township number six in the same range included 
within the bounds of the county, and also three tiers of lots off 
from the west side of township number seven in the seventh 
range, and off from the west side of that part of township num- 
ber six in the last range included within the bounds of the 
county, and also that part of the Cattaraugus Indian Reserva- 
tion which is included within the bounds of the county. 

EXTRACTS FROM THE RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT COLLINS 
TOWN MEETINGS DURING THE FIR.ST YEARS OF THE TOWN. 

The first year, 1820, it was 

Reso/ved, That the Collector have but three per cent for col- 
lecting taxes. 

Rcso/vcd, That hogs and sheep shall not run as free com- 
moners. 

Risoh'cd, That all rams running at large from the loth of 
September to the loth of November be forfeited to the captor. 

Resolved, That horses shall not be free commoners. 

Resolved, That oivncrs of stud horses shall pay a fine of one 
dollar if found at liberty for more than twenty-four hours at one 
time. 

Resolved, That the names of Nathaniel Knight and John 
Grififith be sent to the Council of Appointment to be commis- 
sioned as Magistrates. 

Resolved, That the next annual town meeting be held at the 
house of John Lawton on the first Tuesday of April next. 

In 1822 it was 

Resolved, That the Collector have but three per. cent, for col- 
lecting taxes the ensuing year. 



TOWN MKK'IIXC, KKSOl.riloNS. 561 

Ri'soh'id, That John Lawton shall serve as a Commissioner 
to meet the committee from Concord and Sardinia to settle 
with Harry Sears, Collector. 

Risohid, That this meetini^ be adj(nirned to meet the first 
Tuesday of April next at the house of John Lawton. 

In 1823 it was 

Kcso/vcd, That a fine of ten dollars be imposed upon any per- 
son that shall suffer what is called a Canada thistle to go to seed 
on his improved lands after notice from any person. 

Rcsflhtd, That Inspectors of common school shall have no 
fees for their services. 

Rcsohi'd, That all the money collected or to be collected 
from Frederick Richmond, late Supervisor of the original Town 
of Concord, shall be added to the poor fund of the Town of 
Collins. 

In 1824 it was 

Rcso/vcd, That this meeting be adjourned until the first 
Tuesday of March next, at the dwelling house of Smith Bart- 
lett. 

NOTK. — The time of holding the annual town meeting of 
Collins changed to the first Tuesday in March by an act of the 
Legislature of the state, passed Feb. 6, 1824. 

In 1824 it was 

Resolved, That double the amount of money be raised from 
the town that we receive from the state for the use of schools. 

Resolved, That a bounty of ten dollars be given on full-grown 
wolves and five dollars for whelps killed within the Town of 
Collins. 

Resolved, That the Collector's fees shall be three per cent. 

In 1826 it was 

Resolved, That the next annual town meeting be held at the 
house of William Sisson. 

In 1827 it was 

Resolved, That orderly, neat cattle have free use of the com- 
mons from the 1st of March to the 1st of November. 

Resolved, That a bounty of twent>'-five dollars be gi\en for 
each full grown wolf and twehe dollars and fifty cents for each 
whelp caught in the Town of Collins. 



562 TOWN MEETING RESOLUTIONS. 

In 1828 it was 

R('so/i'e(/, That the Collector shall have five per cent, for col- 
lecting taxes in this town. 

Resok'cd, That the authorities of this town be authorized to 
petition the Legislature to pass an act to authorize the town to 
raise a bounty not exceeding fifty dollars on wolves caught and 
killed in this town. 
In 1829 it was 

Rcsoh'cd, That the next annual town meeting be held at the 
house of John C. Adams. 
In 1830 it was 

Risohid, That a fence made of boards, logs or rails five feet 
high shall be considered a lawful fence. 

LOCAL NAMES IN THE TOWN OF COLLINS. 
"Zoar" is of scriptural origin, and is said to have been given 
by Ahaz Allen, one of the first settlers there. 

" Poverty Hill," another name, given by Jesse Frye, was 
conceived from the fact that in an early day he was the owner 
of a lot on which grew the huckleberry. This berry is of spon- 
taneous growth, and only found upon rocky, .sterile soil. When 
Frye was working upon his claim his attention was called to 
the huckleberry by one of his sons, who said, " Father I have 
always heard it said that huckleberries grew on very poor land." 
''Yes," said the pioneer, ''this is 'Poverty hill,' and I shall sell 
this claim the first chance," and he never worked there another 
day, although the soil proved the very best for grazing and the 
growing of wheat. 

Gowanda first took the name of Aldrich's Mills ; then the 
name of Lodi, after one of Napoleon's famous battles in Italy. 
It is said to have been given by Ahaz Allen. 

" Bagdad " was named b}- Bcnard Cook, after an ancient 
city of Asia. 

A tub factor}^ gave the name of " Tub Town." 
" Taylor Hollow " took its name from Jacob Taylor. 
" Lawton Hollow " from John Lawton, who built mills there, 
and "Scrabble Hill" from the fact that the early settlers had 
to scrabble pretty hard to get a living. 

The name of the Town of Collins was said to be given in 
honor of Mrs. Turner Aldrich, whose maiden name was Collins. 



IIIK FIRST SKITLKR IN /OAK. 563 

ZOAR. 

Zoar lies in the southeast corner of Collins, and the north- 
east corner of Otto, the valley being divided by the waters of 
the Cattaraugus. In its primeval state, this valley was beauti- 
ful, and when looked upon by the early pioneers from the sur- 
rounding hills, it caused in thein a feeling of wonder and sur- 
prise, as it appeared to them a new Canaan, and the)- entered 
into the valley as did the Israelites of old. with thoughts of 
rest and thanksgiving. 

In the Spring of 18 10, Joseph Adams, with a family con- 
sisting of a wife and three children, came b\' way of Boston, 
over Townsend Hill, down the transit with an ox sled, to near 
the Scob}' mills ; embarked his family and chattels in a large 
canoe, pushed out into the waters, turned the prow down 
stream, and landed his family in Zoar. He built a log house 
on the Otto side of the creek, covered it with elm bark, and 
this was the first house in Zoar, and he was \-irtually the first 
settler in Zoar, though a man by the name of Yaw, from Bos- 
ton, had slashed four acres, but remained only a short time. 
Peter Pratt and family, who were pioneers of Clarence, having 
come from Taunton, Mass., in 1806, to that town, were the 
next settlers, and I cheerfully allow m)- venerable friend, 
John Pratt, of Bagdad, to tell his story: " In the F'all of 1810, 
my father and brother, Luther, came out from Clarence and 
built a log house on the Derby lot (this is now part of the 
Emer\' Bond farm in Concord), and the next PY'bruary follow- 
ing, he moved his family out by way of Boston and over 
Townsend Hill, through by Uea. Russell's, to near the Chaffee 
school-house, thence across the Beech Plains and clown Will- 
iam's Hill, and followed blazed trees very near where the road 
is located to-day, until we reached father's cabin. The only 
settler we found on our way from Russell's, was William Smith, 
since known as the " Governor." We onh" remained here two 
months, when father sold his claim to brother Luther. Father 
bought of " Squire " I-'" rye, his articled claim of lot thirty-one, 
but the query was how to get his family into Zoar. He had 
built a double log house there and had departed from the 
accustomed mode of shingling, which was usuall\- done by 



564 " JOHNNIE CAKES." 

peeling bark, but had rived out "shakes" of pine (shingles 
three feet long and not shaved), and nailed poles to the rafters, 
and those long shingles were nailed to them. We had a pun- 
cheon floor, and, upon the whole, our house was considered 
quite aristocratic for those days. As I said before, the query 
was how to get into Zoar. There was no road or trail across 
Frye Hill; but the Adam's boys, Bina and Wilson, by lashing 
two large canoes together, helped him out ; they floated his 
goods to our new home, while we picked our way over Frye 
Hill. 

That Summer, brother Peter was born. This was the second 
event of this kind in the Town of Collins. Then my father's 
house in Zoar, and brother Luther's house on the " Derby " 
lot, were the only houses on this side of the creek from Turner 
Aldrich's, near where Dr. Shugart's house now stands in 
Gowanda, until you reach "Governor" Smith's, on the old 
William's farm (now the Tefft tarm), some twelve miles distant' 
On the other side was Joseph Adams and Thadeus Austen, 
who canoed in the same way that we arrived. Father got a 
good burn on the Yaw slashing that Spring, and as we had a 
yoke of oxen we logged it off, planted it to corn and potatoes. 
It proved a good crop, and we had an abundance for the next 
Winter, such as it was. 

I am an old man now, of four score years, and I A\"ant to say 
something to m\' )'oung friends, A\ho think the\- are living 
very hard because they cannot have " new process " flour 
bread and pound cake every day. You never saw a "Johnny 
Cake" board and don't know what it is? Well I have, and 
must explain. Now the larger the family the greater the 
board. Our board was about two feet long and eight inches 
wide; this was split out of clean white ash, the surface was 
polished smooth, and it was read}- for use. 

It came into use every day, and I presume my dear old 
mother baked " Johnnie Cakes " enough on one of these during 
her lifetime, to cover a good-sized farm. The meal was mixed 
into stiff dough and firmly pressed upon the board, then set 
before the fire to bake until done. Sometimes we had baked 
l)otatoes, but they had no stoves to bake them in ; the}- used 
a low, flat-bottomed kettle with an iron lid, w hich thc\' placed 



A SCHOOL ORGANIZED. 565 

in one corner of the Dutch fire place, and then Hterally buried 
it in coals. This kettle was also used to bake beans and bread. 
Potatoes were sometimes roasted in the coals, and sometimes 
boiled in the kettle hung over the log fire by a chain attached 
to the " lug pole." The first Summer w^e lived in Zoar, our 
milling was done at Taylor Hollow, and I was the mill-boy. 
Father went with nic the first time to show me the way, as 
it was an unbroken forest. We followed an Indian trail down 
the creek, and still kept the Indian path up over Poverty Hill 
to Aldrich's in Lodi, thence up Clay Hill and on to Taylor's 
mill. The way we then went it was nearly eleven miles, and I 
had to make it every week on horseback, with a grist of corn 
behind me, for there were twelve hungry mouths in my father's 
family to feed. Wild cats, bears and deer, were not an uncom- 
mon thing to be seen on my way, and, though never molested, 
still at times it was hard work for me to keep my hat on my 
head when I saw these creatures creeping through the under- 
brush." 

To show our modern belles and beaux the styles of those 
days, I must tell you that the first year of the war, I wore 
■"nettle cloth " for shirts, and my pants were made of buck- 
skin. On the " Jockey lot " nettles grew abundant and thrifty; 
we mowed them down and let them la}% as you would flax, 
until the stalks become thoroughl)- rotten, then they were 
taken to the brake and then spun and woven as }'ou would 
flax ; most all the thread mother used the first year of the war 
was of this material. 

The next year others began to settle ; Jesse Frye came from 
Buffalo, bringing two young men with him. Samuel Cronch 
and Samuel Rose, whom he hired to assist him in building a 
log house on his lot. He returned to Buffalo and on the 20th 
of July he came back with his famih'. Soon after came Wood- 
ward Stevens, Ira Watterman, Simeon Watterman, Phineas 
Orr, Joseph Bartlet and Otis Wheelock. As there were several 
children now in the new settlement in need of education, a 
school was organized and Simeon Watterman was hired to 
teach it. The school was held in the west end of Peter Pratt's 
house ; from the Fr}'e famiK' there were four scholars, namely : 
Enoch, James, Mack and Bcts}' ; from the Pratt famih- five, 



566 WAR \KSSKLS IN BUFFALO HARBOR, 

Daniel, John, Hopy, l^hilip and Susy; from the Adams family, 
two, Wilson and Electa; this was seventy-two years ago, and 
but four of these scholars are alive to-day ; little " Phil " is a 
gray-haired )'outh of eight)' ; Enoch and John are sober boys 
at eighty-tliree, while red-haired and fun-loving Mack is the 
same old six-pence in his eightieth year. 

The next year many events took place in the little settlements 
the war bugle had been sounded and all but two were subject 
to draft, " President " Adams and " Captain " Pratt, by reason 
of their age, were exempt from military duty. The " Captain " 
went back to Clarance, by the way of Buffalo, after an invalid 
daughter and his family, and was in Buffalo the day that the 
British war vessels, the Royal George and Queen Charlotte 
sailed up in front of Buffalo harbor and lay there all day. Not 
a pound of powder was there in the town to load a gun, and, 
had there been any disposition on the part of the Red Coats 
to have taken the place they could have done so without meet- 
ing with any resistance. 

The people were so filled with fear, that they betook them- 
selves to their cellars and remained there until these vessels 
had hoisted sail and passed out of sight up the lake. The bat- 
tle of the Raisen had been fought, and Mr. Pratt, in detailing 
some of the incidents that took place, spoke of three orphan 
children whom he found in Clarance, whose mother was dead 
and their father had been killed in that battle. Those children 
had in some way got back to Clarance from the west, and were 
homeless and without friends ; as soon as Adams heard this, 
tears came to his eyes, and he persuaded the Captain to return 
to Clarance immediately and bring those children back with 
him, which he did, and they ever afterwards found a kind home 
in the Adams family. The names of those children were Tan- 
ner. Polly, Hannah and James; Mr. Pratt would have willingly 
cared for these children, but he had already taken charge of 
three orphans, the children of Mrs. Cox, who died that Sum- 
mer — this was the daughter he moved from Clarance, and this 
was the first death in Zoar. She lies buried back on the rise 
of land under the hill, on the old Peter Pratt farm. 

As the season advanced, the war clouds grew darker and 



RKrRp:A'r of i?ina adams. 567 

more threatening. Levies were made for new troops to pro- 
tect the borders. The men that were drafted in Zoar, were 
Bina Adams, Jesse Frye, Simeon Watterman, Luther Pratt and 
Ehsha Cox. These soldiers with their wives, sweet-hearts and 
friends, met at the liouse of Peter Pratt on the morning of 
their departure, and the final leave-taken was quite affecting, 
one incident in particular will show that humor will out, let 
the heart he ever so sad — Mrs. Frye hallooed after the " squire," 
as his fat form lessened in the distance, "that if wounded, she 
ne\'er \\anted to hear that he was hit in the back." 

(^ur school continued through the Winter, w^ith Otis 
Wheelock as teacher, with the addition of four new scholars, 
the three Tanner children, Polly, Hannah and James, and Eli 
Cox. The school was kept in a shanty, built by Mr. Pratt for 
his married daughter, Mrs. Cox, and then made vacant by her 
death. Nothing tran.spired that Winter worthy of note, until 
the news came of the burning of Buffalo, Bina Adams, when 
•ordered to retreat had done so, not making a halt until he 
reached Zoar. He came out by way of Williamsville. and then 
through to Yorkshire ; from there he followed the creek down 
to Zoar. 

Mr. Pratt tells of l^ina coming into school on his retreat, and 
the first words spoken by him were " Buffalo's burnt." School 
was out, and \\e did not wait to say "by your leave " to the 
teacher, but hurried home as fast as our legs would carr)^ us 
with the news, but Bina had been there before us and he not 
only told of the burning, but he told a great deal more besides 
that was interesting, he said " all that saved my scalp was that 
my legs did their duty," and that the " British had hired all 
the Senecas to scalp all the Americans ; and that they were on 
their way then with barbarous intent, and that we might expect 
a li\'ely time when the}' did come." The next day the settlers 
held a council at my father's, says Mr. Pratt, and it was decided 
that our safety lay beyond the " Genesee," and the settlers 
went so far as to dig pits to store their goods in ; Mr. Pratt 
tells that his father was the possessor of a horse, and that he 
prevailed upon the settlers, not to flee until he rode to some 
place and received something more definite. He set out to- 
\wards Buffalo, b\- wa\- of l\)unsend Hill. ;nul through by 



568 HKiriSIl INVADERS liURX BUFFALO. 

Boston and Hamburg, when he arrived at the latter place he 
learned that the Seneca Indians, if anything, were more fright- 
ened than the whites, and that was needless : that they had 
hurriedly left the reservation and gone, bag and baggage, be- 
yond the " Genesee." 

The British invaders, with their hair-raising allies, after burn- 
ing Buffalo and killing several persons, had returned to their 
own country. * "- "•^' * '^ ■^" 

No longer does the tri weekly stage swing to and fro through 
this valley from the " Green " to " Lodi," as it used to, and 
Bill, the driver, is Old Bill now, if alive, but I suspect he has 
gone to the higher sphere and drives a golden chariot. He 
was as regular as vibrates the pendulum of a clock, and we used 
to know just when to look for his coming ; sometimes his 
coach would be loaded down, and then again it lumbered along 
empty, but it made no difference to him, he carried the mail 
and that was enough. Sometimes he brought us a letter 
directed to Zoar, one of those old-fashioned letters done up in 
itself and fastened with a blotch of red sealing wax. Flnvelopes 
had not been born, yet these were good letters, though the 
writers knew nothing of the spencerian system, or had never 
studied composition or the art of letter writing, but were full of 
loving kindness and told of an absent brother or sister, or friend 
in the far East or West, and they had been so long in coming- 
and the postage cost so much that they seemed riper and bet- 
ter than letters do now-a-days. ■'^" '■ '''^' -^ 

And no longer does the pomp of mimic war awake the echoes 
that dwell among these sleepy hills ; for the last " general 
training " was held years ago, and those were glorious days for 
old and young ; I never hear the drum beat but what they 
come back to me like the dim recollection of a bright and 
fading dream. "Hills "was the rendezvous, and we small fry 
looked weeks ahead for the coming of the peddler's cart and 
the plumed troop with eager expectation, for it was a season 
of sweet cider, pumkin pies and hard ginger-bread. With 
miserly care had our pennies been hoarded for these occasions- 



DKKDS (;i\i:.\ 15V llIK llol.l.AM) I < ).\1 1'A.W 



569 



COLLINS. 
TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE EIGHT. 



Lot. 


Acres. 


Subdivision 
m pt 


Date ok Dk.kd. 
July 18. 1839.. 


Name. 


9 


Pardon C. Sherman. 


9 


84 


^ pt 


Oct. 20, 1843. . 


Jacob LeR.oy. 


9 


140 


\v pt 


Oct. 13, 1855.. 


Abel Taft. 


18 


39 


s-c i)t 


July 18, 1839. • 


Pardon C. Sherman. 


18 


119 


C 111 & 111 . 


Oct. 20. 1843. . 


Jacob LeRov. 


18 


25 


n-c pt . . . . 


Oct. 7, 1854. . . 


D. Beverly. ' 


18 


90 


w pt 


April 4, 1839. • 


D. H. Chandler. 


29 


60 


•^ pt 


July 18, 1839.. 


Pardon C. Sherman. 


29 


30 


s-e pt 


Oct. 21, 1851 . . 


John D. Beverly. 


26 


15 


s-w pt . . . . 


Oct. 21, 1851 . . 


Svlvanus Cook. 


29 


50 


m pt 


July II, 1842. . 


F. L. &. T. Co. 


29 


50 


e 111 pt . . . . 


April 2, 1855. . 


D. Beverly. 


29 


50 


n-e pt . . . . 


Feb. 1 1, 1842 . 


J. D. Beverly. 


29 


50 


n-\v pt. . . . 


Jan. 15, 1849. • 


C. B. Parkinson. 


39 


187 


e pt 


Jan. 2, 1822. . . 


Sylvanus Parkinson. 


39 


50 


e m pt . . . 


Feb. 15, 1828 . 


Sylvanus Parkinson. 


39 


H7 


w m pt . . . 


Ncv. 6, 1830. . 


C. B. Parkinson. 


39 


50 


w pt 


Feb. 15. 1828 . 


C. B. Parkinson. 


47 


103 


^^ pt 


Nov. 15. 1823- 


Tinioth}- Clark. 


47 


105 


m pt 


Feb. 25, 1823 . 


Isaac Wickham. 


47 


100 


w pt 


Mar. 5, 1819. . 


Warren Tanner. 


55 


100 


s-e pt 


Feb. 5, 1829.. . 


John Gibbons. 


55 


31 


e m pt . . . 


Nov. 9, 1831 . . 


H. Dailey, 


55 


30 


n-c {)t .... 


April 4, 1839. . 


D. H. Chandler. 


55 


50 


11 111 pt . . . 


Nov. 24. 1838. 


Isaac White. 


55 


100 


w pt 


Mar. 19, 1819. 


John J. Harrington. 


63 


30 


.s-e pt 


May 20, 1837. 


Adolphus Albee. 


63 


30 


s-e 111 pt . . 


Jan. 7, 1829 . . 


Adol])hus Albee. 


63 


55 


S 111 pt. . . . 


Jan. 4. 1839.. . 


Enoch Randall. 


63 


55 


s-w pt . . . . 


Oct. I, 1835 .. . 


Stephen White. 


63 


50 


n-e pt . . . . 


Feb. 1 1, 1842. . 


Charles D. Pierce. 


63 


57 


n-e 111 pt . . 


Nov. 13, 1837. 


Howard Albee. 


63 


50 


n-\v pt. . . . 


Nov. 19, 1838 . 


Morgan L. Bailey. 


10 


75 


^- pt 


Aug. 7, 1834.. 


Abner Taft. 


10 


105 


e 111 pt. . . . 


Mar. 24, 1855 . 


Abraham Taft. 


10 


50 


S 111 pt.. . . 


Nov. 3, 1845 . . 


John B. Peasley. 


10 


45 


S-w pt . . . . 


Nov. 8, 1851. . 


William Barnhart. 


10 


45 


n-w pt. . . . 


Nov. 8, 1851 . . 


Henry Button. 


19 


125 


e pt 


Mar. 13, 1852.. 


Sylvanus Cook. 


19 


125 


Ill pt 


Oct. 21, 1854.. 


Daniel Irish. 



5/0 DEEDS GIVEN BV THE HOLLAND C()^^'A^V. 

TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE EIGHT— Con/himui. 



Lot. 


Acres. 


IQ 


61 


19 


61 


30 


50 


30 


74 


30 


50 


30 


100 1 


30 


50 


30 


50 


40 


80 


40 


sO 


40 


75 


40 


50 


40 


50 


40 


43 


40 


43 


48 


100 


48 


58 


48 


50 


48 


125 


56 


165 


56 


35 


56 


30 


S6 


50 


56 


63 


64 


lOI 


64 


140 


64 


60 


64 


60 


20 


63 


20 


80 


20 


60 


20 


80 , 


20 


50 ' 


20 


50 


SI 


100 i 


31 


6S 


31 


65 


31 


150 


41 


130 


41 


50 


41 


100 


41 


114 



Subdivision. Date of Deed, 



Name. 



s-w pt. 
n-w pt 
s-e pt. . 
n-e pt . 
e m pt. 
m pt . . 
w ] m pt 
w pt . . 
e pt . . . 
e m pt. 
m pt . . 
s-w pt . 
n-w m . 
s-w pt . 
n-w pt. 
e pt. . . 
s m pt . 
n m pt 
w pt . . 
e pt . . . 
s m pt . 
n m pt. 
w m pt 
w pt. . 
e pt . . . 
m pt. . 
w m pt 
w pt . . 
e pt . . . 
s-e m pt 
n-e m pt 
m pt . . . 
w m pt. 
w pt . . . 
s-e pt . . 
em pt . 
n-e pt . . 
w pt . . . . 
s-e pt. . . 
n-e pt . . 
m pt . . . 
w pt . . . . 



Aug. 16, 1836 
May 3, 1837.. 
Dec. 10, 1845. 
May 28, 1839 
Jan. 30, 1839., 
April 4, 1839. 
July 17, 1835.. 
Dec. 4, 1844 . , 
May 28, 1839 ■ 
May 26, 1847., 
Oct. 13, 1846. . 
Oct. 13, 1846. , 
May 10, 1854., 
Oct. 13, 1846. . 
Nov. 17, 1836. 
Jan. 1 1, 1819. . 
Aug. 19, 1 83 1. 
Nov. 17, 1836. 
Sept. I, 1819. . 
Jan. 18, 1838. . 
Jan. 17, 1838. . 
Jan. 9, 1835 . . . 
Oct. 28, 1835. . 
Dec, 9, 1836 . . 
Mar. 27, 1833. 
Mar. 16, 1819.. 
Jan. 28. 1834. . 
Jan. 17, 1838. . 
Aug. 16, 1836. 
Mar. 18, 1840. 
Nov. 18, 1854.. 
Feb. 1 1, 1836.. 
Jan. 1 1, 1839. . 
Feb. 1 1, 1836.. 
Oct. 18, 1819. . 
July 7, 1830... 
June 2, 1835 . . 
Feb. 26, 1818.. 
Dec. 8, 1855.. • 
Dec. 29, 1837.. 
Feb. 1 1, 1842.. 
Sept. 13, 1845. 



Eli Page. 
Daniel Irish. 
S. Cook. 
Timothy Clark. 
Sylvanus Cook, Jr. 
D. A. Chandler. 
Joel Phillips. 
Erastus Harris. 
Martin Potter. 
T. J. Kerr. 
Betsey Robbins. 
Smith Phillips. 
J. A. Griffin. 
Sylvanus Cook. 
John C. Adams, 
Stephen Peter. 
W. L. Mosher. 
John C. Adams. 
Joseph Wood. 
John J. Harrington- 
John J. Harrington. 
Isaac White. 
John J. Harrington. 
Stephen White. 
W. S. Herrick. 
Luke Crandall. 
Eli Heath. 
John J. Harrington. 
Timothy Smith, Jr. 
Gideon Barnhart. 
S. Bates, Jr. 
William W. Holcomb. 
Joseph Plumb. 
Michael Barnhart. 
Sylvanus Bates. 
Sylvanus Cook. 
Oliver Harris, Jr. 
James Nichols, Jr. 
Albert Becker. 
Ralph Plumb. 
Jonathan Sowle. 
Jacob LeRoy. 



DKKDs (;i\i:\ i{\' riiK hoi.i.and c;().mi'.\.\v 

TOWNSHIP SIX. RANGE EIGHT— ConOnitei/. 



571 



Lot Acres., Subdivision. Datf. of Dekd. 



Mame. 







49 


123 


49 


100 


49 


120 


57 


60 


57 


roo 


57 


50 


D/ 


-'5 


57 


50 


57 


:^7 


57 


30 


65 


75 


^5 


100 


6=; 


100 


65 


84 


y 1 




11 i 


940 


21 


100 


21 


80 


21 


80 


21 


100 


32 


362 


42 


100 


42 


40 


42 


50 


42 


1 10 


42 


96 


50 


120 


50 


50 


50 


100 


50 


32 


50 


3^ 


5« 


176 


5« 


50 


5« 


94 


66 


49 


66 


so 


66 


SO 


66 


50 


13 


123 


13 


143 


13 


50 


22 


122 



e ])t 

m ])t . . . . 
\v pt . . . . 
e pt . . . . 
c m pt. . . 
S 111 pt.. . 
s-w pt . . . 
n 111 pt . . 
n-\v m pt 
ii-w pt . . . 

e pt 

e m pt . . 
w m pt . . 
\v pt . . . . 

both . . . 

c pt 

e m pt . . 
w m pt . . 
w pt . . . . 

N\- 1 

e pt 

n-e pt . . . 
m pt . . . . 
s-vv pt . . . 
n-w pt . . 

e pt 

cm pt . . 
m pt . . . . 
s-w pt . . . 
n-w pt . . . 

•M^t 

m pt . . . . 
n pt. . . . 

e pt 

cm pt . . 
w m pt . . 
w pt . . . . 

e pt 

m pt. . . . 
w pt . . . . 
e pt 



July 5, 1826. . . 
Feb. 5. 1819 . . 
Feb. 7, 1817. . . 
May 24, 1842.. 
Dec. 30. 1836.. 
Nov. 5, 1855... 
Dec. 14, 1837. 
Feb. 19, 1842 . 
Sept. 17, 1853. 
Dec. 1 1, 1852.. 
Dec. 5, 1837,.. 
June 6, 1834 . . 
Sept. 21, 1835. 
D ecus, 1839.. 

July 14. 1837. 

Sept. 21, 1853. 
Dec. 14, 1837. 
Dec. 14, 1837. 
Dec. 29, 1837. 
May 25, 1 818. 
Dec. 26, 1839. 
Dec. 26, 1838. 
Feb. I. 1836.. 
July 15, 1819.. 
Nov. 15, 1830. 
Jan. 5, 1818. 
Oct. 18, 1 8 19 
Mar. 9. 1825 
July 1, 1839 
Feb. 5, 1829 
April 14, 1821 
Jan. 3, 1829. . 
May 12, 1855. 
May 27, 1853. 
Oct. 20, 1853. . 
Dec. 28, 1838.. 
Oct. 3, 1850. . . 
Jan. 17, 1834. . 
Oct. 10, 1835. . 
Feb. 17, 1846.. 
Oct. 24, 1835.. 



Stephen Wilbur. 
Nathan Kint^. 
Stephen Wilbur. 
Stephen White. 
David Wilbur. 
G. F. Kin^. 
Stephen Wilbur. 
Joseph Potter. 
T. B. Payn. 
V. Heath. 
Jared C. King. 
William S. Herrick, 
William Potter. 
John J. Harrington. 

Joseph Plumb. 

Benjamin P. Wells. 
Benjamin P. Wells. 
Samuel Wells. 
Ralph Plumb. 
Aaron Lindsley. 
Benjamin Boyce. 
Samuel Warner. 
Benjamin Boyce. 
Arnold King. 
Benjamin Boyce. 
Joshua Palmerton. 
Joshua Palmerton. 
Ezra Nichols. 
Joshua Palmerton. 
S. Bartlett. 
Smith Bartlett. 
Smith Bartlett. 
S. and S. Harrington. 
Isaac Brown. 
Jacob LeRo)-. 
Smith Sherman. 
T. R. Stafford. 
Ralph Plumb. 
Ralph Plumb. 
Phineas Taft. 
Isaac Allen. 



572 



DEEDS GIVEN HV THE HOLLAND COMPANY. 
TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE EIGHT— Coniim/ed. 



Lot. 


Acres. 


Subdivision. 


Date of Deed 


Name. 


22 


IIO 


m pt 


Nov. 7, 1834.. 


Isaac Allen. 


22 


no 


w pt 


Nov. 6, 1834. . 


Zoeth Allen. 


33 


354 




July 3, 1820. .. 


Joseph Lapham. 


43 


73 


s-e pt . . . . 


Feb. 20, 1835. 


Arnold King. 


43 


46 


n-e pt . . . . 


Dec. 29, 1838. 


Gilbert P. Smith. 


43 


60 


s m pt . . . 


Oct. 21, 1838. . 


Ralph Plumb. 


43 


50 


n m pt . . . 


Dec. 29, 1839. 


Royal Strang. 


43 


50 


s-w pt . . . . 


Dec. 31, 1836. 


Allen King. 


43 


90 


n-w pt . . . . 


April 4, 1839. • 


D. C. Chandler. 


51 


100 


e pt 


Nov. 10, 1826. 


Ezra Southwick. 


51 


30 


em pt . . . 


Jan. 9, 1836. . 


Ezra Southwick, 


51 


50 


em pt . . . 


May I, 1841 . . 


Caleb Tarbox. 


51 


30 


w m pt . . . 


Sept. 25, 1832. 


John Randall. 


51 


30 


w m pt . . . 


Dec. 31, 1836. 


Augustus Smith. 


51 


100 


w pt 


Mar. II, 1818. 


Augustus Smith. 


59 


50 


s-e pt . . . . 


May 28, 1827.. 


J. R. Smith. 


59 


50 


n-e pt . . . . 


June 8, 1855. . 


Nancy Brace. 


59 


50 


n-e m pt . . 


Dec. 27, 1833. 


Thomas J. Kerr. 


59 


70 


n m pt . . . 


Nov. 10, 1846. 


Eli Rice. 


59 


100 


w pt 


May 28, 1827. 


John Rice. 


67 


105 


e pt 


Nov. 30, 1838. 


Charles E. Potter. 


67 


76 


s m jjt . . . . 


Jan. 2, 1856. . . 


S. C. Schoonover. 


67 


30 


n m pt . . . 


Nov. 9, 1850. . 


0. Allen. 


67 


50 


s-w pt . . . . 


May 27, 1839. 


Smith Bartlett. 


67 


100 


n-H' pt . . . . 


Dec. 9, 1835.. 


Smith Sherman. 


14 


100 


e pt 


Oct. 21, 1836. . 


Ralph Plumb. 


14 


^37 


\v pt 


Dec. 29, 1837. 


Jacob Becker. 


23 


67 


s-e pt .... 


Dec. 9, 1845 . . 


Abraham Patch. 


23 


91 


s-w pt . . . . 


June 13, 1835. 


Martin Perrin. 


23 


^7 


n-c pt . . . . 


Nov. 30, 1835. 


Ralph Plumb. 


23 


55 


A\" m pt . . . 


April 24, 1828. 


Stephen Southwick. 


34 


184 


s pt 


Oct. 6, 1835. . . 


Hosea White. 


34 


184 


n pt 


Sept. 19, 1819. 


Abram Lapham. 


44 


190 


s pt 


Sept. 7, 1 819.. 


Abram Lapham. 


44 


48 


em pt . . . 


Jan. 9, 1837. . . 


Hunnewell Hathaway. 


44 


46 


n-e pt . . . . 


Dec. 25, 1834. 


Warren Foster. 


44 


50 


w m pt . . . 


July 29, 1820. 


E. Lapham. 


44 


50 


n-A\- pt . . . 


Sept. 19, 1836. 


H. Hathaway. 


52 


50 


-S-e pt . . . . 


Sept. 13, 1834. 


Elijah Pratt. 


52 


49 


s m pt . . . 


Dec. 25, 1834. 


Warren Foster. 


52 


60 


n-e pt . . . . 


June 6, 1822. . 


Asa Lapham. 


52 


50 


s-w pt . . . . 


Dec. 13, 1830. 


Betsey Kinne. 



DEEDS (;IVE.\ I!V THE HOLLAND COMPANY. 573 

TOWNSHIP SL\, RANGE EIGHT— Continue,/. 



Lot. Acres. Subdivision. I Date of Deed. 



52 
52 
52 
60 
60 
60 
68 
68 
68 
68 

15 
24 
25 
35 
35 

35 

35 

35 

35 

35 

45 

53 

53 

53 

53 
61 

61 

61 

61 

61 

69 

69 

69 

69 

36) 

37' 

38J 

46 

54 
54 
54 



Name. 



50 

47 

50 

50 

I I I 

161 

124 

65 

65 

100 

169 

223 

135 

50 
50 



28 
42 
28 
29 

397 
65 
42 
29 

200 
60 
40 
60 
60 
82 

100 
60 
60 

140 

423 

389 
100 

134 

50 



Feb. 15, 1839. 

Aug. 22, 1831 . 

Feb. 12, 1829. 

May 28, 1827. 

Sept. 26, 1828. 

npt I Jan. 9, 1836. . . 

s pt { Nov. 10. 1835 • 

m pt I Dec. 10, 1836. 

n m pt . . J Sept. 28, 1836. 

npt j Nov. 27, 18 17. 

I Nov. I, 1832 

Oct. 15, 1822 

: Jan. 17, 1834 

Jan. 6, 1837. 

Jan. I, 1840. 

June 7, 1838 



n m pt . 
w m pt . 
n-w pt . 
s-e pt . . 
s-w pt 



s-e pt . 
n-e pt . 



89 I s m pt 



n m pt. . . April 2, 1838 
m pt \ Oct. 29, 1834 



w m pt 
w pt . . 



s-e pt . . 
em pt . 
n pt . . . 
vv pt . . . 
s-e pt . . 
s-w pt . . 
e m pt. 
w m pt . 
n pt . . . . 
s pt . . . . 
s m pt . 
n m pt. 
n pt . . . . 



s pt . . . 
m pt . . 
n-\v pt , 



July 5, 1838 
Feb. 20, 1835 
Oct. 13, 1819 
Nov. 16, 1835. 
Dec. 3, 1829 
Oct. 6, 1835. 
June 6, 1 8 18 
Oct. 6, 1835. 
Dec. 8, 1836 
Aug. 7, 183s 
Dec. 20, 1838. 
Nov. 1 1, 1836. 
June 13, 1831. 
Sept. 6, 1834. . 
Nov. 1 1, 1836. 
May 22, 181 1.. 



Thomas J. Kerr. 
B. Halleck. 
John W'ilber. 
John Rice. 
William Sisson. 
Orton J. Knight. 
Smith Barton. 
Jolin Lawton. 
John Lawton. 
Jacob Taylor. 
Ahaz Allen. 
Enos Southwick. 
Ralph Plumb. 
Amos Pearson. 
David Goldshwait. 
\ Chester Howe and 
( Amasa A. Chaffee. 
H. Hathaway. 
George F. King. 
James Lock. 
Arnold King. 
Stephen Lapham. - 
Orton J. Knight. 
Avery Knight. 
Avery Knight. 
David Pound. 
John W'ilbor. 
John W'ilbor. 
Thomas G. Kerr. 
Thomas Kerr. 
Smith Bartlett. 
Asa Lapham. 
Smith Bartlett. 
Smith Bartlett. 
Jacob Taylor. 



Aug. 2r. 1819. Turner Aldrich, 

Jan. 17. 1834.. Ralph Plumb. 

Jan. 18,1834.. Ralph Plumb. 

Feb. 20, 1837. Nathan Cass. 

Jan. 5, 1836. . . Hart Rice. 



574 DKKDS (ilVKN l',\ IIIK HOLLAND (OMl'AW 

TOWNSHIP SLX, RANGE EIGHT— ro;iii>nm/. 



Lot 


Acres. 

75 
206 


Subdivision. 


Date ok Deicd. 


Name. 




62 
62 


s-c pt . . . . 
n pt 


Dec. 8, 1836.. 
Jan. 26, 1813. . 


John Vosburt^h. 
Jacob Ta\'lor. 





TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RAN(iE EIGHT. 



I 


50 


I 


72 


• 


150 


9 


177 


9 


200 


17 


150 


17 


120 


17 


60 


25 


120 


25 


200 


33 


85 


34 


40 


35 


100 


35 


45 


35 


90 


41 


130 


41 


45 


41 


84 


41 


100 


49 


209 


49 


56 


49 


50 


57 


57 



e pt 

m pt . . . . 
w pt . . . . 

e pt 

w pt . . . . 

e pt 

m pt . . . . 

w pt 

s-w pt . . . 
\v pt . . . . 
-s-e m pt . 
e m pt . . . 
n-e pt . . . 
s-w pt . . . 
n-w pt . . . 
s-e pt. . . . 
n-e pt . . . 
n m pt . . 
w pt . . . . 
s-e pt. . . . 
n-e pt . . . 
w pt . . . . 
lot 



Sept, 

June 

Feb. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

Jan. 

July 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Feb. 

Sept 

Nov, 

Oct. 

Sept 

May 

Aug, 

Oct. 

Oct. 



, 26, 1836. 
28, 1836. 

19, 1 8 16.. 
23, 1S15.. 

20, 181 8 . 

23, 1821 . . 
28, 1855.. 

24, 1836 . 
26, 1838.. 
31. 1836 . 
13, 1840. . 
22, 1831 . . 

7. 1835 ■■ 

12, 1838 . 
22, 1836.. 

. 5, 1821 . . 

13, 1827, 

21, 1836. , 
. 13, 1820 

22, 1811 

, 15, 1 82 1 
24, 1809. 
24, 1809. 



Oiiver Pcrr\-. 
Elisha Washburn. 
John Goodell. 
James Goodell. 
Kendall Johnson. 
S.M. Goodell and others. 
George Lenox. 
Daniel Healy. 
George Southvvick. 
Hudson Ansley. 
Hiram Pratt. 
Stephen Sisson . 
Elijah Pratt. 
George Sisson . 
Charles C. Sherman. 
Jacob Ta\'lor. 
R. C. Sherman . 
Nathaniel Sisson, Jr. 
John Lawton. 
Stephen Twining. 
William Sisson . 
Thomas Stewardson. 
Thomas Stewardson. 



TOWXSIHl' SIX, KAXCiK SEVEN. 



63 


50 


63 


250 


63 


50 ' 


64 


80 


64 


90 


64 


50 : 


64 


100 1 


64 


50 



e pt Oct. 20, 1843. 

m pt July 18, 1839. 

w i)t April 20, 1839 

s-e pt j July 18, 1839 

n-e i)t . . . . i Dec. 21, 1826 

m in j Jan. 15. 1842 

w m pt . . . j Jan. i 5, 1842 
w pt I Jan. I 5, 1842 



Jacob Le Roy. 
P C. Sherman . 
William \\ Powers. 
P. C. Sherman. 
George C. Tripp. 
Erastus Colburn. 
Erastus Colburn. 
Nehemiah Reynold.s. 



DEKDS (;IVKN DV 11 IK HOLLAND COMrANN'. 575 

TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE SEVEN— CouiinueJ. 



Lot. 


ACRKS. 
90 


Subdivision. 


Date ok Dked. 


Name. 


65 


s-e pt 1 


Jan. 15, 1842. . 


Sylvanus liites, Jr. 


65 


50 


s-e m pt . . j 


May 11, 1837. 


David Tay. 


65 


50 


e m pt . . . : 


Dec. 30, 1836. . 


Stukeley Hudson. 


65 


100 


n-e pt . . . . 


Jan. 26, 1835. . 


William Clark. 


65 


100 


w pt 


Nov. 4, 1836. . 


Jonas Howe. 


50 


232 


w 1 


Nov. 8, 1852. . 


Jesse Frye. 


51 


218 


wl 


July 18, 1839. • 


P. C. Sherman. 


52 


76 


ept 


Jan. 28, 1854.. 


Peter Beverly. 


52 


I 10 


s m pt . . . . 


Dec. 12, 1837 . 


Edward Vail. 


52 


50 


n m pt . . . 


Jan. 15, 1842. . 


Seba Nichols. 


52 


50 


w m pt . . . 


Jan. 6, 1832. . . 


John D. Beverly. 


52 


100 


w pt 


Oct. 6, 1836... 


John D. Beverly. 


30 


125 


ept 


Jan. 7, 1839.. . 


H. U. Soper. 


30 


60 


w pt 


July 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman. 


31 


156 


w 1 


Nov. II, J841 . 


Phineas Orr. 


32 


118 


w 1 


June 2, 1S30. . 


Peter Pratt. 


33 


64 


c pt 


Aug. 29, 1822. 


Peter Pratt. 


33 


70 


w pt 


Oct. 29, 1853. . 


Michael C. Hufstater. 


34 


40 


e pt 


Oct. 29, 1853.. 


Michael C. Hufstater. 


34 


100 


w pt 


Jan. 15, 1836.. 


William Ballou. 


35 


143 


^v\ 


July I, 1838... 


Abram Van Tuyl. 


37 


93 


ept 


July 18, 1839. • 


P. C. Sherman. 


37 


100 


w pt 


April 20, 1839. 


William P. Powers. 


3« 


50 


n-c pt . . . . 


May 12, 1855 . 


Joseph Bailey. 


3H 


50 


n-w pt . ... 


Oct. 20, 1843.. 


Jacob Le Roy. 


3« 


50 


s-w pt . . . . 


Dec. 6, 1837 . . 


Jehial Hill, 


83 


391 


w 1 


July 18, 1839. • 


P. C. Sherman. 


84 


53 


s-e pt . . . . 


Sept. 24, 1834. 


Nathaniel Knight. 


84 


60 


s-w pt . . . . 


Dec. I, 1836.. 


Tracy Burnap. 


84 


84 


e m pt... . 


Mar. 10, 1 841 . 


Francis L. Knight. 


84 


40 


^\• m pt . . . 


Feb. 14, 1843.. 


Tracy Burnap. 


84 


54 


n-w m pt . 


May 6, 1854 . . 


H. Wickham. 


84 


50 


n pt 


Dec. 10, 1853. • 


Huram Wickham. 


85 


50 


s-e pt 


July 4, 1835... 


William Skeggs. 


85 


50 


s-w pt . . . . 


Feb. 8, 1833... 


H. W. Palmerston. 


85 


60 


s m pt . . . . 


Jan. 6, 1842.. . 


H. W. Palmerston. 


85 


135 


m pt 


April 28, 1837. 


Orton J. Knight. 


85 


57 


n pt 


April 20, 1839. 


William P. Powers. 


74 


109 


e pt 


April 20, 1839. 


W. P. Powers. 


74 


40 


e m pt . . . 


May 20, 1842 . 


Nehemiah Reynolds. 


74 


60 


e m pt. . . 


Jan. 25, 1842. . 


Joseph Jenkins. 


74 


87 


m pt 


Nov. I, 1841 . . 


Hiram B. Clark. 



5/6 DEEDS (ilVEN HV THE HOELAM) COMl'AXV 

TOWNSHIP SIX, RANGE S¥NY.^— Continued. 



Lot. 


Acres. 


74 


60 


74 


50 


75 
75 


175 
60 


75 


50 


75 


40 


75 
7^ 
76 
76 


39 
70 

165 

150 


92 


50 


92 


25 


92 


50 


92 


75 


92 


100 i 


93 
93 


50 I 

84 ' 


93 


70 


93 


21 


93 


50 


93 


15 I 


94 


74 


94 


1 10 


94 


30 


94 


30 


94 


50 


94 


40 


94 


30 



Subdivision. 



s-w pt . . 
n-w pt . . 
e pt . . . 
s m pt . . 
s-v\' pt . . 
w m pt . 
n-w pt . . 
e pt . . . . 
m pt . . . 
w pt . . . 
s-e pt. . . 
s-e m pt 
e m pt . 
n-e pt . . 
\w m pt . 
s-c pt. . . 
s-c pt . . 
m pt . . . 
n-e ni pt 
s-w pt . . 
e in pt . 
s-c pt. . . 
n-w pt . . 
s-w m pt 
s m pt . . 
s-w pt . . 
n-e pt . . 
n ni pt . 



Date of Deed. 



Dec. 26, 1836 . 
July I, 1836. . . 
July 2, 1822 . . 
Jan. 4, 1829. . . 
Jan. 15, 1842 .. 
Dec. cS, 1836 . . 
Dec. 7, 1836 . . 
Feb. 26, 1839.. 
Jan. 15, 1842 .. 
Nov. 6, 1816. . 
Oct. 27,1835.. 
Nov. 3, 1842. . 
Nov. I, 1 841 . . 
May 25, 1839.. 
Nov. I, 1840. . 
Sept. 9, 1853. . 
Feb. 20, 1856.. 
Aug. 12, 1854. 
Jan. 20, 1855 . . 
Apr.5 or6, 1837 
May 12, 1855 ■ 
Mar. 10, 1841 . 
Feb. 6. 1857 . . 
Oct. 27, 1835. . 
Oct. 23, 1848. . 
Oct. 1 8, 1838 . 
Jan. 15, 1855.. 
Mar. 15, 1853 ■ 



Name. 



John F. Johnson. 
Abraham V'an Tuyl. 
Nathaniel Knight. 
William Stevenson. 
Norman Reynolds. 
William Stevenson. 
Wilber Irish. 
William Skeggs. 
Daniel Newel. 
Henry Kimball. 
Joshua Pike. 
Moses Blakeley. 
Orin Randall. 
Jeremiah Richardson. 
Hiram Hazard. 
Jacob Burnap. 
J. A. Randall. 
David Roberts. 
E. Randall. 
Isaac Brown. 
S. and S. Harrington. 
William Crandall. 
G. T. and A. Potter. 
Lyman Steele. 
Norman Reynolds. 
William Warner. 
Joseph Baile)'. 
William A. Sibley. 



TOWNSHIP SEVEN, R.\NGE SEVEN. 



49 


160 


s pt 


1 

1 April 1, i.''39. . 


D. H. Chandler. 


49 


150 


e pt 


Mar. 31, 1842 . 


Alpheus Aldrich. 


49 


50 


w m pt . . 


June 7, 1842. . 


Allurus Harris. 


49 


57 


n-w pt . . . 


Sept. 13, 1845. 


Jacob Le Roy. 


^7 


64 


n-e pt . . . 


Jan. 5, 1856. . . 


Lewis R. Giles. 


57 


53 


s m pt . . 


June 16, 1848. 


Philander Pierce. 


S7 


62 


n m pt . . 


Jan. 6, 1855 .. . 


Oliver Briggs. 


57 


50 


s-w pt . . . 


June 16, 1848 . 


N. K. Albee. 


57 


44 


n-w pt . . . 


Mar. 31, 1855 . 


John Staff in. 



I'KRsoNs i:i.!;c ii;i) lo town of kicks. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE SEVES—CoMiinuc,/. 



577 



Lot. 


Aires. 


Subdivision. 


Date of Deed. 


Name. 


65 
65 
65 
65 
65 
65 


80 
70 

■0 

25 
30 


w pt 

n-w m pt . 
S 111 pt . . . . 
n-c IT) pt . . 
n m pt . . . 
n ni pt . . . 


July 28. 1855.. 
Oct. 7. 1854.. . 
Sept. 25, 1854. 
Mar. I, 1855. . 
Oct. II, 1851.. 
Nov. I, 1841 . . 


Isaac Hunt. 
D. C. Pierce. 
Vernam Godfrey. 
John Staffin. 
William Briggs. 
A. D. Conger. 



NAMES OK I'KKSOXS WHO IIA\K KILKKD lOWN OKKICKS 
from the formation of the town ( 1821 ) up to the present date: 

1821. 

Supervisor — John Law ton. 
Town Clerk — Stephen White. 

Assessors — Lemuel M. White. John Griffith, Luke Cr .n- 
dall. Jr. 

Commissioners of Hi^^hways — Levi Woodward, John Law- 
ton, Arnold Kino- 
Collector — Luke Crandall, Jr. 

1S22. 

Supervisor — Henry Joslin. 
Town Clerk — Stephen White. 

Assessors — Levi Woodward, Stephen Hussey, John (jriffith. 
Commissioners of Hio;]iw.iys — John Lawton, Nathaniel King, 
Abram Gifford. 

Collector — Luke Crandall. Jr. 

1823. 

Super\isor — Ste;)heii White. 
Town Clerk — Jo'.in Lawton. 

Assessors — Nathaniel White, John Arnold, John Stancliff, Jr. 
Commissioners of Highways — Jonathan O. Irish. Horace Lan- 
don, Phineas Orr. 

Collector — Luke Crandall, Jr. 



578 PERS(^NS ELFXTED TO TOWN OFFICES. 

1824. 

Supervisor— Nathaniel Knight. 

Town Clerk — Stephen White. 

Assessors — John Arnold, Soloman Dunham, Lemuel M. 
White. 

Commissioners of Highways — John Lawton, Horace Lan- 
don, Enos Southwick. 

Collector — Luke Crandall, Jr. 

1825. 

Supervisor — Nathaniel Knight. 
Town Clerk — Stephen White. 

Assessors — John Arnold, Enos Southwick, Lemuel M. White". 
Commissioners of Highways — John Lawton, Soloman Dun- 
ham, Horace Landon. 

Collector — Luke Crandall, Jr. 

1826. 
Supervisor — Nathaniel Knight. 
Town Clerk — Stephen White. 

Assessors — John Lawton, Horace Landon, Enos Southwick. 
Commissioners of Highways — John Lawton, Horace Lan- 
don, Soloman Dunham. 
Collector — Asher Avery. 

1827. 
Supervisor — Nathaniel Knight. 
Town Clerk — Stephen White. 

Assessors — John Arnold, Enos Southwick, John Stancliff, Jr. 
Commissioners of Highways — John Lawton, Horace Lan- 
don, James Parkinson. 
Collector — Asher Avery. 

1828. 

Supervisor — -Nathaniel Knight. 
Town Clerk — Stephen White. 

Assessors — John Arnold, John Stancliff, Jr., Enos Southwick. 
Commissioners of Highways — James Parkinson, Benjamin 
Hussey, Enos Southwick. 
Collector — Asher Avery. 



TERSOXS KI.KCIKI) \n loWN ol' KICKS. 579 

1829. 

Supervisor — Nathaniel Kni<jht. 
Town Clerk — Stephen White. 

Assessors — ^Enos Southwick, John Arnokl. John .Stancliff. 
Commissioners of Highways — Jolm Lawton, Warren Tan- 
ner. Lemuel M. White. 
Collector — Asher Avery. 

1830. 

Supervisor — Nathaniel Kniijht. 
Town Clerk — Stephen W^hite. 

Assessors — John Arnold, Richard Rodgers, John Ciriffith. 
Commissioners of Highways — W^arren Tanner, John Lawton, 
Lemuel M. White. 

Collector — Asher Aver\'. 

1831. 

The people failed to elect town officers in that \'ear, and 
they were appointed by three Justices of the Peace : 

Supervisor — Nathaniel Knight. 

Town Clerk — Stephen White. 

Assessors- — Benjamin W. Pratt, Lsaac Allen, John Stan- 
cliff, Jr. 

Commissioners of Highways — Samuel Rodgers, Lemuel M. 
White, Warren Tanner. 

Collector — Asher Avery. 

1832. 

Supervisor — Nathaniel Knight. 
Town Clerk — Zemri Howx*. 

Assessors — ^Richard Rodgers, John C. Adams, Isaac Allen. 
Commissioners of Highways — -Jehial Hill, Samuel Rodgers, 
Warren Tanner. 

Collector — Asher Avery. 

Justices of the Peace — Lemuel M. White, John Stancliff, Jr. 

1833- 
Supervisor — Ralph Plumb. 
Town Clerk — Zemri Howe. 
Assessors — Stephen White, Nathaniel King, Lsaac Allen. 



58o PERSONS ELECTED TO TOWN OFFICES. 

Commissioners of Highways — Jehial Hill, Elisah Ward, John 
Lawton. 

Collector — Asher Avery. 

Justice of the Peace — Horace Landon. 

1834. 
Supervisor — Ralph Plumb. 
Town Clerk — Zemri Howe. 

Assessors — Stephen White, Nathaniel King, Isaac Allen. 
Commissioners of Highways — Jehial Hill, Kendall Johnson,. 
Elisah Ward. 

Collector— Asher Avery. 

1S35, '36, '?,7' '38. '39. 40, '41, '42, 43' 49' '50. 
SUPERVISORS. 
Ralph Plumb. John L. Henry, 1844-45. Thomas Russell, 
1846, '47, '48, '51. Samuel C. Adams, 1832, '53. James H. 
McMillen, 1854, '55. Benjamin W. Sherman, 1856. James H. 
Plumb, 1857, '58, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67. Anson G. Conger, 1859, 
'60, '77. E.W. Henry, 1861. Marcus Bartlett, 1862. Stephen 
T. White, 1868, '69, '70. Stephen A. Sisson, 1871, '72, '73- 
John H. White, 1874, '75- William A. Johnson, 1876, '7'?>. C. 
C. Torrence, 1879, '^O' '^^- William H. Parkinson, 1882. John 
T. Johnson, 1883. 

TOWN CLERKS. 

Zemri Howe, 1835, 37. Stephen White, 1836. Leman H. 
Pitcher, 1838, '39, '40, '41, '42, '43, '44. Thomas Russell, 1845. 
Benjamin W. Sherman, 1846, '47. E. W. Godfrey, 1848, '49, 
'50. George H. Hodges, 185 1, '53, "54, '55, '58. Paul H. 
White, 1852. William W. Russell, 1856, '57. Henry S. Steb- 
bins, 1859. S. C. Warner, i860, '61. Z. A. Bartlett, 1862, '64. 
'71, '73, '74. P. H. Perry, 1863. Joseph Mugridge, 1865, '66. 
Curtis I. Bates, 1867. L. H. De Wolf, 1868, '69. S. T. Knight, 
1875, '76, '77. Plyn Holton, 1878, '79. A. W. Fish, 1880. M. 
B. Sherman, 1881, '82. David H. Davis, 1883. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 
Zimri Howe, 1835, '43, '55. John Sherman, 1836, '40. 
Humphry Smith, 1837. James Parkinson, 1838. Warren Tan- 
ner, 1 841. Nathaniel Frank, 1842, '46. Isaac Potter, 1844. 



I'KRSOXS EI.ECTKD TO lOWX OFl'ICES. 581 

Harvey Hicks, 1845. Lcman H. Pitcher, 1845, '47> '5'- J^"- 
nin<;s B(nvcn. 1846. '48. Chas. C. Kirby, 1849. Benj. VV. 
Sherman, 1850, '54. L}'nian Clark, 1852. W'ilham Dickenson, 
1850. Philip II. Perr)', 1853, '62, '64. '65, '69, '74, 'yj. Anson, 
Tanner, 1853, '57. John Wilber, 1853. Marcus Kartlett, 1856. 
E. W. Henry, 1857, '60, '64. Hiram Gibbons, 1858. S. W. 
Soule. 1859. J^^li" ^'- Allen, 1859. ^- B. Parkinson, 1862, '67. 
Samuel C. Warner, 1863. Arnold Chase, 18C6. \V. W. Rus- 
sell, 1866, '67, '71. William Peacock, 1868, '72, '80. Edward 
Vail, 1873. Erastus Harris, 1874. L. Van Ostrand, 1875,79- 
H. J. Brown. 187 .-. J . Knight, 1878. M. P. Kellogg 1881. 
H. A. Rej'nolds, 1878, '82. 

COI.LKCTORS. 

Asher Avery, 1835, '36, '^7, '38. '39. 40, '4i> 4^. 43. 44- 45, 
'46, '47. Piatt Rogers, 1848, '49. David Roberts, 1850. Nor- 
man Re}-nolds, 185 1, '52, '60. Ezra Bull, 1853, "54, '55, '56. 
Enoch Randall, 1857. George McMillan, 1858. Nathan F. 
King, 1859, '61. Arus Hall, 1862, '63. Rufus Washburn, 1864, 
'65. Benjamin Smith, 1866. Ransom G. King, 1867. Joseph 
A. Smith, 1868, '69. A. B. Pierce, 1870. Henry Statts, 1871. 
Adam Clark, 1872. James Matthews, 1873. J. G. Van Ostrand,. 
1874. Milton B. Sherman, 1875, '76, '79, '80. Otis Wheeler, 
1877. Edward E. White, 1878. Charles C. Clark, 1881. 
Eewis Soule, 1882. 

ASSESSORS. 

Stephen White, Nathaniel Knight, Lsaac Allen, 1835. John 
Arnold, Isaac Allen, Eemuel M. White, 1836. Nathaniel Rich- 
mond, Enos Southwick, Nathaniel Knight, 1837. Nathaniel 
Richmond, Enos Southwick, W'arren Tanner, 1838. Enos 
Southwick, William Herrick, John Stancliff, Nathaniel Rich- 
mond, 1839. Enos Southwick, Warren Tanner, Benjamin W. 
Sherman, Martial Judson, 1840. Enos Southwick, Martial 
Judson. B. W. Sherman, Warren Tanner, 1841. Enos South- 
wick, B. W. Sherman, Warren Tanner, Martial Judson, 1842. 
Constant Southwick, Enos Southwick, Warren Tanner, John 
Stancliff, 1843. Martial Judson, Constant Southwick, Warren 
Tanner, S. T. Munger, 1844. Enos Southwick, V. L. Knight 
Jennings Bowen, Horace Landon, 1845. Horace Landon, 



582 PERSONS ELECTKI) TO TOWN OFFICES. 

Humphry Smith, Timothy Bigelow, 1846. Gideon Webster, 
1847. Edwin P. Pahner, Giles Gifford, 1848. Giles Gifford, 
1849. Samuel T. Munger, 1850. Francis L. Knight, 1851. 
Wilson Rodgers, 1852. Samuel T. Munger, Anson G. Conger, 
1853. Norman Reynolds, Almon D. Conger, 1854. Almon 

D. Conger, 1855. Samuel T. Munger, 1856. Marcus Bartlett, 
1857. Joseph Gifford, 1858. Samuel T. Munger, 1859. John 

E. Moss, i860. Almon D. Conger, 1861, Joshua Allen, 
George Sisson, 1862, '63, Almon D. Conger, 1864. Joshua 
Allen, 1865. Stephen A. Sisson, 1866. Almon D. Conger, 
1867. John H. White, 1868. E. R. Harris, 1869. Almon D. 
Conger, 1870. J. H. White, 1871. E, R. Harris, 1872. John 
H. Johnson, 1873. Joshua Allen, 1874. George Sission, 1875. 
John H. Johnson, 1876. John H. White, 1877. S. B. Wash- 
burn, 1878. J. H. Johnson, 1879. J- H. White, 1880. S. B. 
Washburn, 1881. Joshua Allen, PVancis Brown, 1882. 

COMMISSIONERS OF HICHWAVS. 

Jehial Hill, Darius Crandall, George Davold, 1835. Jehiai 
Hill, George Davold, Darius Crandall, 1836. George Davold, 
Samuel Rodgers, Darius Crandall, 1837. Samuel Rodgers^ 
Jehial Hill, George Southwick, 1838. Jehial Hill, Samuel 
Rodgers, Darius Crandall, 1839 Jehial Hill, C. B. Parkinson 
George Davold, 1840. C. B. Parkinson, George Davold, Gid- 
eon Webster, 1841. C. B. Parkinson, George Davold, Gideon 
Webster, 1842. Daniel P. Wing, John Jennings, Gideon Web- 
ster, 1843. Joseph Sisson, Smith Bartlett, Gideon Webster. 
1844. J. H. McMillen, Enoch Randall, Joseph Sisson, 1845. 
Humphry White, Enoch Randall, John Vosburg, 1846. John 
Vosburg, 1847. Elisha W\ashburn, 1848. Aaron Parker, 1849. 
J. H. McMillen, 1850. Stukely Hudson, 185 1. Rufus W. 
Stickney, 1 852. Barnard Cook, David Roberts, 1853. (None 
elected in 1854.) Elisha Washburn, 1855. '56. Jeremy Bart- 
lett, 1857, '58. Stukely Hudson,'! 859. James Mathews, i860, 
•61. R. N. Mo.ss, 1862. W. T. Popple, 1863. E.R.Harris, 
1864, 65. R. W. Moss, 1866. C. B. Colburn, 1867. John E. 
Moss, 1868, '69. Seth F. Bartlett, 1870. J. E. Moss, 1871. 
Joseph H. Parmerton, 1872, 'yX).' J. B. Andrews, 1874, '75. 



TKRSONS Kl-KCTHK I' > 'lOWN OKKK KS 583 

Charles Trunk, 1876. Daniel Wilber, 1877, '78. John Mathews, 
1879. Jesse Frye, 1 880, '81. Joseph H. Parmerton, 1882, '83. 

LIST OF TOWN SU I'ERINTKNDKN TS OF SCHOOLS L\ COLLLNS,. 
DATING FROM 1 844. 

1844 — John V. AWcn. 
1845 — ^^ illson Rof^ers. 
1846 — John F. Allen. 
1847 — Samuel C Adams. 

o r Samuel C. Adams. 
1S49 \ 



1850 ( 
185 I \ 



Samuel C. Adams. 



^^52 ' William A.Sibley. 
1853 * ^ 

\m I William A. Sibley. 

1856— William A. Sibley. 

SCHOOLS. 

Our young people of the present time can but faintly pic- 
ture to themselves the contrast between our first district 
schools and those of the present day. Rude log buildings with 
bark roofs and puncheon floors, heated in Winter by a fire- 
place that occupied the entire end of the building, often con- 
stituted the" temple of knowledge" in pioneer times. Instead 
of our modern patent seats, benches rived from the trunk of 
some free-splitting ash or basswood were often used ; school 
books were scarce, the course of instruction very limited, and 
the methods of the pedagogue who presided meager and arbi- 
trar\'. 

Among the earh^ teachers in Collins were the following : 

TIIOSK WHO TAU(;HT fifty to SIXTY-FIVE YEARS AOO.. 

Simon Waterman, Leman H. Pitcher, 

Otis W'heelock, Jonathan O. Irish, 

John Adams, John C. Adams, 

Joseph Woodward, Stephen Parsells, 

Benjamin Waterman, Betsey Knight, 

Ruth Knight, Avery Knight, 



584 EARLY TKACHKRS. 

Marie Luthers, Patience Parkinson, 

Almond Lindsley, Isaac Allen. 

Elsler Pratt, John Pratt. 

Frank Bsmont, Diadama Vosburg, 

Polly Russell, Philander Havens. 

Eliza Palmerton, E. N. F'rye. 

THOSE WHO TAUfiHr TinRrV-FI\'E TO FIFTV YEARS AGO. 

Caroline Beckwith. Lydia McMillain, 

Aurora Waterman, Augustus Hanchett. 

Eli Heath, Edward Vail, 

Sophronia Brewster. Mrs. Barnum, 

Isaac White. Alanson Clark, 

Elias Van Court, Henry Reynolds, 

Laura Rice, Alonzo Pierce, 

Lydia A. Sloan, Wilder Plsher, 

Aaron Fenton, Matilda Fritz, 

Philena Annis, James Mathews. 

S. W. Soule, Jonathan Briggs, 

Diadama Vosburg. Charles Woodward, 

Chester Howe, Thibbet Soule. 

Martha Nichols, William S. Herrick. 
Henry Reynolds, 

Fn<ST REEIOIOUS MEETINGS AND CHURCH ORC;ANIZATIONS. 

The first religious meetings in Collins, aside from the mis- 
sionary work of Father Taylor, were held at the house of Wil- 
liam King. Talcott Patchin. Richard and Sylvester Cary of 
Boston, Elder Bartlett of Zoar, preaching. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church at Collins Center, was 
organized about 1823, by the Rev. John Copeland forming a 
class in the school-house, on lot sixty-five. John Adams was 
leader. Among the members of the class were Mrs. John 
Adams, Nehemiah Heath and wife, Mr. Tabor and wife and a 
few others. 

The present church edifice was built in 1834. Rev. William 
R. Babcock first preached in it. 



KARLV HISTOKV OF " KAST DISIKICT." 585 

EAKI.V IIIST()R^■()FTIIK " KAST DIS'IRKT" OF (( )I,rJNS CEXTHK. 

For the following \\c arc indebted to Isaac VV. Tanner, Esq., 
always a resident of the district and a pupil of the first schools - 

In the Winter of 1823 and 1824 a school was kept in a log 
building standing near where the F'ree Methodist Church now 
stands. The teacher was Caroline Beckwith. The school the 
next Summer was taught hy Diadama Vosburg in a log-shop 
belonging to Stephen Wilber. The Winter school of 1825 and 
1826 was taught by Almond Lindsley, in a log school-house 
situated at the corner of the road east of the Timothy Clark 
homestead. The school was kept here until the Winter of 
1830 and 1 83 1. After Lindsley the teachers were: 

Mrs. Barnum, Elias Van Court, Sophrona Br-ewster, Avery 
Knight, Ruth Knight, Avery Knight, Statira Cross and Will- 
iam S. Herrick. The above names are in the order of their 
teaching. 

In the Summer of 1830 a school-house was built where the 
present one now stands." The first school taught in it was by 
Chester Howe, afterwards Judge of Cattaraugus county. The 
next Winter term was taught by Henry Reynolds. The next 
two Winter terms were taught by Arnold Mann. He was fol- 
lowed by Benjamin Stearns, Augustus Hanchet, Charles Wood- 
ward, Wilder Fisher and Tibbit Soule, uncle of Ex-Com. Soule. 

COLLINS CKNTKR SCHOOL. 

The first school was in the vicinity of Cc^llins Center, was in 
a log-house built in iSi 1, by Nathan King or his sons. This 
house was located on lot forty-nine, near the Center and the 
school was taught by John King. The scholars from Stephen 
Wilber's were David. John, Paulina and Alma; from Nathan 
King's, Isaac, (ieorge, Angeline and Phila ; from Benjamin 
Albee's there was Benjamin, Hannah and Enoch, and Isaac 
Aldrich from Lodi. The first school-house built at Collins 
Center expressly for school purposes was located somewhere 
about thirty rods north-east of Hodges' Corner. This was 
about 1817. It was made of logs and covered with boards and 



*NoTE After the new school-house was built the names of only the Winter 
teachers are given. 



■586 COLLINS CENTER SCHOOL. 

slabs; a dutch fire-place, topped out with a stick chimney. The 
door was of rough boards with wooden hinges and wooden latch 
and a latch-string hanging outside. The benches were made of 
slabs with holes bored in for legs as you would construct a milk- 
ing-stool. Our desks were a little better, being boards planed 
and for their support pins were driven into the sides of the 
house at a suitable height, and when we wished to write we 
faced around to the wall where the light was shed from one 
small window on each side. 

The next school was kept in a work-shop of Nathan King's. 
The next school after that was taught in a building built by 
my father for a blacksmith shop and occupied as such and 
afterwards changed to a work-shop. The next school was 
taught in a small framed building that stood by the four cor- 
ners, near Ezra Nichols', and was built by Stephen Wilber, 
Joshua Parmenter, Smith Bartlett and Augustus Smith. This 
house was moved up to the Center and is now occupied as a 
dwelling. The next school-house is the one that now stands 
in the corner between the two roads. 

PHYSICIANS. 

Dr. McDaniels was the first regular physician to practice 
medicine in Collins. He remained there but a short time and 
w^as succeeded by Dr. Harwood ; he to be followed by Dr. 
Congden, who died there in 1846. Dr. Alexander Bruce prac- 
ticed medicine there until a short time previous to his death 
and Dr. W. A. Sibley was located there for many years. 
Then Dr. Robinson and Dr. Henry. Dr. Letson and Dr. Harley 
Atwood are practicing medicine there at the present. Dr. 
Moses Blakeley (botanical), practiced there for sex-eral years at 
quite an early day. Dr. M. M. ' Sperry (alopathyj, practiced 
medicine there in 1878 and 1879. 

COLLINS CENTER. 

MERCHANTS. 

The first merchant who sold good'^ at Collins Center was 
Samuel Lake. He built a store here about 1830 ; he did not 
attend to the business himself, but he emplo)'ed a man b\' the 



I-IKSr .MF.kCllAN rs OK COLLINS CIINIKK. S^7 

name of Harry Matthcwson to conduct it for him. The front 
part of Bates & White's store is the building that he put up. 
He was also engaged in the ashery business here. He was suc- 
ceeded by Chancey Bigelow and his son Frank. They were 
succeeded by Cornelius Smith who afterwards sold out to 
Thomas Russell who was succeeded by his son William, who 
sold out to Bates & White. Benjamin Sherman was also in 
trade here at one time. A man by the name of Johnson once 
si^ld goods here also. 

TANNERIES. 

Smith Bartlctt came from Danby, Vt., in 1815, and settled 
on lot fifty-eight and commenced tanning. He dug out large 
troughs such as were used for storing sap, and used them for 
tan vats. He finished off his leather in a log barn. He ground 
his bark in the following manner: He constructed a circular 
platform about twenty feet in diameter, with a rim around the 
outer edge, like an inverted cheese-box cover. He procured a 
large circular stone in the form of a grindstone, which was over 
six feet in diameter, and put a horizontal shaft through the 
center, and hitched a horse to a swivel on the outer end, while 
the other end was attached to an upright revolving shaft in 
the center of the platform ; when the horse went around the 
stone rolled over the bark and crushed it by its weight. About 
1828, after he got able, he' built quite a good tannery on his 
place. In 1835, he moved to lot sixty-nine, and built a tan- 
nery there. His son, Allen Bartlett, run the tannery on lot 
sixt\--nine for a while, and then he built a tannery of his own 
at Collins Center. He afterwards sold out to a Mr. DeWolf, 
and he sold to Popple & Harris. 

MILLS IN COLLINS. 

Jacob Taylor built mills at Taylor Hollow in 1812; Joseph 
Adams built a mill in Zoar, 1814; Stephen Lapham built a 
saw mill at Bagdad, in 1814; John Lawton built a mill in 
Lawton Hollow, in 1816; Turner Aldrich built a mill in 
Gowanda, in 181 7 or '18 ; David Pound built a mill at what is 
called Tub Town, 1820; Job Sherman built a mill just below 
Pound's soon after; Dax'id and John Wilbcr built a mill on 



588 THE SOCIETV OF FRIENDS. 

the Harris site, in 1824; James Parkinson built a saw mill at 
Collins Center, in 1835. This mill is a part and parcel of the 
present mill owned by' the Balander Brothers, and has seen 
many transformations. It was once used as a carding machine 
and tannery, then again employed as a shingle and cider mill. 
C B. Parkinson built a mill about one-half mile east of Collins 
Center, in or about 1840; S.C.Adams and Francis Knight 
built a mill on the Yaw brook, about 1837 ; Jesse P^ye built a 
mill on the same stream about 1852 ; Jacob Rush built another 
mill on this brook about 1858 ; Joseph Doty built a steam saw 
mill west of Morton's Corners, about 1864 or '65 ; Ralph Plumb 
built a saw mill on the south branch of Clear Creek about 
1840. A steam saw mill has been built this year ( 1883) b\' A. 
J. Setter, on the Yaw brook. 

SOCIETY OF FRIEX1).>. 

The Friends had a church organization in Collins and North 
Collins, at an early day, probably in 181 3 or '14. They had a 
log meeting house just o\'er the line in North Cc^llins, on Na- 
thaniel Sisson's land, and then another about half a mile south- 
east of Bagdad. The meeting house on Augustus Smith's land 
was built about 1840. 

The following list contains most of the names of the men 
and women, who were members of that church, to wit: Jona- 
than Southwick and wife, George Southwick, Abram Gifford 
and Lucy his wife, Rufus Gifford, Ezra Southwick and wife, 
Hugh McMillen and Lyda his wife, Benjamin Stowell and 
Hannah his wife, Stephen Sisson and wife, Perr}' Sisson and 
wife, Nathaniel Sisson and \\ife, Samuel Tucker and wife, 
Abram Tucker and Phebe his wife, John Strang and Elizabeth 
his wife, David Pound aiitl famih', Elisha Russell, Augustus 
Smith and Elizabeth his wife, William Sisson and Lydia his 
wife, Peter Potter and Rachel his wife. Lsaac .\llen and wife, 
Levi Tafft and wife, Jonathan Soule and Temperance his 
wife, Asa Lapman. Barnabus Robinson, Eli Lapham and 
Rachel his wife, Joshua Palmerton and Hannah his wife, 
Ezra Nichols and Sally his wife, Warren Tanner and Hannah 
his wife, Barak Smith and Mar\' his wife, Nathan Smith and 
Rachel his wife, Gilbert Smith and Lxxlia his wife, Addison 



COLLINS S()L|)li:U KLC'ORI). 589 

Smith and Mary Jane his wife, Asa Smith and Lydia his wife, 
Joseph Lapham and .Ann liis wife, Haduin Arnold and wife, 
Turner Aldrich and wife, Isaac Wilber and wife, Ohver Keys 
and wife, Jacob Taj'lor, Mordica Sherman and wife, Henry 
Tucker and wife. Nehemiah Hull and wife, Powell Hallock, 
Benijah Hallock, Benjamin l^t)ice and wife, Lewis Varney and 
wife, Lorenzo Mabbitt, Daniel Sisson and wife, George Sisson 
and wife, Royal Strang, Edwin Mabbitt and wife and mother 
Hannah, William Palmer, Stephen White and wife, William 
O'Brian and Ann his wife, Daniel Healy and wife, David Lap- 
ham, Abram Lapham, Nathan Cass, Ambrose Haight (Judge 
Haight's grandfather), David Corbin, Amherst Hopkins, Eliza- 
beth Foster, Rhoda Tarbox. 

SOLDIER REC(3RD OF COLLINS. 

Collins has just reason to be proud of the part her sons 
performed in the War of the Rebellion. One hundred and fif- 
teen enrolled their names for the service, twent}'-six of whom 
were either killed in battle or died from other causes while in 
the service. Collins was represented in twelve different regi- 
ments. More than half of her soldiers were in the Sixty-fourth 
regiment New York State volunteers, Compan)' A., and the 
Tenth New York cavalry. The Sixty-fourth rjgimcnt was 
under command of Col. Thomas J. Parker, of Gowanda, and 
Avas in all of the principal battles in which the Army of the 
Potomac participated. The Tenth New York cavalry also did 
gallant service in the field. The Excelsior Brigade saw 
constant ser\Mce from ^'orkt()wn to Petersburg. The People's 
Ellsworth acted a prominent part in Vincent's brigade in occu- 
pying a position on Wolf hill at Gettysburg, and were in the 
other hard-fought battles of the army of the Potomac. Those 
who were members of the Second Mounted Rifles, the One 
Hundred and Sixteenth and One Hundred and Eight}'-seventh 
regiments, as well as those who were nearly or quite the sole 
representatives of their town in their regiments, acted no holi* 
.da)' part in the great rebellion. 



590 



COLLINS SDLDTER RECORD. 



The following is a list of those who entered the service : 

SLXTV-FOURTH RECIMENT NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, 

COMPANY A. 

Note. — A star indicates death in the service, and the person's name will be found at the 
close in a list of the dead. 



Capt. Rufus Washburn, Jr., 

Lieut. William W. Rus.sell, 

*Harrison Clark, 

*Foster B. Ross, 

Read F. Clark, 

Brev.-Maj. Arnold R. Chase, 

*Alexander Oglevie, 

James M. Wilco.x, 

Bethel W. Camp, 

Albert Cowdrey, 

John C. Hupfield, 

John Board way, 

Maj. D. W. Hurdley, 

John Hurdley, 

*Jacob Saunders, 

Lewis W. Henry. 

Theodore Tyrer, 

Ira B. Stewart, 

Hudson Ainsley, 

Noah Twoguns ( Indian i. 



Henr\- L. W'ilber, 
*Henry S. Young, 
*John G. Young, 
Benjamin H. Smith, 
Ezra Colburn, 
*George Palmer, 
Capt. Peter Boardwax', 
Lieut. John Tocpp. 
*\Villiam Burns, 
Daniel Allen, 
Michael Boardway, 
*Andrew Reagles, 
*Lawrence Reagles, 
James Walker, 
Lieut. William W. Roller, 
Orson Mclntire, 
Charles L. Mair, 
James M. Clark, 
Hiram Henry, 
George Howard. 



TENTH RECilMENT NEW YORK CAVALRY 



Joseph J. Mabbitt, 
Erastus Colburn, 
Joseph Matthews, 
George Rudd, 
Fred Tillintrhast, 



William Briggs, 

John Matthews, 

Daniel Warner, 

Charles Briggs, 

Lieut. William Potter, 

Ledr)- Sherman. 

Company A. 

"■^William H. Hathaway, Ransom G. King, 

John T. King. Edwin M. Page, 

Seret. Lewis A. Colburn. 



COLLINS SOLDI KK KKCORD. 591 

Company />'• 

Corp. Frank W. Taylor, Lieut. Marion Smith, 

*Sergt. John W. \'ail. 

Company O. 

Lieut. James Matthews, *George B. Pratt, 

*Sergt. WilHam S. Lenox, Caleb J. Randall. 

Cotfipany H. 

Daniel Auwater. 

Company L. 

Eugene A. Colburn, Corp. David S. Morrell, 

Daniel Brown, *Kimball Persons, 

Lieut. Nelson Washburn. 

SECOND REOIMLNT MOUNTED RIFLES, COMI'AXV D. 

Eugene Haliday, Robert Wilber, 

Sergt. Edward M. P'arnsworth, George ¥. Vail, 
Orrin W. Sayles, *Wilber C. Perry, 

Tibbits Soule, Thomas Morrill, 

Luzerne Clark, Sidney Barnhart, 

Gilbert S. South wick, Morenca J. Bl.akely, 

Hiram Stage. 

SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT INFANTRY (Excelsior Brigade), 

COMPANY E. 

George \V. Baily, Richard Lindsley, 

George V. Smith, *James Wilber, 

Charles J. Wilber. Corp. Jesse Walker, 

"■p'rank Matthews, Ensign Skinner. 

FORTY-FOURTH RFCIMENT (People's Ellsworth) Co. A. 

Lieut. Erastus L. Harris, John C. Robbins, 

*01iver K. Irish, Frank Decker, 

George Persons. 

ONE HUNDRED AND EICHTY-SEVENTH RECIMENl" LXFANTRY, 
NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS. 

Capt. Geo. H. Hodges, Co. B, Corp. Millard F. Randall. Co. G, 
Franklin G. Hawkins, Co. G, George Pierce. 



592 



COLLINS SOLDIKR RECORD. 



ONE HUNDRKI) AND SIXTEENTH REGIMENT INEANTY NEW 
YORK VOLUNTEERS, COMPANY F. 



*Marshall Bickford, 
*Oscar Ralph, 
*Franklin B. Stewart, 
*WilHam Ferris, 



Cassius Grannis, 
George Auvvater, 
Joseph Doty, 
*Lieut. Charles Bowsk}' 



PROMISCUOUS. 



Franklin Foster, 9th N. Y. Cav , Co. G. 
Sergt. Edward J. Daggett, 21st Reg. Inf., Co. G. 
*Casper Levack, 49th Reg. Inf., Co. B. 
Noah Doty, Jr., 145th Reg. Inf., Co. A. 
Corp. John J. Brown, 13th N. Y. Cav., Co. C. 
Sergt. Jacob Levack, 49th Reg. Inf., Co. B. 
Sergt. John Levack, 49th Reg. Inf., Co. B. 
*John A. Wiesmantle, 49th Reg. Inf. 

LIST OF THOSE WHO WERE KILLED OR DIED IN THE SERVICE, 

Harrison Clark, killed in the battle of Fair Oaks June I, 1862, 

Foster B. Ross, contracted disease in the service ; died at 
home Jan. 24, 1863. 

Alexander Oglevie, killed in the battle of Fair Oaks June 5, 
1862. 

Jacob Saunders, killed at Cold Harbor. 

Henry S. Young, died in the hospital Oct. 6, 1862. 

John G. Young, died in the hospital at David's Island. 

George Palmer, killed in the battle of Fair Oaks June 5, 
1862. 

William Burns, killed in the battle of Auburn Hill. 

Andrew Reagles, killed at Coffee Hill. 

William H. Hathaway, died at Baltimore Aug. 5, 1862. 

Sergt. John \V. Vail, killed in the battle of Hanox'ertown, 
Va., May 28, 1864. 

George B. Pratt, died in Anderson\'ille prison. 

Sergt. William S. Lenox, killed at Bristow Station, Va., Oct, 
14, 1863. 

Capt. Kimball Persons, killed at Travillion Station June 1 1, 
1864. 

Wilber C. Perry, died in Andersonx'ille prison Sept. I, 1864, 



I 



COLLINS SOLDIER RECORD. 593 

James W'ilbcr, died of wounds received June 4, 1862. 

Oliver K. Irish, killed at battle of Hanover Court House. 

Marshall Bickford, died in the hospital at Baton Rous^e in 
August, 1863. 

Oscar Ralph, died in the hospital at l^aton Rouge in May, 
1863. 

Franklin B. Stewart, died in the hospital at Baton Rouge 
May 10, 1883. 

William Ferris, died at Cairo, 111., Oct. 2, 1863. 

Lieut. Charles Boursk)-, died of wounds in June 1863. 

Casper Levack, died in the hospital at Alexandria, Va., in 
the Fall of 1862. 

John A. W'iesmantle, killed in the Battle of the Wilderness. 

Frank Matthews, died at Camp Wool in April, 1862. 

Lawrence Reagles, killed at Auburn Hill, Oct. 13, 1863. 

LIST OF PERSONS NOW LIVIN(; WHO WERE RESIDENTS OF 
COLLINS SIXTY OR MORE YEARS AGO. 

David Wilber, John Wilber and wife, John Beverly, Elisha 
Washburn, Augustus Smith, Benjamin Albee, Isaac Hunt and 
wife, Mrs. Rachel Palmerton, Mr. Burnap, Huram Wickham, 
Aaron Lindsle}- and wife, Sylvanus Cook, Joseph H. Plumb, 
Mrs. Maria Stewart, Joshua Wilber, Lewis Hopkins, Samuel 
Lumbard, John Pratt, Philip Pratt, Mr. Hokum, Abram South- 
wick and wife, George Southwick, Mrs. Sylvenus Bates. 

TOWN ACCOUNT oF THE TOWN OF COLLINS FOR 183O. 

No. I, John Lawton $1725 

No. 2. John Arnold 17 88 

No. 3. R. Rogers 1 1 25 

No. 4. E. Southwick 8 50 

No. 5. Thos. Stancliff 62 

N6. 6. A. Knight 10 00 

No. 7. O. Hathaway 8 50 

No. 8. Warren Tanner 24 25 

No. 9. J. C. Adams 13 50 

No. 10. John Stancliff 10 00 

No. II. John Griffith 22 63 

No. 12. Isaac Palmer 3 00 

25 



594 TOWN ACCOUNTS FOR 183O. 

N°-^3- (^ r TT- u ] Gabriel String $3000 

XT ] Lorn. 01 Highways, ' t- t i 

No. 14. • ^ ^ .- E. Lapham 12 00 

TVT - / Damages, \ ,,7 t^ , , _ 

No. 15. ' ^ ' \\ m. Parmcrton 5 50 

No. 16. Stephen White 22 00 

No. 17. Byron W. Pratt i 50 

No. 18. Horace Langdon and John Griffith 4 00 

No. 19. John Stancliff i 00 

No. 20. Thomas B Soule 17 00 

No. 21. L. M. White 18 00 

No ■■7'y { ] Jurors' fee for 6 Jurors / 

- Com. ot Highways, - sworn m 3 cases, \ 

No. 23. ( \ Jurors fees not sworn.. 7 50 

No. 24. Nathaniel Knight 1 3 45 

Due the Treasury 8 63 

Rejected Fees 3 97 

Interest on Received Fees , 27 

Roads and Bridges 250 00 

Commissioners of Schools 100 65 

Contingent 31 80 

Collectors' Fees, 3 per cent 46 09 

County Tax 852 00 

Amount raised $1 584 24 

COLLINS SOCIETIES. 

Collins Center has four secret societies or beneficiary orders, 
as follo\\'s : 

ODD FELLOWS. 

Friendship Lodge, reinstated in February, 1882. It has a 
membership of about seventy. The officers are as follows: 

Humphre)- Russell, N. G.; James Mathews, V. G.; Milton 
B. Sherman, Secretary ; Philander Pierce, Treasurer; Joseph 
Mugridge, Acting P. G. 

A. o. u. w. 

Lodge organized in February, 1877. Membership about 
fifty. Officers are as follows : 

A. S. Warner, M. W.; E. A. Bartlett. Recorder ; M. W. Bai- 
ley, Treasurer. 



COLLINS SOCIKTIKS. 595 

R. T. OK r. 

Harvest Council No. 62. Number of charter members twenty ; 
present membership about fifty. The following is a list of 
the original ofificers : 

Edwin R. Harris, S. C; Butler Potter, V. C; Krastus B. 
Letson, P. C; David Empson, Chaplain ; Seth T. Bartlett, 
Secretary; Philander Pierce, Treasurer ; William Wilbur, Her- 
ald ; Joseph Kiefer. Guard ; Nathan Pierce, Sentinel. 

E. A. U. 

Eureka Union No. 76 ; instituted April 14, 1880. Charter 
members, twent^^ Present membership, thirty. The original 
officers were : 

George H. Hodges, Chancelor ; Joseph Mugridge, Advocate ; 
James Matthews. President ; Mrs. George Hodges, Vice-Presi- 
dent ; B. M. Briggs, Secretary; Edwin Mugridge, Acc't ; Ed- 
gar Shaw, Treasurer; Mrs. William Popple, Aux.; Mrs. James 
Matthews, Warden ; John Schneider, Watchman. 

JOHN MILLIS AND HIS CRIST OF WHKAT. 

Active out-door life and constant contact with nature in her 
rougher forms, often developed, in our pioneers, powers of 
endurance and herculean strength that would be hardly credited 
at the present time. John Millis was a good example of this 
fact. It was about the }'ear 1820 and Millis had been logging 
and chopping a few days for Samuel Tucker ; finishing his 
work on Saturday night he was paid with two bushels of wheat. 
His family being out of provisions when he left home he real- 
ized the necessity of transforming his bag of wheat into material 
for replenishing his pantry as soon as possible. Notwithstand- 
ing the next morning was the sabbath, he started with the 
wheat on his back, on foot, through the woods, to Tax'lor's 
mill, three miles distant. On reaching the mill the miller 
refused to grind on Sunday. Undaunted, he shouldered his 
grist and directed his steps towards Lawton's mill, farther on. 
At this mill the water was so low that grinding could not be 
done. The ne.xt mill to whicii he might appl)- was Townsend's 
mill, in Concord, k)cated in what is now known as Wheeler 



596 WILD AXIMAI.S. 

Hollow. To reach this mill he would have to retrace his steps 
back home and then proceed five miles farther on. 

Millis was determined that his wheat should be flour before 
the dews of evening fell and to Townsend's mill he went, get- 
ting his grist ground and returning, making a distance of twenty- 
two miles traveled, carrying the two bushels of wheat the entire 
distance. 

WILD ANIMALS 

When the first settlers came to Collins, wild animals were 
quite numerous. Deer were very plenty, wolves made sad 
havoc with the sheep and a panther occasionally made his 
appearance. One of the latter-named animals came to the 
house of Joshua Palmerton one night and attacked his dog. 
The panther soon left and Mr. Palmerton going out found his 
dog alive, though bitten through by the savage teeth of the 
panther. 

Black bears abounded and annoyed the settlers by commit- 
ting depredations on their fields of corn. In the F'all of 1822 
Nathaniel and Avery Knight and John T. Johnson, after hav- 
ing their corn fields badly mutilated by what appeared to be a 
company of three bears, set a dead-fall and caught two of them 
alive; the third one, escaping, was shot at and wounded, not 
captured. Two years after a bear was caught in a wolf-trap, 
but escaped by leaving one of his feet in the trap as an evi- 
dence of his capture. Fourteen years after, when it was sup- 
posed that the last bear had disappeared from town, a lonely 
Bruin was found snugly ensconced among the ledges on the 
banks of the Cattaraugus creek. After he was killed it was 
found that he was minus a foot, and a scar appeared on his 
shoulder ; evidently the same bear that evaded capture in the 
dead-fall sixteen years before, and amputated his foot in the 
wolf-trap. 

BUSINESS DIRECTORY OF COLLINS CENTER FOR THE YEAR I 882 

H. L. Atwood, physician. 

Bates & White, general store, 

Joseph Mugridge, general store. 

James Matthews, groceries and provisions. 

Milton H. Sherman, groceries and provisions. 



HUSINKSS DlkKCTORIKS. 597 

H. A. Reynolds, groceries and provisions. 

N. Bolander, Jr., & Hro., custom mills. 

W. H. Parkinson, saw mill. 

E. L. Harris, saw mill. 

W. W. Baily, cider mill. 

M. J. King, pumps and planing mill. 

H. B. Wood, cooper and joiner. 

Albert A. King, furniture. 

John Haas, wagon maker. 

John Au water, wagon maker. 

Frank Gornikiswies, blacksmithing. 

Peter Schaus, blacksmithing. 

George Frink, blacksmithing. 

D. H. Davis, harness maker. 
Peter Bies, shoemaker. 
Adolphus Rothfus, shoemaker. 
Merrit A. Palmerton, meat market. 
J. C. Hupfeld, tailor. 

J. V. Cole, dentist. 
Smith Bartlett, hotel. 

GOWANDA BUSINESS DIRECTORY FOR THE YEAR I 882, OF THAT 
PORTION OF THE YILLAtlE LOCATED IN ERIE COUNTY. 

C. C. Torrance, law office. 
J. S. Shugert, physician. 

T. M. Kingsley, drugs and medicines. 

R. P. McMillian, groceries and provisions. 

A. R. Sellew & Co., Gowanda Agricultural Works. 

Romer Bros., axe factory. 

Torrence & White, flour and custom mill. 

L. P. Dean, lumber and planing mill. 

L. P. Bestrup. furniture. 

Joseph Straub, carriage manufactor}-. 

Chauncey M. Grannis, carriage manufactory. 

J. W. Dauber, carriage manufactory. 

E. V. Slait, hardware. 

D. E. Jacobs, jewelry. 
Peter Rink, boots and shoes. 
Peter Erback, shoemaker. 



598 TI-IE PETERS FAMILY. 

G. E. Rooker, groceries and provisions. 

Michael Molls, meat market. 

Christian Stetzer, meat market. 

G. H. Henry, harness maker. 

Frank Taylor, Marble. 

Mrs. Delsell, millinery. 

Frank Briminsthol, billiards. 

A. F. Conger, Grand Central hotel. 

Aman Fischer, hotel and brewery. 

Henry Eagle, Farmers' hotel. 

In response to a request to give some information concerning 
the family of Stephen Peters, his eldest daughter wrote as fol- 
lows , 

Kennedy. Jan. 21, 1881. 
E. Brkics, Es(^).: 

Dear Sir: — Stephen Peters was the }'oungest of three boys ; 
his brothers' names were Joseph and John ; his sisters' names 
were Naomi, Lydia and Anna. When Stephen was eighteen 
years of age he left his home in Farmington, Ontario county, 
N. Y., for what was called the " Far West." I think it was in 
the Winter of 1810; took with him a sled loaded with pro- 
visions, clothing, and everything which was essential for such a 
journey ; hitched a yoke of oxen and left one bright morning 
in December, mother and sisters all in tears, thinking he would 
be killed by Indians. I think he found Joshua Palmerton some- 
where on the road ; have heard my father sa}- he and Joshua 
went together to buy their land ; they also kept bachelor's hall 
together; he used to say it was the worst hall he was ever in. 
The following winter he went back to Farmington, after his 
sister to keep house for him. Joshua also went to Bennington, 
Vt., after his sister Sarah to keep his house. After a while 
Stephen took Sarah awa\- from Joshua ; they were the first 
couple married in town ; it was then called Concord. Then 
Joshua went to V^ermont after a wife; her name was Hannah 
Nichols. 

I don't know when Stephen Wilbur did come ; think it was 
soon after Joshua and Stephen came. I understand they made 
the first brush heap near Collins Center. 

Some time after, Stephen's father, Benjamin Peters, was 



IHK I'KTKKS lAMIIA. 599 

taken sick at the East and sent for father to come back and 
take the homei-tead by paying the heirs something. He let 
his brother Joseph have his farm in CoUins for his share ; took 
care of his father and mother the remainder of their days. 

In regard to my father's family : he raised three children by 
his first wife, \'iz.: 

Henry, born Oct, 14, 1813. 

Charles, born Aug. 12, 18 1 5. 

Cliarlotte, born Aug. 28. 18 17. 

My mother died with consumption, July 15, 1822. The next 
father married Tryphenia Ridwell ; she lived only one year 
four months. Then, after living a widower one year, father 
married Huldah Springer. By her he had six children, viz.: 

Sarah, born Oct. 29, 1828. 

Myron, born Jul)- 16, 1830. 

Eliza, born Aug. 6, 1832. 

Stephen, born Aug. 15, 1834. 

Julia, born Aug. 9, 1836. 

Silas, born Feb. 12, 1842. 

In 1843, father went to Iowa; took a span of horses and 
wagon ; his son Myron wentwdth him. He bought him a farm, 
put up a house, and got things ready for the rest of the family. 
They went down the Ohio river on a raft as far as Louisville ; 
took boat there to the Mississippi river, up that river as far as 
Bloomfield, Iowa; there father met them with team, and took 
them to his place in Yalton, Iowa. 

He died in 1847; two of the children died years before. 
The rest are living in the Western country— Colorado, Oregon, 
and Washington territory. 

I forgot to mention that after father crossed the Genesee river, 
in coming to Collins he had to make his own road part of the 
way. camp out nights, make his bed of hemlock boughs, start 
a fire with flint and steel, and chop down trees to browse his 
oxen on, which was their supper. 

Henry was married to Sarah Dearman, in 1841 ; died Oct. 16, 

1845. 

Charles married Mar\' Ann Rice, in 1841 ; he lives m Cali- 
fornia. 

Charlotte married S. H. Sevmour. 



6oO THE PETERS FAMILY. 

I remember the first term of school just east of Collins Cen- 
ter ; I went ; school was kept in a small log school-house on 
father's farm ; the teacher used to get asleep Monday morn- 
ings ; during one of her naps, I and another girl got into trou- 
ble ; result, the other girl got her hand bit and I took a whip- 
ping. At another time, she let the boys out ; they all went down 
to father's spring after water and forgot to come back ; after a 
long time I was sent after them ; when they came, she made 
them all stand half bent with their heads under the writing 
desk awhile ; they looked comical. 

Yours &c., 

Charlotte Seymour. 

At the earnest solicitation of the author of this work, I pen 
the following lines of recollections of the by-gone times of Col- 
lins and its inhabitants ; 

To think or write of times fifty or sixty years ago is like 
visiting dreamland, so indistinct and vapory do all things seem. 
Yet memory recalls some events very distinct and real, some of 
which may possibly be of some interest to the reader. 

Sixty years ago, Collins was a wilderness, with here and 
there a clearing. Log houses were universal ; wagons were few; 
roads primitive and almost impassable, crooking round hills and 
knolls, roots and through the mud. Little do the young of 
to-day know of the labor toil and hardships of the early settlers 
of this now flourishing Town of Collins. 

A few lines in regard to society as it then existed. 

The Quakers or Friends composed almost the entire popula- 
tion of the town ; no other meeting, no other society and no 
other associates : all was " thee and thou," and "yea and nay." 
But a more friendly society I belive never existed in this part 
of the world : no rich, no poor, no jarrings and contentions, 
strife or discord ; but one law ruled, and that law was the law 
of universal brotherh(K:)d. 

Thus society appears to me at that early date. To attend 
meeting seemed a pleasure as well as duty, for all went, and 
the log meeting-house was every day filled full of sober and 
dignified Quakers. Quiet reigned ; no noise to disturb the 
deep thoughts of the pious worshipers, but all were giving heed 



KECOLI.F.CriONS OF COLLINS. 6oi 

to the influence of the spirit, and anon some dijjjnitary arose, 
took off his hat (the hat was always worn in church), and the 
words came : first slow and measured, then more rapid, till the 
whole house resountled with the echoes of the speaker's thun- 
dering- tones, and then all was ai^ain still, silent and solemn, 
till perhaps a \-oice in the other part of the house arose, a few 
words said, and again silence reigned. After one hour's wor- 
ship, they began to shake hands and a universal shaking took 
place. Then all retired to their several homes, generally on 
foot. 

Such was a meeting in early times. 

Tibbitts Soule came to Collins I think in 1823, and located 
on lot twenty-four, township six, range eight, one mile east 
of Gowanda, amid a forest of as noble pines as could be 
found in Western New York, and died there in KS37, aged 
seventy-three years. His family consisted of five sons and two 
daughters, all of whom have passed away. Jonathan, the eldest, 
died in 1849. Stephen Soule died in 1880, at the ripe old age 
of eighty-one. Luther, the third son, settled at Pontiac, in the 
State of Michigan, in 1822, took up a large tract of land on 
which the city now stands ; built mills on the same, cleared up 
a farm, and soon after was taken sick with that fatal scourg-e 
of the new west, the fever, and died. Mrs. Lydia Ann Palmer- 
ton, of Collins Center, is the only one remaining of the family. 
Thomas B. Soule, the surveyor and teacher, settled on lot 
twenty-three, township six, range eight, and removed from there: 
in 1838, to the Town of Aurora, this county, and died there 
soon after, Charles E. Soule, now of Kansas, is his only son. 
Abram H. Soule, settled in Hamburg one and one-half miles 
north of the village, raised a large family. Hon. Oscar H, 
Soule, his eldest, now resides near the old homestead. Jona- 
than, the eldest son, came to this town some three or four years 
prior to his father's coming, and settled on lot sixty, township 
six, range eight, now known as the Peter Potter farm. Tib- 
bits, the father, was an exemplary and consistent Christian 
and before that fatal division among friends ; was at the head 
of society and truly did he merit the exalted position. Equal 
and exact justice seemed his ruling trait of character, and his 



6o2 RECOI.LECTIONS (~»F COLLINS. 

counsel and advice was seldom gainsayed or laid aside ; Jona- 
than was an exception in the family, religion seemed to him 
his all in all. He began preaching young, first in sleep and 
afterwards in public, and continued to preach until his death 
in 1849. Not a flowery speaker, but a plain, straight-forward 
honest man ; he gained the confidence of all ; especially sought 
for in the trials of sickness and death, whose talk b}' the sick 
bed and to mourners, always seemed to heal the wounds of 
sorrow and cheer the drooping spirits. Such I believe to be 
an imperfect but true sketch of the prevailing traits of charac- 
ter of Jonathan Soule 

In 1828, came the division among friends, and from that date 
the society graduall}' lost its moral standing, till now but little 
remains save its name, and that too will soon be lost (I speak 
only of Collins). Riches came, pride of position took a strong 
hold of the many, and Quakerism was swallowed up in the 
vanities of this world. Now and then may be seen one of the 
old t}'pes with his low hat and straight coat, his kindly ways 
and simple habits, but he walks the street as one lost in 
thought ; he lives long ago ; the world knows him not, and he 
is only waiting for the summons that calls him to a more con- 
genial clime. A stranger amid his own ; a traveler in a strange 
land, for all things are to him new. The mighty engine goes 
howling through his own quiet fields. Religion once sacred, 
now a thing of traffic, a nonentity; no vitalit\', no heart, no 
life, nothing but a cold form, that kills the good (if there be 
anv) and builds a fabric rotten to the core, whose fate is cer- 
tain and destruction sure. This much of the ancient Quaker, 
once glorious, now gone, such (to me) appears the mind of the 
ancient Quaker. His ideas and ways of thought are not ours, 
and I leave him with the thoughtful reader to judge whether 
the old man's views are right or wrong. Permit me to give 
an illustration (^f the state of society, as it existed sixty years 
ago among the Quakers in Collins. It was customar)- in early 
times to cut and fit a few acres of the sturdy forest for a crop 
of wheat. Well, Jonathan .Soule had his fallow (some five acres) 
all read)- to log up, having had what was called a good burn, 
being <Hit of health he could not clear it off, and, of course, 
unable to hire. So the "iM-iends" went to him, ad\-ised him 



J 



RECOLLECTIONS OF COI^LIXS. 603 

to ^o to Hambur<; and make a week's visit, it would, they 
thon<rht, do him good. He went, staid one week, came home, 
found his fallow cleared all off, not a brand left and sowed 
with wheat and harrowed nicely in and fenced. This illus- 
trates full)' and directly the claim I give to that era of 
good and friend]}' times, in glaring contrast to the selfish 
and greedy rapacity of the present world. Give us sim- 
plicity, give us plain religion, give us plain talk and plain faces, 
and we ask no more. Though at meeting the whole congre- 
gation wore a solemn and staid countenance, yet at home and 
hi converse with their neighbors, they had their jokes, told their 
stories, and, if some were well grown, were well received, and 
amid roars of laughter the social cup was filled, and good will 
and a friendly spirit prevailed. Life to them, they believed, 
"is what we^nake it"" and well did they act up to that 
true and often slighted maxim; visiting with them was a busi- 
ness; 12 o'clock was an early hour to break up; often 2 or 3 
w^as the hour to retire ; my young mind received and stored 
away their quaint and mirthful stories; witchcraft and the 
mysterious were set forth in glowing light; hobgoblins and 
ghosts were to me a living reality. A yoke of oxen and a sled 
with a high box would start out at sunset and stop at the first 
house, load in its occupants, go to the next and do the same 
till the sled was loaded with women, the men on foot, and then 
go for some friends' house, pile in and a glorious time was in 

store. 

Jacob Taylor occupied a kind of elevated position. Rich in 
this world's goods, and a man of good judgment and sense, 
was often appealed to in matters of difference between Friends 
and decisions were never appealed from. The Friends had 
their black sheep, as all societies do. Of course I do not wish 
to claim them exenii)t from human frailties. A case to illus. 

trate : 

A Friend took from another Friend a bushel of corn. Now 
that was a glaring offense against their laws ; the meeting took 
the matter up; a committee of investigation was appointed- 
The committee finally proposed to the parties to refer the 
whole case to " Friend " Taylor for settlement. Well on the 
first day after the meeting, the parties and a large portion of 



6o4 RECOr.LECTIONS OF CCM.I.IXS. 

the meetiiii^" repaired to Taylor's to hear the suit, for they 
knew that Jacob would make an interesting^ case of it. The 
trial began. Plaintiff called. 

Jacob says: Friend , did thee lose a bushel of thy 

corn ? Ans. I did. 

Where did thee keep the corn? Ans. In my crib. 

Jacob says : Thee may sit down. 

Defendant called. 

Did thee take a bushel of corn from Friend ? Ans. 

I did. 

Jacob says : Thee may be seated. 

Now what would Jacob do was the exciting theme of whis- 
pering ; but Jacob was ecjual to the emergency; he recalled 
plaintiff ; says he : 

Friend , did thee have thy crib locked ? Ans. I 

•did not. 

" Well," says the arbitrator. " the case is proven ; my decision 
is this : The crib being unlocked, the temptation too strong 
and an erring brother too v.eak ; therefore I must give a ver- 
dict of no cause of action — and friend, thee must keep thy crib 
locked." And amid roars of laughter in which both parties 
joined, the meeting adjourned and quietly went to their several 
homes, commenting on Jacob's novel decision and wondering 
if there ever was another such man as Friend Jacob in the 
world. 

The postoffice was at Taylor's Hollow, named Angola. A 
letter came from Vermont to Elijah Pratt, directed thus: 

To N. Y. state I am bound, 

Erie county, Collins town, 

To Elijah Pratt, among the hemlocks, 

A little above young Caleb Tarbox's. 

I ask pardon of the reader and will leave the subject for 
abler pens than mine. There is enough of early life that I 
have only touched to fill a volume ; I hope to see it filled and 
well filled too. 

E. R. S. W. S. 

In 1815, while the tide of emigration was setting towards the 
Holland Purchase, Isaac Allen, leaving his newly-married bride 



RECOI.I.l-X rioxs OK COLLINS. 605 

in Daub}-, \'t., where they had both been brought up, started 
to seek a liome in the West. 

He hired a man to accompany and work for him, and the two 
performed the journey on foot, carrying their knapsacks and 
axes. 

Passin<^ through Buffalo they " found the land dear, it being 
ten or twelve dollars an acre, and that in the vicinity of the 
creek and lake, swampy, covered with alders and black birds." 
They went on to tlie south part of the county, and there within 
one range of the Cattaraugus creek my father located land, and 
while his hired man was felling trees he walked to Batavia to 
make his purchase. 

That Summer the two men cleared off the timber from sev- 
eral acres and built a log house. 

To that house early the next spring he brought his wife and 
there., in the wilderness, the young couple commenced their 
humble house-keeping. He was twenty-two and she was 
twenty. 

Besides seeds for a vegetable garden a little corn was brought 
for planting, nor were the flower seeds forgotten. 

The house was unfinished, still wanting the chimney and 
door. A blanket was hung up to supply the place of the latter. 

My mother would sometimes be startled by a " ugh !" and, 
looking round, would see an Indian peering in where he had 
raised the corner of the blanket. Indians and squaws were the 
most frequent callers. 

Aaron Lindsley was the nearest neighbor — more than a mile 
away. 

The first year no corn ripened, it being "the cold year," 
remembered so well by all the old settlers. At that time live 
stock was very scarce, and it was with the greatest difficulty 
and by paj-ing the high price of seven dollars, that a small, raw- 
boned shoat was procured, which soon met with an untimely 
end. 

I have heard my mother relate that one day her husband 
was chopping down trees she heard one fall and listened, as 
was her custom, for the renewed sound ot the ax, by which 
token she knew that no accident had befallen the chopper, as 
sometimes happened to people in such work. But not hearing 



6o6 RECOLLECTIONS OF COLLINS. 

any sound she ran out and called, " Isaac, is anything the mat- 
ter?" "Yes," came the answer: "matter enough, the tree 
has fallen on the pig and killed it." 

The loss of one small pig seems so small a matter now as to 
be hardly worth mentioning, but it was more of a calamit}- to 
them than the loss of ten cows would have been in after years. 

My father bought his first cow of Peter Pratt. His son John, 
now an old man, thus tells of it : 

" Isaac Allen came and looked at my father's cows, seven or 
eight in number, and offered thirty-five dollars to be allowed 
his choice. The offer was accepted and Isaac walked up and 
laid his hand on the very best cow. I had never seen a cow 
sold for so high a price." 

The first year, the one hen hatched seventeen chickens, but 
several were destroyed by a weasel, which in turn, met his fate 
in a dead-fall set for him. 

For the first year or two much of the meat set upon the table 
was game from the woods. Pigeons and turkeys abounded ; 
one of the latter frequented the vicinity of the house and 
became so tame she would fly down and pick up corn thrown to 
her, but unfortunately she perished in the burning of a " fallow." 

One piece of game I have heard my father say, was a rac- 
coon, caught two or three years after he came to the country. 
The fowls, which were roosted in the log-barn were being taken, 
one by one,^until to save the rest he made a small fowl-house 
near his own, constructed of bass-wood logs, notched at the 
ends and^fitted so closely together that no animal larger than 
a cricket could get between. One night he was awakened by 
a great commotion among the poultry and running out was 
just in time^^to lay hold of the hind legs of a raccoon as he was 
escaping through a hole he had made in the thatched roof. 
Calling the^hired-man to assist the creature was soon killed and 
when dressed proved to be so plump and nice he was cooked 
and eaten^with a relish, as a substitute for the chickens he had 
fattened on. But^ father added to the story: "When I got 
better acquainted^with the animal I never wanted to eat another 
coon." 

One of the first labors, after getting the ground prepared,, 
was to set out an orchard. The watch was traded for a gua 



RKCol.l.KCTloNS OF COl.I.INS. 



607 



and one hnndrcd apple trees. They were a 1 small. '- /•' ^^^ 
not hiuher than a man's head, bi,t the see,.nd .,r thnd year thc> 
bore the first apples my mother tasted in the country. 

M;- father wai always very successftd in his tree.plantn,,.and 
fruit cnlturc, and until he was more than three score and ten 
vears of age, I think ver>- few seasons passed that he chd o 
■.„, ,„ „,,,,,,,, a single tree, or . bush of some so t that 
Luld bear fruit. Writing to me when he was fi ft>-e„h ye s 
old. he said -I have planted some two or three hnnd,e<l funt 
trees during" the last two years." 

The first" orchard was seedlings, but grafts of many excellent 
varieties were soon set, and bore before my remembrance. One 
varie.v was a curios.ty I never saw elsewhere-an apple part 
Greening and part Tolman Sweeting. 

He ba'd many varieties of peaches, plun,s, cl---.P-- -<^ 
all the fruits which before the country was denuded of ,ts forests 
grew and bore so abundantly. I have seen as A"-' 1'-'^-=^ 
From his trees as I ever saw offered in the Buffalo nrarke.s from 
the Delaware orchards .since. I might add t.-t h.s -a,, was 
raised for home consumption ; there was no market to whrch 
"could have taken it had he desired, but .t was g.ven away 
o^t freely, and while he gave he exhorted '- -'^'^^0- J" 
cultivate for themselves, and when gnang a basket o caches 
I have heard him say. "Now be s„n- thee plan s the stones 
I remember hearing an elderU- man. in answer tj, my athe 
recommendation to plant an °-"-d- ->■' ^^^J,' ':f; ^^ "", 

.1 1..." Tlif^ renV was. v\ e 1. no mailer II 

live to eat the apples. 1 he repi) wa». 

thee don't : somebody else will." ,,,:|Jr,.n from 

Father used to say that the best way to keep ^"f ' '"; 

stealing fruit was to give then, plent>- at home, and that par- 
ents were at fault who did not strive to do so. 

Though at firs, ncghbors were so scattered and far apart 
opportnmties were found for kn,dly offices towards each oth . 
M . mother always spoke in the warmest terms of he k ,1- 
ness anil pleasant ways to her. In speakmg of those early 
"mes. ".Aunt Susie." as every one called her, used to say, 
" I and ' we was all like sisters them days. 

Thou.dr m^■ mother w as so young when she began her house- 
keepingrshe 'took to her new home the best linen tablecloths and 



6o8 RECOLLECTIONS OF COLLINS. 

towels of her own manufacture, coverlids and blankets of her 
own spinnin<^ and weaving. 

In all this work of the wheel and loom she was veryr skillful, 
and for many years all the wearing apparel as well as the bed- 
ding for her increasing family was home-made. 

Any financial success to which my father achieved was as 
much due to his wife's industry, frugality and economy as to 
his own out-door management. 

At first, there must have been some scarcity in the larder, 
but my mother possessed a peculiar knack to make her plainest 
dishes savory. Garden or wild herbs were made to serve for 
spices. " Greens " and wild berries were found in their season. 
The candles, the soap and almost everything used for food as 
well as clothing were home products. A substitute for soda 
was found in the lye made from cob-ashes, and if any one now 
has nicer short-cake or soda biscuits, more delicious butter or 
finer Linden honey " in the honey-comb," than was seen on m)- 
mother's table, may I be there to cat. 

Before my remembrance the days of scarcity had passed. 
Poultry, fresh mutton and veal, besides beef and pork, made 
variety through the year. Fruit was abundant and though 
canning was unknown, there were such changes of dried and 
preserved as left no lack. Of milk and cream, the food of all 
foods for children, and for the \\ant of which they grow up 
puny and small-boned, there was neither lack nor stint — neither 
of butter and cheese. 

One who was a boy in 1816, told the following in 1881 : 

" I went with an elder brother to lay a stick-chimney, the 
lower part of stones, for Mr. Allen. His wife was a little mite 
of a woman but she got us the best dinner I had ever seen, and 
it was always a mystery to me how she did it when every one 
had so little to do with." 

No doubt the lad's appetite was good sauce, but there are 
others who can testify to my mother's good dinners when she 
had a greater variety to select from, and to the open-handed, 
generous hospitality that characterized both of my parents, 
whether in the log-house or in the larger house next built. 

The friend, the wayfarer and the stranger found a welcome ; 
the homeless and the fugitive from slavery rejoiced to enter. 



RECOI.LKCTIONS OF COLLINS. 609 

I never saw but one person turned from the door and he was 
an " old codger," in present parlance, a tramp. My father had 
ridden up on horse-back just in time to see tlie man enter the 
house. Finding it occupied only by women and children, he 
commenced to use profane and obscene language, which father, 
coming in quickh', oxerheard. Walking towards the man and 
making some significant gestures with his riding-whip, he said : 
" Thee sees that door; walk out of it." My father was not a 
small man, and he was strongly and well built. The fellow did 
not " stand upon his going." 

Medicinal herbs and roots were ahva}-s kept on hand for use, 
and the doctor was seldom seen. 

The next year after house-keeping began the first child was 
born, and nearly e\'er\- two years another was added to the 
family until the eighth and best beloved. Two sons and five 
daughters lived to marr}- and find homes of their own. 

The log-house which sheltered the young couple, held the 
family for more than a dozen years. True it was a little en- 
larged by a stoop which served for a dining-room in Summer 
and the chamber of an outside cheese-house made more room for 
beds ; but I have often marveled since how we were all made 
so happ}' and comfortable in such close quarters, though then 
we seemed to have room enough. 

Not least among the remembered pleasures are the Winter 
evenings spent around the great open fire-place. The making 
of those fires was a work of labor as well as skill. The late after- 
noon was the time for renewing, after the fire had been allowed 
to burn down. Then the andirons were pulled forward and all 
the brands, coals and ashes scraped from the chimney in a close 
heap. Out of doors a clevis, an iron instrument, shaped like a 
deep U, with sharp ends, was driven into the prepared back-log 
four to eight feet long and eighteen inches or two feet in diam- 
eter ; a chain was hooked into the clevis, the log hauled into 
the house and with the aid of a hand-spike rolled close to the 
chimney. On top of that a back-stick of smaller dimensions 
was placed, and frequently a third stick was added to the 
top of that. The andirons were put in place, a large, green 
fore-stick laid on, and the wood piled on cob-fashion most 



TO 



RPXT)LLKC'TI()\S oK COLLINS. 



unstintingly, the brands and coals ])ut under and the hearth 
swept with a sphnt broom. 

(3, those glorious fires I Children of the present da}- warm- 
ing their feet over a black hole in the floor or sitting b}' the 
most artistic base-burner, can have little idea of the pleasure 
and cheer that filled the room and glowed upon all its occu- 
pants. That great pile all aflame, the smoke and sparks float- 
ing up the wide-mouthed chimney, the pictures that came and 
went in the glowing coals, ever changing, ever renewing them- 
selves in brighter forms, were sights that never i)alled on the 
eyes of children. 

On the wide, stone-hearth we cracked our \\alnuts and but- 
ternuts or roasted our chestnuts in the embers. 

The great pewter platter flanked on either side by plates of 
the same metal, shone like burnished silver on the cupboard 
shelf as the}' were turned up edgewise, displaying their largest 
surfaces. 

Little need was there b\' that fire of lamp or candle to read 
the newspapers, of which there was one in the da}'s of my 
earliest remembrance. I cannot remember its name, but I 
know it was printed in Buffalo ; was Whig in politics, and was 
wonderfull}' entertaining from the President's message to the 
last advertisement in doggerel rhymes. 

During the first years of my father's residence in the coun- 
try he was captain of the militia compan}' of Collins, but his 
ideas of war and militar}' life altogether underwent a decided 
change, when his heart was renewed b}' grace, and he appre- 
hended the teaching of Christ. This change took place among 
a band of devoted Methodist people, though he never united 
with them, but joined the Friends and lived and died a mem- 
ber. The wife had been born of Quaker parents, and 
brought up a Friend. My father talked \-er}' little about his 
religious opinions, and was very charitable towards the opinions 
of others, saying, " He can't be wrong whose life is in the 
right." 

" By their fruits ye shall know them." His honest, upright 
dealing, his generous sympathy for the need}- and suffering- 
were among his strong characteristics. The willingness to suf- 
fer wrong rather than resent it, or even to defend his own 



RKCOl.I.KCrinNS OF C( )I.I.I.\S. 6l I 

ri<;hts was sonicthini;- rciiKirkablc. lie was the friend and 
counselor of peoj)le in very different circumstances and ranks 
in life. Tlie business man sought his opinion of crops, cattle 
and lands. Parties in domestic trouble came to him for coun- 
sel, while the )-oung entrusted him with their l<jve secrets. 

Several times during my father's first years in the countr)^ he 
taught Winter schools with such decided success as to show 
that he might have been \ery useful had he made a profession 
of teaching. He possessed in an eminent degree the four most 
important natural gifts for a teacher : An agreeable presence ; 
a more than ordinary love and fondness for the young; an in- 
tense and abiding love of knowledge, and ability to cc^mmuni- 
cate what he knew to others. 

I have always been thankful that he was ni)- first instructor. 
Teaching in his own district when I was four }'ears old, I was 
carried in his strong arms or rode pick-a-back, while my brother 
and sister older walked before, through the tall pine forest, and 
as we thee 'd and thou 'd by the wa)- the lessons I learned 
were, 1 have no doubt, as profitable as what in school extended 
from A B C to "crucifix" in Webster's old spelling book. 

My father was a ver)- close observer of nature. I used to 
think he could most truh' forecast the weather from the morn- 
ing's observations. He knew all the trees of the forest, the 
plants of the fields, and the birds and ]i\ing things were a study 
and a delight to him. I never knew one who seemed to live as it 
were in sympathy with all God's creation more than he. 

When very old and feeble, he would sit for hours on the \-er- 
andah feeding the birds w ith crumbs or looking^out upon the 
trees and fields. 

I once asked him what he saw there to amuse him so long. 
Pointing to the fir-trees, he answered in Whittier's words, I see 

" How the robin rears her young, 
And how ihe oriole's nesi is hung. 

The house was built before an}' roads were laid out, and the 
nearest was finally made half a mile away, but the quiet life 
was not altogether wanting in stirring incidents. 

On one occasion, my mother had sent her eldest child eight 
or nine years of age, to a neighbor's on an errand. He" went 



6l2 RECOLLECTIONS OE COLLINS. 

by a "blazed " path through the woods. When it was about 
the time he would be likely to return there came up the most 
terrific storm of wind and rain that had been known there- 
Large trees were torn up by the roots and blown down in all 
directions. The father was away and not expected home. 
After the storm subsided the mother looked anxiously for the 
absent boy's return, but darkness set in without any tidings 
of him. 

The hired man was urged to go and ascertain whether the 
child had started for home before the storm commenced, but 
he declared the path must be so blocked up with fallen trees, 
it would be impossible to find the way by night. 

But to the mother there was no rest, and no impossibility to 
finding the way, along which her first-born might lie crushed 
and bleeding under a fallen tree, or having lost his way, might 
be exposed not only to the damp chills of night, but to wolves 
or panthers. So leaving her other children asleep she took her 
lantern — -not the glass globe of the present day, illuminated 
with kerosene — -but a lantern of perforated tin enclosing a sin- 
gle tallow-dipped candle, liable to be blown out by a too sud- 
den gust of wind, and there were no lucifer matches to take 
along for relighting. Thus equipped she went through the 
woods along the path, climbing over fallen trees, searching 
under their broken branches, stopping ever and anon to call 
Daniel I Daniel ! but only the echoes and the night sounds of 
the great forest replied. The woods passed, the open fields 
were soon crossed, to find the child detained by the kindly- 
meaning neighbors who realized the dangers of the way more 
than the mother's anxiety. The return was more quickly per- 
formed, and midnight found her quieting her hungry baby. 

For a long time after the settlement of the country the 
cleared land formed a very small part of its area, and wild ani- 
mals continued to be troublesome. My father had several hogs 
carried off by bears. One night when a cow had been shut in 
a high log pen with the sheep, the inmates of the house were 
startled by the noise of the cow-bell. Father reached the pen 
in time to hear a great scrambling as of some large animal get- 
ting^'over the logs, but it was impossible to see anything in the 
pitch darkness. The creature threw off some of the logs as it 



Riaoi.i.iaiioNs OK coi.i.iNs. 613 

went, aiul the C(nv. as if beside herself with frii^ht, jumped out 
and ran with all her niiii^ht off into the woods, until the sound 
of her bell died away in the distance. Morning- lii^ht revealed 
the tracks of a ver)- Iari;"e bear. 

When speakin;j; of wild animals, I ha\'e heard father lau^h- 
in^i}' sa\- that thi)LiL;li he had met with woK'es, bears and many 
other denizens of the woods, his t^reatest fright was from a 
screech-owl that suddenly called out just over his head as he 
was walking alone under the trees one dark night. The first 
thought was of a panther. 

Year by year the clearing of the land went on, sometimes let 
out by the job at a fixed price per acre. Often a chopper was 
hired by the month, and worked all winter. I remember lis- 
tening to the regular strokes of the axe as it was laid not to 
the roots, but to the trunk of the tree two or three feet from 
the ground, and it was with no little interest that I watched for 
that unmistakable quivering and crackling in the top that be- 
tokened the " tottering, crashing, thundering to the ground." 
What was not made into saw-logs and firewood w\as left for the 
burning, which usually took place the latter part of May when 
the adjoining forest had put on its full panoply of leaves. 
Then on a still, clear da}' fires were set, and smoke and flame 
went up as from a burning city. I once saw twenty acres 
burned over at once, part of it on a farm adjoining my father's, 
and wood enough was consumed to ha\'e brought quite a little 
fortune if it could hava b^en weighed out and sold by the 
pound for firew^ood, as I have since seen it in other countries. 

I do not remember much of my father's hunting except of 
bees. This was a quiet pastime which he seemed to enjoy long 
after he had many hives full at home. He was very successful 
in raising bees, and great quanties of honey were consumed on 
his table, but in those days people had not learned how to pro- 
cure the honey without killing the bees, and this was done by 
loosening the surface of the ground a yard square and inserting 
four pine sticks, to the upper ends of which were inserted rags 
dipped in melted sulphur. 

A cool evening was the time chosen. Two men, stopping 
up the holes in the hive quietly lifted and set it down over the 
prepared place, just as a third person had ignited the sulphur. 



6l4 RFXOLLECTIONS OF COLLINS. 

The earth was thrown up a little around the edges of the hive 
and it was knocked and thumped until the poor bees fell down 
suffocated with the gas. This was called "taking up a swarm 
of bees." 

When the older children were young we were accustomed to 
use the plain language and at the same time we were trained t:) 
show proper respect to superiors and elders; we were not 
allowed to use vain compliments — No, sir, or ma'm to our yes 
and no. 

When my elder sister and myself were just entering our 
teens, a dancing-master, who was organizing a class in Gowanda, 
in canvasing for pupils, called at our house, Making known 
his errand, his statements were politely listened to, while he 
dwelt upon the great improvement in manners likely to result 
from his instructions. Father replied : " No doubt thee thinks 
so, but can thee engage that their morals will be improved 
also?" We were not sent to dancing-school. 

I have heard persons of. the first generation brought up in 
Collins, bewail their want of advantages as compared with the 
present youth. But was there not some compensation? Phys- 
ically, in the abundance of fresh, unadultered food and the more 
simple habits of life, and, mentally, in the necessity of doing 
something for themselves ? 

True, the young men and maidens could not take the evening 
train for the city, hear the last new Prima Donna and be home 
before morning. But who shall say that their pleasures were 
not as keenly enjoyed, or as conducive to happiness ? Mayhap 
they rode to a " paring bee," after a yoke of oxen ; their toilets 
probably gave as little anxiety as is now experienced b}' the 
wearers of more expensive ones. But did they not fall in love 
and marry without ever thinkino^ of diamond engagement-rings 
or bridal veils, " imported for the occasion"? 

By the time the family exchanged the log-house for a new 
one on the public road the tillable land had increased both by 
clearing and purchase, until much work was to be done ; and 
as the mowers, reapers and cultivators and other labor-saving 
machines of the present day were not in use, many more hand.s 
were required than would' be necessary for the same work now. 



KECOIJ.KCTIONS OF COI.I.IXS. 615 

Six or cit^ht men suingin^^ their scythes together is a ])leas- 
iint si>4"ht to look upon, whatever it ina\' be to the actors. 

Indoors, cheese and bvitter-makinL;- went on : there were hired 
spinners and wea\'ers to make up the wool from tlie flock and 
workers to cook and spread the table for all. And besides 
these there were visitors, comers and Ljoers more in those times 
u hen e\er\' one traxelcd in his own con\-e}\'ince, than now. 

To partake in tliese labors, to plan and direct either in-doors 
or out made drafts upon nerve and brain. But I forbear to go 
on in what was but the common life of so man\^at that ]:)eriod. 

Towards the closing x-ears of m)' father's life I asked him to 
write out his early e.xperience. He said there was nothing 
worth writing ; there were no startling incidents, no important 
events, that he had merely gone on from da}- to da}- trying to 
do the best he could and that was all. Rut for some years 
before his death his trembling hand refused to guide the pen 
and rhe writing was carried on b}- my mother who kept 
up cjuite an extensi\-e correspondence with absent children, 
grandchildren and others. This with the culti\ation of flowers 
occupied much of her time. 

My parents lived to see great changes in their own and other 
lands, of which their fondness for reading kept them informed. 
They greatl}- rejoiced in all reforms for the benefit of mankind. 
Father said, "The world is growing better, this or that evil is 
being done away." Always interested in politics, he went to 
the polls until the last election day of his life, when four gener- 
ations cast in Rej:)ublican tickets. 

Rejoicing in all that brought peace and good-will to man- 
kind, my parents went down the hill of life and finished their 
course in 1879: carried to their graves from the same farm 
where had been their home sixty-four }-ears. Mother was 
eighty-four and father, who died two months later, near eighty- 
six. 

Ma}- those who remain cherish their memory and emulate 
their virtues. 

Mrs. D. C. A. St()1)I>.\ri). 

Isaac Allen, the subject of the above sketch, was born Aug. 
26. 1793, in Uanby, Rutland count}-, Vt. His father, Zoeth 



6i6 



THE ALLEN FAMILY. 



Allen, served in the Revolutionary war. His mother was Jane 
Harper. He was married May 25, i8i5,to Lydia Bartlett, 
who was born in Cumberland, R. I., April 25, 1795. 

In June, 181 5, he came to Collins, then Concord, Niagara 
county. In July of the same year, he walked to Batavia, and 
took an article of 220 acres of land, on which he built a log" 
cabin. He then walked back to Vermont, and in the Winter 
of 1 8 16, moved his wife and goods with a wagon and two 
horses to his new home — the journey occupying twenty-three 
days' actual travel. 

In this home, their first child, Daniel, was born April 28, 



/ ' 



-X 



'% m. ^^ 1^ 







ISAAC ALLEN. 



1 8 17. He married Eleanor Wells, whom he survives. They 
had four children : Sarah Jane, who died at the age of fourteen 
years; Walter W. and Alice, who died April, 1881, and 
Leonard D., who moved to the State of Michigan, where he 
now lives. 

Mary Allen, born April 11, 1819, was married to Benjamin 
P. Wells, who survives her. They had three children : Isaac 
A., Arestene C, and Mary Josephine. 

Drucilla C. Allen, born June 18, 1821, married Rev. Ira Stod- 
dard. They went to the Province of Assam in India, as 



TIIK ALLEN FAMILY 



6l7 



missionaries, where they remained about nine years. They then 
returned and after a few years went back to their missionary 
Avork. Mrs. Stoddard stayed three years and Mr. Stoddard six 
years, their health not permitting;' them to remain Ioniser in 
that warm, unhealthy climate. They have three chiklren : 
Bertha, Klla and Ira J(>\-, all born in India. They now live in 
Pella, Iowa. 

Jane Allen born March 13, 1814. Died at about two years 
of age. 

Joshua Allen, born March 10, 1826; attended select school 
in Gowanda and Gowanda Union school ; was married to Eme- 
linc Etsler, daughter of Archibald Etsler. She was born in 




Liberty, Frederick county, Md., Nov. i, 1830. They have five 
children : Charles E., Myron H., R. Harper, Eva and Clara M. 
Mr. Allen is a dair\' farmer, lix'cs on the old homestead of three 
hundred acres ; has been Assessor ten }-ears. 



Westi-ikli), N. Y., Aug. 10, 1882. 
Erasnms Briggs, Esq. 

Dear Sir: — Agreeable to \'our rec]uest, I write to sa}- that 
my father, the late Ralph Plumb, was born in Sauquoit, Onei- 
da county, N. Y., in the \ear 1795, and was the si.xth child in 



6l8 THE LATE RALPH i'LUMH. 

a family of seven sons and three daughters. His father, Joseph 
Plumb, with his mother Mary, came from Middletown, Conn., 
a short time previous to his birth, and were among the first 
settlers of Oneida county. His father died, I think, in 1807. 
and left him with four others, with their mother on a small 
farm, the older children having previously left home. 

My father was thus at twelve years old left with the care of 
out-door matters. He remained at home, working the farm 
Summers and attending school Winters, until fifteen or sixteen 
years old, when he entered a small country store in his native 
town as clerk. 

During the War of 18 12-15, Seth Grosvenor, of the firm of 
Grosvenor & Heacock, doing a general dry goods business in the 
then Village of Buffalo, while on his return from New York, 
stopped at New Hartford, near Utica, and there met my father 
and made a bargain with him to come to Buffalo and engage 
with the firm of which he, Grosvenor, was a member. After 
the close of the War, he established himself in trade on his own 
account in Buffalo, on the northeast corner of what is now Main 
and Seneca streets. After a successful year of business, he was 
induced by his older brother Joseph to leave Buffalo and go 
with him to Fredonia, where they went into the goods business- 
as partners. This was in 181 7. 

In 18 18, my father was married to Perthenia Hudson at the 
residence of her brother-in-law, Hon. Daniel G. Garnsey, in 
Fredonia. About a year later — 1819 — I was born at Akron, 
Ohio, where my father was temporarily attending to a branch 
of the firm's business there. Some time in 1821 or 1822, the 
business of J. & R. Plumb was closed up at Fredonia, and in 
March, 1823, my father came to the present village of Gowanda, 
then known as " Aldrich Mills." He purchased a lot of the 
Aldrichs, upon which a frame had been erected. This he fin- 
ished for a store with an addition for a residence ; while build- 
ing he occupied a small log house, which had been used for a 
cooper shop by the owner, John Strang, on the farm now 
owned by Dr. John F. Allen, opposite the old cemetery. The 
Summer or Fall of 1823, the first store of goods was opened on 
the lot on Perry street now owned bj' the heirs of Brazil Coon. 
At this time, the population consisted of the old man Turner 



TllK I.AIK RAI.l'll IMAM 15. 6ig 

Aldrich,, Turner Jr., Merrill and Isaac, sons. Subrina Adams, 
Horace Stewart and James West, sons-in-law, with their fami- 
lies, and a few others, amon^ whom were Wilson Adams, John 
Strang, Parker Dailey, ElncKMi Palmer, on the east side of the 
creek, and Thomas b^irnsworth, Dan Allen, Benjamin Water- 
nian. (iabriel Strani^, and Daniel Wheeler on the west side. 
The old man Aldrich had, previous to my father's coming, 
given each of his sons and daughters a farm. I should have 
previously stated that Turner Aldrich, Sr., came to this place 
about 1810, from the Connecticut valley, and purchased of the 
Holland Land company seven hundred acres of land, embrac- 
ing nearly all of the valley now included in the Village of 
Gowanda, on both sides of the Cattaraugus creek. Merrill had 
what is now known as the Slocum farm, on the west side ; Tur- 
ner Jr., the south part of lots thirty-six and thirty-seven ; Isaac, 
the central part of thirt}--eight fronting east on Buffalo street, 
his first house standing on the lot north and adjoining L. M. 
Pitcher's, and he after vvards built the brick and stone house 
now occupied by U. Ribbel. James West had the land oppo- 
site Isaac, known now as the old distillery lot on lot thirty-six ; 
.Subina Adams, the land immediately north of Isaac and West's ; 
Horace Stewart, the north part of lots thirty-seven and thirty- 
eight, now owned by his son Freeman. Uncle John Strang was 
located between Adam and Stewart's. Thomas Farnsworth 
settled on a small farm located between Merrill Aldrich and 
Dan Allen, his house standing near the railroad depot, fronting 
the creek. Gabriel Strang had the grove, and lived in a log 
house fronting the creek, near where Albert G. Barker's family 
reside. Benjamin Waterman had the farm now bearing his 
name, in the northwest part of the village, and built his first 
house of logs, near the mouth of Thatcher brook. 

Before m}' father's ccvming, the Aldrich's had built a brush 
■dam near the present one, and erected a grist and saw-mill 
near where the axe factory is now located. The grist-mill was 
.a mere shell with one run of rock stone, without bolts, smut- 
ting or other appendages of a flouring mill. My father soon 
purchased the mill j^roperty and the contiguous land, so as to 
■control the entire water power. He at once entered upon the 
M'ork of building a j)ermanent dam, the work of which is still 



620 THE LATE RATJ'H I'LUMH. 

standing, digging the race, finishing the flouring mill, putting" 
in good machinery, with two run of French buhr stone. Zimri 
Howe, then a young man employed in a mill at Rochester, 
was hired to come on and take charge of the mill, which he con- 
tinued to do for nearly forty years. 

Soon Amasa L. Chafee and his brother-in-law Alvin Bugbee 
came on from Attica, and started a carding and cloth-dressing 
establishment near the ruins of the woolen factory which they 
run for some years, and then sold out to father and Asahel 
Camp, who subsequently built the woolen factory which was 
burned in the great fire of 1856. 

The present furnace and foundry owned by Sellew & Popple 
occupies the site of Vosburgh & Locke's blacksmith shop and 
Elisha and Thomas Henry's tub and pail factory. 

The first school-house was built on the site of Peter Rink's 
block, in 1824, and the first school opened in that year, taught 
by Noble VVeller. My education was commenced in that school 
at its opening, at the age of five j'ears. 

During the year 1823, religious meetings were held in the 
chamber of father's store, by traveling Methodist ministers. 
with an occasional sermon from a Congregational and Presby- 
terian minister. After the school-house was finished, in 1824, 
that was used on the Sabbath for religious meetings by the dif- 
ferent denominations for several years. The Methodists soon 
organized a church, and the Presbyterians another about two 
years later, I think in 1827, of which my father and mother be- 
came members ; both societies continued to occupy the school- 
house for their meetings until they both built churches, in 
1834, the first Presbyterian church having been built on the 
site of their present one. The first was burned in 1842, 
and the present one was erected the same year. The Metho- 
dists built the one now occupied by the old society known as. 
the M. E. Church. The Baptists had an organization for a 
time, but they never built a church'. The F"ree Methodist 
society is a comparatively new organization which was effected 
mainly by the efforts of Titus Roberts, who paid most of the 
expenses of erecting their meeting-house. 

The old man Aldrich antl his son Turner sold the most of 
their lands to my father, as did James West; Isaac sold outta 



I III-: i.AlK RAl.l'lI I'l.LMI!. 621 

various parties, and Merrill soon followed, all i^oing to Michi- 
gan, where they all died. 

My father, soon after starting his store, built an ashery where 
the ashes of the timber of the new settlement was made into 
pot ash and the black salts into pearl ash. This was a large 
business in the carl\- days. When the farmers were clearing 
their farms, and black salts the only thing at one time that 
would command cash; Later, he built a distillery to work up 
the coarse grain, which he was obliged to take for goods for 
years he received but little money for goods, but was obliged 
to take all kinds of produce, cattle and hogs. The coarse grains 
were worked into whisky and the refuse and slop fed to the 
stock. The wheat was floured and all sent to New York and 
Canada, where it was turned into money. His business was 
very laborious. For years, he was the first man up in the vil- 
lage and the last in bed. In addition to his own business he 
was the pack-horse for the whole community — doing much of 
the conveyancing, drawing of contracts, filling out applications 
for pensions and collecting pensions for most of the pensioners 
of the Revolution and War of 181 2. 

He was Supervisor of Collins for fifteen years, during which 
time he was several times chairman of the board, and Member 
of Assembly in 1835. Later, he was Sheriff of Erie county. 

From about 1842, to the time of his death, which occurred 
Feb. 7, 1865, the business was done in the name of R. Plumb & 
Son ; the last ten years of his life, he gave the most of his time 
to the improvement and management of his farms, the most 
of which were stocked with cows. At the time of his death, 
the firm owned, rented to tenants ten dairy farms, stocked with 
about four hundred and fifty cows. After my father's death, I 
sold the flouring mill to John H. White, who now owns and runs 
it in connection with C. C. Torrance. The saw mill, carding 
machine, planing mill, and the balance of the water power, 
with the land connected with it ; I sold to Ansel F. Conger 
later sales; sold my father's old residence to Mr. Conger, who 
has recently sold it to E. W. Henry. In the Spring of 1870, 
after having sold the most of my other village property, I sold 
my residence to C. C. Torrance, Esq., and removed to Buffalo, 



■622 THE LATE RALI'H PLUMB. 

where I continued to reside until the Spring^ of 1873, when 1 
came to .Westfield, where I now reside. 

The great fire occurred April 30, 1856, commencing;" in the 
tub and pail factory, on the east side of the creek, where Sellew 
& Popple's foundr)' is now located, communicating with the 
old furnace adjoining on the north, thence to the woolen fac- 
tory on the south, burning the buildings named and the factory 
boarding house, the old store formerly owned and occupied by 
R. Plumb & Son, the old grist mill, and the saw mill adjoin- 
ing, E. W. Henry's residence and store, the bridge crossing the 
Cattaraugus creek, all the buildings fronting on the square west 
of the bridge, including the two hotels known as the Mansion 
House and the Baker House, continuing up West Main street, 
as far as the brick and stone ofifice on the north side of 
the street, and on the south side as far as Delia Waterman's 
residence, thus destroying in its course, all the stores, hotels, 
and places of business in the village, except the Plumb block 
of stores on the east side of the creek, and the old Eagle tavern 
now occupied b)' Fisher, on the corner of Buffalo and Perry 
streets. The value of the property destroyed, buildings, goods, 
furniture, machinery, &c., was estimated at one hundred thous- 
and dollars, a small part of which was covered b}' insurance. 
The names of the owners of the property burned, were as fol- 
lows as near as I remember : On the Erie county side, furnace, 

A. E. Sellew & Co. ; pail and tub factory, ; woolen 

factory, Asahel Camp ; Plumb's store, Gideon Webster ; mills, 
R. Plumb & Son ; Henr}''s residence and store, li. W. Henry ; 
west side, or Cattaraugus side, stores : Porter Welch, Zimri 
W^arner, Dr. J. S. Shugart, Amasa L. Chaffee, A. R. Sellew, 
Charles Rollinson, H. N. Hooker, D. W. Brown, W. H. Sun- 
derlin, Leander Orr, Mr. Badger, Hiram Palmer, do not recollet 
all. Barker House, kept by Michael H. Barker: Mansion House, 
kept by Seley Blackney ; several machine shops, including 
Henry Dawnsons wagon shop and William Danber's black- 
smith shop; also the residences of H. Morgan, Ji^hn Pierce, 
and one built b}- Alfred Johnson. The first village name was 
^' Lodi," after the one in Flurope. The present name " Gowan- 
da," was applied to the \alle\- b\- the Indians at an earl\- da)% 
.-ind signifies "a valle\' among the hills. J. H. Pr.UMH. 



nil-; I'l.iMi; iamiia'. 623 

Joseph H. I'lunibwasniarriccl in tlic Cit\- of Buffalo, Aug. 10, 
1842, to Lorctta J. Runisc)-, they have four children, three sons 
and one daughter, name and time of birth as follows: 

Ralph H., born Sept. 20, 1S45. 

Fayette R., born Ma\- 10, 1848. 

Kllen Josephine, born Feb. 10, 1851. 

(ieorge E., born April 13, 1862. 

Ralph H. riumb is a resident of Buffalo, engaged in the 
business of manufacturing carriage bolts, nuts, &c.. under the 
firm name of Plumb, Hurdick & Barnard. 

Fayette R. Plumb is engaged in the business of manufact- 
uring hammers, hatchets, edge tools. &c., in the City of Phila- 
delphia, and is of the firm of Yerkes & Plumb. 

E. Josephine Plumb is now the wife of William Dodman, of 
New York city, who is in the hardware business, of the firm of 
Dodman & Burke. 

George E. Plumb is a minor, and at present employed by 
Plumb, Burdick & Barnard, in Buffalo. 

Mrs. Pathenia Plumb, widow of Ralph Plumb, died at the 
residencj of her son, J. H. Plumb, in Westfield. N. Y., July 
22, 18^2. aged eight}'-five years. 

About 1840, J. H. Plumb, was elected Colonel of the 169th 
Regiment, of the New York State Militia, with Samuel Bab- 
cock. Lieutenant-Colonel, and Mr. Willett, Major. A few years 
later a Brigadier-General was to be elected, and Mr. Plumb 
recjived a large majority of the votes cast for that ofificc, but 
being present he declined to accept the position on account of 
his youiili (rather an uncommon thing for a young man to do). 
He represented the Town of Collins on the Board of Super 
visors seven years, and was Member of Assembly in i860, and 
again in 1867. 

The Gowanda grist mill was built about 1847, ^^as sold to 
John H. White. May i, 1868, and in June the same year, 
White sold it to Torrance & Allen Clark, Torrance bought out 
Clark in 1867. Torrance sold to De Witt C. Hoover in 1879, 
and he run it about a year and sold to White & Torrance, who 
now own and run it. 



624 THE FIRST FRAME HOUSE. 

FACTS AS TO HISTORY OF COLLINS AND VICINITV. 

Collins Center is situated principally on lot forty-eight, 
township six, range eight, and on the westerly part of the lot. 

In the year 18 10, Stephen Wilbur, Joshua Palmerton and 
Stephen Peters, built a cabin at Collins Center and went to 
keeping bachelor hall. Stephen Wilbur located and settled on 
the farm about a mile west of Collins Center, now owned and 
occupied by his grandson, Robert Wilbur. 

Peters located and settled on the hill just above the school 
house, about a half mile east of Collins Center, the shanty built 
and temporarily occupied by Wilber Palmerton and Peters 
being abandoned. 

Mr. Joseph Wood bought the westerly 125 acres of lot forty- 
eight, and took his deed from the Holland Land company 
Sept. I, 1 8 19. On that parcel subsequently grew up what has 
become Collins Center, though of late years it has been grow- 
ing easterly and westerly from it. Wood sold the east sixt)- 
acres of his farm soon after to Yeomans Merritt, and Merritt 
■on the 17th day of June, 1822, sold out the same to John C. 
Adams. The latter was a blacksmith, and at once built his 
shop and commenced doing work for the settlers about him. 
That was undoubtedly the germ from which has grown the 
present thriving village, the shop serving as a magnet to draw 
business to itself and make its location a central point. Adams 
rented his farm and carried on his trade at Lodi, now Gowanda, 
in the years 1826 and 1827, but went back to his farm in 1828, 
and again started his business there. 

James Parkinson had purchased Wood's farm, and in 1828 
built the dam and erected a saw mill there. 

A postoffice was established there in 1828; John C. Adams 
was made the postmaster, and the ofifice took the name of Col- 
lins Center, which name the village has since borne. 

About this time Parkinson built a fulling mill near his saw 
mill, and Mr. Daniel Shepardson, a retired, worn-out Metho- 
dist minister, bought a lot and built the first frame house in the 
village, the one now owned by Mrs. Perry. 

In 1829 Mr. Samuel Lake, then seemingly a man of middle 
life, though now a resident of Buffalo and still giving some 



OUKJINAl. INHAIU TANTS OK COI.I.INS. 625 

attention to business, built a frame store for Harry H. Matte- 
son, now of Buffalo. Matteson moved into the store and 
opened trade Jan. I, 1830. The store built by Lake is a part 
of the store now occupied by Bates & White. Matteson con- 
tinued in business there about two years and then moved away. 
Adams then (juit liis blacksmithing, formed a {partnership with 
Nathaniel Kniijht and opened there a general country store, 
• Knight retiring from the partnership after about a year. 

About 1H35 Chauncey Bigelow, backed up by Phineas Spen- 
cer, of Lodi (now Gowanda), purchased the Matteson store and 
lot, and opened up a general country store, and in 1836 Adams 
sold out to Bigelow & Spencer his farm, and removed firsi; to 
Wayne count}', N. Y., and soon after to Kent. Ohio, where he 
died in 1847. 

Bigelow continued trade there several years, then removed to 
Wisconsin. His successors in trade in the Matteson store were 
Nathaniel F"rank, then Cornelius Smith, then Thomas Russell, 
then S. C. Adams and S. T. White, then S. T. White, S. T. 
White & Co., and Bates & White, which brings the old original 
store down to the present date. During this time and about 
1848 George H. Hodges built his store. Mr. Mugridge built 
his store about 1848, and other places of business have since 
crept in to make the village what it now is. 

James Parkinson converted his saw mill over into a grist mill ; 
from that has merged a tannery, in its present shape. 

The original inhabitants of Collins Center, those who made 
up. the town when in its incipient stage, were the families of 
John C. Adams James Parkinson, Lemuel H. Wood, Jona- 
than Irish. Erastus B. Mack, Joseph B. Mack, Mr. Randall, 
William L. Mosier, Daniel Shepardson, Dr. Israel Congdon, 
Edmund P. Palmer and John B. Peasle\-. 

Of the Adams family, all sons : 

G. R. C, a farmer, resides at Galesburgh, Mich. 

Samuel C, an attorney, resides at Buffalo. 

Ezra C, a physician, resides at Alamo, Mich. 

Chauncey C, a farmer, resides at Riley Center, Kas. 

Of James Parkinson's family : 

George, a farmer, resides near Gowanda. 

Daniel, his oldest, is dead. 
26 



626 EARLY SETTLERS. 

E. B. and J. B. Mack moved West, and Joseph B. Mack 
resides at Kent, O. 

Randall was an old man, a revolutionary soldier and pen- 
sioner, and died long ago. 

Mosier had sons and daughters : 

Charles, the oldest, a farmer, resided in Collins until his 
death, which happened recently. 

His other sons died or went west and settled. .Shepardson 
sold out to Congdon and removed years ago. 

Dr. Congdon was the first physician of the place ; died there 
about 1845 ^nd left no children. 

Palmer carried on boot and slioe-m iking there for a number 
of years; now is a farmer in Evans, in this count}'. 

Peasley sold out to Palmer and located on what is known as 
the Breakers, on Cattaraugus creek ; died some years ago, leav^- 
ing daughters ; one a widow Beverly, now of Collins Center, 
and one, the wife of Mr. Seth Bartlett, just below Collins 
Center. 

Jonathan Irish died a long time ago. His eldest daughter 
was John B. Peasley's wife. (3ne of his daughters is Mrs. 
Tracy Burnap, of Collins. A son, Allen Irish, resides in Cat- 
taraugus county. 

Lemuel H. Wood had sons at Collins Center : Gabriel, Cor- 
nelius, John and Daniel T. John removed to Leon, Cattarau- 
gus county and died there. 

Gabriel and Cornelius married in Collins, but removed to 
Leon and both died there. 

John and Daniel T., both tanners, <md reside in Leon. John 
married a daughter of Augustus Smith, of Collins. 

Collins, in its earU' history had men residing in it who were 
pointed out to children as heroes of the '• Revolution." Among 
them were Cromwell Luther, whose daughter, the widow of 
Mr. James Nichols, still resides at Collins. Also, Luke Cran- 
dall, a Vermonter, the father of Lnke Crandall, Darius and 
Philetus Crandall, all of whom, with their families, were among 
the earl)' pioneers of the town. Also, Abraham Reynolds, the 
father of Norman Reynolds and Nehemiah Re>'nolds, whose 
families are still residents of Collins Center and vicinity. 

But few farms of the town are still held by the earl}' pion- 
eers, or their descendants. 



EARLY SE'l TLF.RS. 627 

Some of the exceptions arc as follows : Trac)' l^urnaj) still 
resides on the farm he cleared up from a dense forest. 

Isaac W. Tanner resides on the farm located and cleared up 
by his father, Warren Tanner. 

Timothy Clark's widow and famil)' occupy the farm he 
cleared up. 

The heirs of Geori^e Kint^" occu]))- the farm settled upon and 
cleared by their t^randfather. 

The grandson of Stephen Wilber owns his old homesiead. 

Ezra Nichols, lately deceased, remained upon his old home 
stead through his entire life. 

There are a very few of the original ])ioneers left. Augustus 
Smith, Col. Sylvanus Cook, John VVilber, David Wilber, 
Tracy Burnap, Elisha Wa.shburn and David Beverly, are all of 
them men who redeemed their farms from the native woods. 

Church-going, in the early days of the town, was under many 
difficulties. Under ordinar\' circumstances, " meetings" would 
be held at the cabin or house of some "settler." After school- 
houses had begun to be built services would frequently be held 
in them. Large gatherings, like Methodist quarterly-meetings, 
would be held in some barn, in moderate weather. The 
" Friends" were among the earliest to erect "meeting-houses" 
or churches. 

One was erected at an early date near Augustus Smith's, 
where one stands at present. The Methodist denomination 
had an early standing in the town, and in the eastern part of 
the town there was what is known as a " class," under the lead- 
ership of the late Nathaniel Knight, Esq., one of the early 
residents and pioneers, and in the early history of the town a 
man of very prcnninent standing. His class usually had meet- 
ings at what was known as the Re\'nolds school-house. At 
Collins Center was another class, under the leadership of John 
C. Adams. About 1832 c|uite a " revival" took place, under 
the labors of a Methodist minister by the name of Babcock. 
C. B. Parkinson, or " Burke" Parkinson as he was familiarly 
known, and Reuben Parkinson, his brother, were among the 
prominent accessions to the Methedist society at that time. 

As a result of the " revival " it \\as found that more room 
^vas needed and must be had to accommodate the congregation, 



628 THE FIRST CHURCH ERECTED. 

and after consultation it was agreed to build a church, not dis- 
tinctively Methodist, as general contributions for it had to 
be asked for. As in all like cases, the question of location be- 
came a serious one. Collins Center with its one store, its saw 
mill, its blacksmith shop, postofifice and four or five families, 
urged strongly that the " meeting house " should be located 
there. The class at the Reynolds school house, more modest 
than the Collins Center class, did not claim its location at that 
point, but urged a compromise. The question of reaching 
church services in those early days was a serious question. 
There were then no spring carriages, and but few of the set- 
tlers had horse teams and lumber wagons. The teams they 
did have were worked hard through the week, and needed rest 
over Sunday for the work of the coming week As a result 
the popular way of going to meeting was to go on foot. But 
three miles on a hot day, on foot, after a hard week's work, 
aside from the question of duty, was not pleasant to think of, 
and as a result a compromise was necessary and was had. The 
Parkinsons, living intermediate between the points, suggested 
their neighborhood as the suitable place for the church, and a 
Mr. Martin Potter, a good Presbyterian, whose wife was a sister 
of the Parkinsons, offered a lot for the site on the hill near 
" Burke " Parkinson's residence, and the same was accepted, the 
work begun, the foundations laid, the frame work built, the 
roof put on, the sides clapboarded, windows and doors put in, 
a rough floor laid and then the work stopped, the subscription 
exhausted and the fever heat for a new church cooled off. 
Temporary rough board seats were placed in the building, and 
occasionally it was used, generally for Methodist meetings, often 
for anti-slavery or other meetings of like character. The build- 
ing stood many years like a monument of mistaken zeal of the 
times when it was erected. Finally about 1844, Collins Center 
having made some little growth, and it being conceded on all 
hands that the church where it stood was but little better than 
a mockery, it was unanimously agreed that it ought to be 
removed to the Center. A big " bee " was made, the old 
church was lifted from its foundations, and placed on long log 
runners; all in the vicinity were there with their ox 
teams; they all hitched on, and the old church started on its 



CHURCH NfATTERS. 629 

journey across lots, and after a two days' ride brought up and 
settled down for life, no doubt, on the little hill at Collins Cen- 
ter, which was first thought of as the place where it should have 
first been erected. Contributions were again called for, and the 
old church was worked ov^er finally into its present condition, 
and became the church of the Methodist-Episcopal society of 
Collins Center, with its modest little bell tower and more mod- 
est bell, which on Sunday mornings wakens the echoes of the 
modest little village, calling the people to religious services. 
Thus has been traced the history of the oldest " meeting house" 
of Collins, in the neighborhood of Collins Center. There was 
another meeting house, however, that was built that has passed 
away, and which, unless embalmed in history, will soon be for- 
gotten. 

Among the prominent religious denominations of the town 
in its early years was one known as the " Christians." The 
society was quite numerous and earnest and honest in their 
convictions. The main portion of the society lived easterly of 
Collins Center. One of its earliest ministers, in fact the princi- 
pal pillar of the church for years, was Elder Bartlett. He 
resided for years near the banks of the creek just southerly of 
the present Collins Center school house, and not far distant 
from where the old church whose history has just been given, 
was first erected. 

The Elder, as he is now remembered, was a man of large 
stature, finely formed, of iron constitution, zealous at all times 
in the interest of religion, and especially interested in building 
up his own church. As his society grew it outgrew the meager 
accommodations found in the dwellings of its members or of 
the school-houses that were occasionally utilized for church 
services. The members of the congregation and church being 
largely scattered, the question of a central point, with proper 
accommodations became of serious importance. 

At an early day in the history of the town the corners of the 
road near the late Timothy Clark's farm and the Uncle "Sam. 
Hazard" farm, now occupied by W. H. Perkinson, was deemed 
a central point ; and there had been erected a log school-house 
of ample pattern and pioneer accommodations. It had out- 
lived its usefulness, fallen down and been removed, but its 



630 . EARLY SETTLERS. 

recollection as a central point remained in the minds of the 
people, many of whom had graduated from it with all of the 
instruction that in early days could be obtained from a back- 
woods school-house. 

It was determined to erect a church at this point for the 
" Christians" and one was erected ; a frame church, of respect- 
able proportions, quite comfortably finished and furnished. In 
it for many years the congregations gathered and held their 
services. 

As in individual lives so in church and state, there is no one 
permanent, continuous period of existence, and this church 
being no exception to the rule, its period of activity seemed to 
go down and out and its church, once so flourishing, has dis- 
appeared from off the face of the earth, leaving scarcely a trace 
to show where it once stood, and history now steps in to save 
its memory from utter forgetfulness. In latter years the Free 
Methodist church or society erected a church at Collins Center, 
which has escaped the ups and downs of its neighbor on the 
little hill across the little valley. It was built without orna- 
ment of tower or spire and has no bell, serving without 
the least pretense, the purposes of the society for which it was 
built, as a place for their religious services. 

Still another church was erected at Collins Center, b)'theUni- 
versalists. That, however, has been changed to other purposes. 
The old log school-house on the corner of the cross-roads, 
near the Timoth)- Clark farm has been mentioned. The cor- 
ners were in early days four corners instead of three, as now, and 
the school-house accommodated a very large extent of country 
the ^r^'j'-trict being very large. Its heating accommodation was 
very ample. It consisted of an open fire-place occupying one 
entire end of the house, with its large, rough, stone hearth, and 
freedom from mantel and jambs, its broad and open stick-chim- 
ney slanting from the chamber floor, offering an opportunity at 
night of studying astronomy by looking upwards through the 
chimney as the stars moved by on their travels. The seats con- 
sisted of what are known as slabs, the rounded side downwards 
with legs of split billets of wood inserted in auger holes to sup- 
port them. The desks consisted of a series of boards, one edge 
resting against the wall and slanting downwards. The desks 



EARLV SF/nr.KRS. 63 1 

were continuous around the room and were for the older and 
more advanced classes. The seats in like manner, were con- 
tinuous, and the young man or young woman who wanted 
to change position from or to the desk, found the work attended 
with more or less embarrassment. The younger portion, those 
who were not old entjugh to write or cipher, were accommoda- 
ted on an inner tier of seats. Those nf)W living who had occa- 
sion to occupy them, still have vivid recollections of going to 
school. It was a seat upon a hard board, the feet dangling in 
the air, inches from the floor, with no back and no support for 
the feet, and through the long monotonous hours of the fore- 
noon and afternoon, relieved only by the few minutes of recess 
and the short exercises of reading and spelling, which 
constituted the sole labors of the little folks of the school. 
The text books consisted of Webster's spelling book, Murray's, 
or the old English reader, and Daboll's arithmetic. The step 
in reading from Webster's spelling book to Murray's reader, 
would be considered rather abrupt in these days, nevertheless, 
that is the way the}' did it then. There are many, no doubt^ 
of that day, who have no recollectioii of a transitive state be- 
tween the speller and reader, but recollect only the English 
reader, as their text book for reading. While the present gen- 
eration might not survive school privileges of that kind ; the 
young men and women of that day, felt especially blest if they 
could get a three months' schooling during the year, and grow 
up to manhood and womanhood, strong and healthy men and 
women, worthy to be the fathers and mothers of the present 
generation. Of arithmetic, in that early day, he or she who got 
as far as the Rule of Three, was deemed qualified for any of 
the ordinary business occupations of life. As to geography 
and grammar, they were deemed outside of and beyond the 
reach of acquirement in the early school history of the town. 
The introduction of these and other and higher branches into 
the schools, has been the wc^rk of the years that have gone by, 
each making its additions, until the schools of the town became 
what they are, equal to those of other portions of the state, 
which have been built up, no doubt, in like manner. The old 
school house on the Corners, when first built, accommodated 
all that portion of Collins, eastward of (and including) the 



632 EARLY SETTLERS. 

residence of the late George F. King, and the school house was 
not over-crowded. The next school house to the eastward was 
at Morton's Corners. Lodi furnished the one on the west. 
The population of the town increasing, school houses soon 
began to be built. A small frame school house was built about 
1829, in the Joshua Palmerton and Smith Bartlett school dis- 
trict, and stood at the present four corners, then three corners, 
between the Moses Conger and Ezra Nichols farms. About 
1830 and 1 83 1, the people of that district indulged in the 
luxury of a man teacher, for summer school. A Mr. John 
Pratt, on account of ill-health, and for want of other occupa- 
tion, to which he could adapt himself, accepted the meager pit- 
tance that the farmers found themselves able to pay and taught 
"the young ideas how to shoot." In those days, and for years 
afterwards, the teacher " boarded around," the dollars and cents 
paid and received, was practically net gain. A frame school 
house was soon after built in the "Crandall " district, as it was 
called, and located near the site of the present cheese factory, 
just cast of Mr. John H. Johnson's, about a mile north of 
Collins Center. That district soon followed the example of 
the Palmerton district, and had the services of a man, Mr. 
Franklin Bement, for some two summers. The old log school- 
house on the hill at Clark and Hazard's corners, having served 
its day, it was determined to build a new school house, and one 
Avas built on a site obtained of Mr. Warren Tanner, near 
the present residence of Mr. Isaac Tanner. The first teacher 
of the school the Winter after the house was built was 

Howe, of Lodi, then studying law, afterwards Judge 

Howe, of Cattaraugus county. A Mr. Arnold Mann, an old 
bachelor, taught the school two Winters. Augustus Hanchett, 
then studying to be a physician, taught the school one Winter. 
Hanchett was afterwards admitted to practice, married a wife 
in Springville, and moved west. He was a man of superior 
natural abilities, coupled with other characteristics, that greatly 
neutralized them, and prevented him from reaching an emi- 
nence in his profession, to -which his friends believed he was 
fully entitled. Charles Woodward, who since then became a 
Methodist teacher, taught the school some two or more Winters. 



KARLV SKI'ir^EKS. 



633 



111 the early history of the town, its school matters were man- 
aged by three school commissioners and three school inspectors. 

Among those who served as Commissioners and Inspectors 
were John Lawton, John C. Adams, Dr. Noyes, Stephen White 
Leman II. Pitcher, John F. Allen and Edward Vail. The 
plan was changed to that of Town Superintendent ot 
Schools in about 1846, and Dr. John F. Allen became the 
Superintendent for the first year. The Town of Collins 
then comprised what is now^ Collins and North Collins, 
and had some twenty-five school houses located within the 
town, with more or less joint districts connected with other 
towns. Dr. Allen was succeeded as Town Superintendent by 
S. C. Adams, who continued in the of^ce some six years, until 
he was elected Supervisor of the town. 

Adams was succeeded as Superintendent by Dr. William A. 
Sibley, who held the ofifice until it was abolished, and super- 
ceded, in 1855, by the office of School Commissioner, including 
several towns in one Commissioner's district. Since then, S. 
W. Soule, of Collins, has served as School Commissioner. 

Among those engaged in the town as teachers, not before 
mentioned are the following : 



Eli Heath, 
Edward Vail, 
Harvey Hicks, 
S. W. Soule, 



Alanson King, 
S. C. Adams, 
Hosea S. Heath, 
Joseph O'Brien, 



Lewis Varney, 
Wilson Rogers, 
Erastus Harris, 
Charles C. Wilson, 



William H.Johnson, Ferdinand Taylor, Horatio Whittemore, 



David Woodward, Hiram Clark, 

Asahel Sloan, Clark Sibley, 

Joshua C. Ticknor, C. Vosburgh, 

Z. F. Parks, William Potter, 

George Richardson, Ahaz Paxon, 

William Pierce, A. T. Brown, 

Amos S. Willett. 

Among the lady teachers were : 

Ruth Knight, Jane White, 

Sarah Henry, Rhoda Smith, 

Ann Palmerton, Amanda Herrick, 

Ann Tifft, Laura D. Abbott, 



Lyman Clark, 
Joshua Allen, 
James Matthews. 
Lyman Wright, 
Alonzo B. Pierce, 
Lewis Rogers, 



Mariette Perry, 
Emily Brown, 
Esther Pratt, 
Mary W. Brown,. 



634 



FORMER LADV TEACHERS OF COLLINS. 



Julia E. Martin, 
Lydia Ferris, 
Ruth Blanchard, 
Eunice I'almerton, 
Sarah McMillen, 
E. L. Rogers, 
Mary Johnson, 
Sophia S. Clark, 
Lydia A. Sisson, 
Harriet A. Watson, 
Jane Arnold, 
Mary E. Jennings, 
Ellen Richmond, 
Elizabeth Wilson, 



Mary A. Clough, 
Apalonia Douglass, 
Polly Rogers, 
Maria Irish, 
Lydia McMillen, 
Phebe J. Wilcox, 
Caroline Etsler, 
Lydia Ferris, 
Hannah Warner, 
Mary Jane Warner, 
Emily Lewis, 
Amanda M, Avery, 
Martha Johnson, 
Paulina Wheeler, 



Julia A. Smith, 
Louisa A. White, 
Lucy Clough, 
Phebe McMillen, 
Betsy A. Hathaway. 
Mary E. Wiiber, 
Jane Arnold, 
Maria Conklin, 
Jerusha Pratt, 
Malinda Arnold, 
Emeline Palmerton, 
E. Jennings, 
Lucy B. Randall, 
Sarah Vail. 



Note. — The above communication was written at the request of the author 
by S. C. Adams, Esq., formerly of Collins, now of Buffalo. 



HIOCRAPHKAl. SKETCHES. 63: 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

FAMILY HISTORIES OF THE TOWN OF COLLINS, ETC. 

Hudson Aiusley. 

Hudson Ainsley, son of Joseph and Polly Ainsley, was born 
in Palmyra, Pike county, Penn., Sept. 20, 1799. He has 
been twice married — first to Matilda Davis, daughter of Gabriel 
and Matilda Davis, by whom he had three children, two sons 
and one daughter : 

Emily, born Dec. 8, iSii ; married William Davis. She died 
in North Collins, Jan. 4, 1875. 

Ira, born Dec. 8, 1823; married Emily White; lives in 
Aurora, 111. 

John, born, Feb. 20, 1827; married Harriet Wood, and lives, 
in the Town of Eden. 

In 1 83 1, he came to what is now North Collins, and located 
on a farm formerly owned by Frederic Smith, where he resided 
until 1838, when he removed to a farm in Collins known as the 
George South wick farm, at which place he has ever since 
resided. 

His first wife died Feb. 13, 1828. Oct. 17, 1830, he married 
Mary M. Heaton, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca rfeaton, 
by whom he had eight children : 

Joseph, born Sept. 29, 1831 ; married Harriet Jones, and 
resides in Gowanda. 

Laura E., born in 1833 ; married Leander Stafford, and 
resides in Perrysburg, N. Y. 

William, born Aug. 7, 1834 ; married Elmira Wood ; lives in 
North Collins. 

George, born Jan. 29, 1836; married Ella M. Rogers; lives 
with his father on the old homestead. 

Hudson and Heaton, twins, born Jan. 15, 1838. Heaton 
married Electa Hussey ; he died in North Collins, April 18, 
1879. Hudson married Alzina Hanford, and lives at Sala- 
manca. 



636 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Ann M,, born March 2, 1841 ; married Frank Moss and re- 
sides in Collins. 

Mary R., born May 21, 1844 '' is unmarried and lives with her 
father. 

Mr. Ainsley is one of the oldest inhabitants of the Town of 
Collins, being eighty-two years of age ; yet he is still a healthy 
robust old man, with physical and mental powers unimpaired. 
He has been an industrious farmer, and by well-directed efforts 
has acquired a competence which he now enjoys. He has been 
a skillful marksman and a successful hunter, especially when 
the country was almost an unbroken forest, and the haunts of 
wild beasts were more numerous than the habitations of man. 
One season he killed forty-four deer and many bears. He en- 
joyed with a keen relish the excitement and dangers of these 
sports. 

He has living nine children, sixteen grandchildren and two 
great grandchildren. His second wife died Jan. 8, 1871. 

Harley M. At wood, M. D. 

Dr. Atwood was born at Danby, Vt., in 1847. His father's 
name was Harley Atwood ; his mother's maiden name was 
Amelia Chase. When an infant, his parents removed to Provi- 
dence, R. I., where young Harley 's father became a wealthy 
shipping master; dying at Providence in 1857, 

In i860, the family removed to Collins, N. Y. Soon after, 
the do*ctor attended school at the Springville Academy one or 
two years. Inclining toward the medical profession, he en- 
tered the Buffalo Medical College, graduating from that insti- 
tution in 1872. The doctor soon had professional honors con- 
ferred upon him. He was appointed physician to the peniten- 
tiary in 1874 and '75, and was appointed post-mortem examiner 
for the county one year, and during the same three years he 
■was examiner in lunacy. He commenced the practice of medi- 
cine at Collins Center, in 1877. 

The Doctor descended, on his mother's side, from English 
sea-faring people, among whom were traders and mariners of 
note. Some of them settled at Pawtucket, R. I., where one of 
them was a slave-holder and the first Baptist minister in the 



mOGRArillCAL SKETCHES. 637 

place. The Doctor has two brothers, two sisters and one lialf- 
brother, as follows : 

Clarence, in mercantile business in Buffalo. Frank, salesman 
in Buffalo. Emma married Hiram Brown ; resides in Collins, 
Louise, at home. Half-brother Etlward I. Vail resides in 
Collins. 

Statement of Beiijainiii Albee, 2<l. 

My father, Benjamin Albee, ist, was born on the Connecticut 
river, in Vermont, in 1771 ; my mother's maiden name was 
Abigail Thompson. I had four brothers and three sisters ; we 
were all born in Danby, Vt., from which place my father and 
mother and their eight children came to Collins in March, 181 1 
and located on lot sixty-four. We drove through with two 
teams, my two older brothers, Jehiel and Adolphus went 
ahead driving an ox team which drew our goods and the rest 
of us followed with a horse team. 

When we arrived in Collins I think Stepher Wilber, Joshua 
Palmerton, Stephen Peters, Arad Howard, Aaron Lindsley, 
Turner Aldrich and Jacob Taylor were the only settlers. We 
built a rude log-cabin, without any floor, and I slept on hem- 
lock boughs thrown down on the floorless cabin, for a bed 
until fall. Oats were so high that m}' father considered it 
cheaper to buy wheat to feed his teams, and did so. When 
operations beganon the Niagara Frontier, in the war of 181 2, 
many of the settlers left for what they considered safer quar- 
ters. Of our family father and I were the only ones that 
remained, the rest were gone six weeks and we had no bread to 
eat during that time. Later, when the services of the settlers 
were needed as soldiers, my father, brother Jehiel, Darius 
Crandall, James Tyrer, Henry Palmerton, Luke Crandall, Ste- 
phen Peters, Jesse Frye, Simeon Watterman, Luther Pratt, 
Phineus Orr, Elisha Co.x and others, went out on the "lines" 
and I was about the only man (and I was only sixteen) left 
in our neighborhood to look after things. 

I first went to school in Collins in a log school-house which 
stood a short distance north of the Free Methodist church at 
Collins Center. When we came there was no road cut out in 
town. I think John Lawton, as Commissioner, and Stephen 



638 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

White, Surveyor, located the first road which now leads from 
Colhns Center to Marshfield. 

At this early day John Lawton was a prominent man i:n this 
region; he was proprietor of the mills at Lawton's Hollow and 
in the fall of the " cold season" (18 16), he gave notice that all 
grists brought to the mill on the backs of women would be 
ground free. One day the wife of William Sisson appeared at 
the mill with two bushel of wheat on her back ; but it was sur- 
mised that she had carried it but a short distance. At one 
time Mr. Lawton had some bags of wheat stolen ; he put up a 
notice that if the thieves would return the bags they would be 
welcome to the wheat ; when he arose the next morning he 
found the bags hanging on his door-yard fence. 

During the earlier years of our pioneer life wild animals were 
very numerous, especially deer, of which I have killed many ; 
wild turkeys were frequently seen. Otters were to be found 
also. A party of four, consisting of Luke and Darius Cran- 
dall and two Flint brothers, caught four on the stream that 
flows near the present residence of John H. Johnson. At 
another time Nathaniel Knight and others captured three on 
the first brook crossing the road north of Collins Center. Black 
bears were also plenty. In the month of April, a party of us 
followed the trail of a large bear to the vicinity of Cattaraugus 
Creek ; we wounded her but failed to effect her capture ; we 
found her cubs, however, and secured three of them alive, one 
of which was tamed by David Brand and kept by him a long 
time. On one occasion, while coming from the Cattaraugus Creek, 
carrying a young pig in my arms, secured by thongs of moose- 
wood bark, I was suddenly confronted in my path-way by a 
large bear that rose on his haunches and surveyed me and my 
pig ; as I didn't show a disposition to retreat he turned and 
disappeared in the woods. 

My father died Dec. 30, 1858, in Concord, to which place he 
moved from Collins. My mother died in Nov., 1861. Of my 
brothers and sisters, Jehiel died in Collins ; Adolpheus in Indi- 
ana ; Howard in Michigan, and Enoch in Wisconsin. My 
sisters are living : Mrs. Rachel Palmerton in Collins ; Mrs. 
Clarissa Wright in Avon, N. Y., and Mrs. Diantha Hunt, in 
Collins. 



HIOCRAPIIICAL SKETCHES. 639 

I was born in Vermont, in 1798; married Rhoda Wlieeler 
and ha\e reared a family of eii;ht children. 

Sylvt'ims Bates. 

Sylvcnus Bates was b(jrn in the town of Munson, Mass., Jan. 
29, 1786. His parents were poor and at the a^e of eight years 
he was bound to service until he should become twenty-one 
years of age. At the age of twenty, a difficult)^ arising be- 
tween him and his master, he ran away and went to Vermont, 
where he worked a short time. He then went to Orange, 
Franklin County, Mass. There he hired out to a man by the 
name of John Kriggs, to goto New Hampshire and work on the 
turnpike. In a few months he returned to Orange and engaged 
to labor for one \'ear for Sable Metcalf. While there he formed 
the acquaintance of Sylvia Briggs, wiiom he afterwards married. 

After his marriage he remained three or four years in Orange 
and then removed with his famil\- to what is now Collins, Erie 
county, N. Y. Mr. Bates was the father of eight children, 
se\en boys and one girl : 

Briggs, born in Orange, Franklin county, Mass.; married 
Drucilla Bartlett. Tryphena, born in Orange, Franklin county. 
Mass ; married Aaron Lindsle}'. Sylvenus, born in Collins. 
Erie count}-, N. V.; married Marrietta King. Taylor, born in 
Collins, Erie Co., N. Y.; married widow Randall. Stephen, 
born in Collins, Erie county, N. Y.; unmarried ; died about 
1855. William, born in Collins, Erie county, N. Y.; married 
Paulina Bates, lives in Springville. Joseph, born in Collins, 
Erie county, N. Y.; unmarried; lives in Collins. Franklin, born 
in Collins, Erie county, N. Y.; married Polly Mathews; lives 
in Collins. 

A Portion of the Stutemeut of Sylveuus Bates. 

In April, 181 1, 1 walked from Orange, Franklin county, Mass., 
to Uncle Townsend's, on Townsend hill, in this town. I staid 
there a few days, and then started out to look for land ; I went 
west through the woods ; there was no guide except marked 
trees, and no settlers from Cooper's to near Collins Center ; I 
selected a piece of land south of Clear creek, near Marshfield ; I 
built me a shanty about eight feet square, on a side-hill near 
the creek, the lower side about eight feet high and the back 



640 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

side about two ; I drove down four crotches and laid some 
sticks across for a bedstead, and measured myself and peeled a 
piece of ash bark the proper length and laid it on, and that, 
with a blanket, composed my bed. 

That Summer I chopped and cleared four acres and sowed it 
to winter wheat ; I worked all Summer, early and late; I had 
no meat to eat except a hog's leg, which I bought of Samuel 
Cooper. I planted some potatoes in the Spring, and when the 
new ones got to be as big as walnuts with the shucks on, I used 
to dig and eat them, the new and old ones together. I would 
eat a half a dozen for my dinner, and would take as many more 
out and lay them on a stump for luncheon ; sometimes I became 
so weak that I staggered as I walked about ; on the 6th day of 
October I started to go to Massachusetts: I \\ent afoot and 
alone. 

On the II th of February, 18 12, I started back with my fam- 
ily, consisting of my wife and two small Lhildren. Kendall 
Johnson, a young, unmarried man, came in company with me; 
each of us had a pair of oxen, which we drove as one team. 
We were on the road twenty-five days, when we arrived at 
Uncle Townsend's in this town ; before I went east I had put 
up the body of a log house with a bark roof; when I arrived 
there with my family there was no door, no windows, no floor; 
the gable ends were open and holes between the logs large 
enough for the children to crawl through ; had no bedstead, no 
table, no chairs ; I drove down four crotches and laid poles 
across for a bedstead, and split a basswood log of proper 
length and laid the split side up for a table ; made a couple of 
stools for myself and wife, split logs and laid them down for a 
floor; bored holes in the side of the house and drove in pins 
and laid on boards split from logs for my wife to put her dishes 
on. I had no hay or other feed for my cattle and they had to live 
on browse ; they were so anxious to get at the browse that I 
had great trouble to keep them from under the falling trees ; 
one ox was knocked down two different times by trees, but 
he was tough and lived through. 

In June, 18 12, war was declared against Great Britain, and 
the settlers in Collins were afraid to remain for fear of the In- 
dians, and several moved away ; I moved away also ; I took 



I 



BIOCRAl'inCAI, SKKTCHES. 64I 

ni)' family and cattle and came cast as far as Mr. Lush's and 
stopped over night, turned out my oxen and cows, and they 
strayed away, and 1 looked three weeks, with others to help, 
before I found my oxen ; did not find one of my cows till 
some time later ; after about three weeks I returned to my 
place in Collins; others returned also. 

'niK l!LAtKNK\' MIJRDKK. 

On Sept. 9, 1875, the people of Gowanda and vicinity were 
thro\\-n into a state of intense excitement by the murder of 
Charles W. Blackney, a talented and promising }'oung lawyer 
of that place, by Lewis Darby, a young farmer residing in Col- 
lins about a mile south of Gowanda ; the murder was evidently 
the result of trouble bet\\'een the two years before, although 
for some time previous there had apparently been friendly rela- 
tions existing between them. 

Darb}- was unmarried and lived with his brother on a farm ; 
he made arrangements with Blackney to come to his brother's 
house on the day of the murder to draw^ up some legal papers. 
Darby secreted himself in a clump of willows by the roadside 
at the foot of an incline in the road near his brother's house. 
As Blackney came down the hill with a horse and buggy and 
neared the clump of willows, Darby fired four shots, the four 
balls all taking effect in the body of his victim. Blackney fell 
from his carriage, and though terribly wounded, commenced 
crawling up the opposite hill calling for help. The murderer 
leaped o\'er the fence and ran toward the woods ; looking back 
and seeing his \'ictim still alive, he returned and beat in his 
skull and ran toward the house. 

The murder now attracted the attention of a party of men 
threshing near b\', who found Blackney still alive and able to 
name his murderer. He died in a short time, and the excited 
party which had gathered :^'tarted in pursuit of Darby. He 
was followed to his room, where he was found in a pool of 
blood, having cut his throat from ear to ear. 

Mr. Blackney w as the son of N. Blackney, Esq., an old resi- 
dent of Gowanda ; was married and twenty-nine years of age. 



642 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Burleigh M. Briggs. 

Mr. Briggs was born in Collins in 1854. His father, Isaac 
Briggs, was born in the town of Hamburg and came to Collins 
about 1S40; was one of the first settlers in that part of the 
town, frequently designated as New Michigan. His mother's 
maiden name was Margaret McMichael. Mr. B. is a brother 
of George W. Briggs, of Concord. He was married in 1875 to 
Esther Burnap ; they have one child. Glen Ira. 

Mr. Briggs is a teacher, and at present (October, 1880,) is a 
Deputy Supreme President of the Empire Aid Union, and en- 
gaged in organizing lodges of that order. His present resi- 
dence is Collins Center. 

Henry Beverly. 

Mr. Beverly's father, John D. Beverly, came to Collins from 
Schoharie county, N. Y., in the Spring of 1817, driving an ox 
team. He located on lot fifty-two, range seven, where he has 
always resided except four years" residence in Otto, N. Y. 

Henry Beverly was born on the farm his father settled on in 
1817, Sept. 6, 1834, where he has ever since resided. He was 
married in 1880 to Idelia Burroughs. 

John Beverly. 

Mr. Beverly was born in Collins, in 1827; always resided in 
the town of his birth and been engaged in farming. His fath- 
er's name was John D. Beverly; his mother's maiden name was 
Susan Chichester. Mr. Beverly was married in 1848 to Lucy 
Johnson. They have had two children : Clementine and I>ucy, 
both of whom are dead. Clementine dying at twelve years old 
and Lucy while an infant. 

Matthew Beverly. 

Matthew Beverly, a brother <^f John Beverl)', was born in 
Collins in 1832, where he has since resided in the capacity of a 
farmer. He was married in 1857 to Mary Smith. They have 
two children ; Frank, born in 1859 '^'^*^^ Susan L., born in 1868. 

Bartlett Family. 

Smith Bartlett was born April 11, 1790, in Vermont ; mar- 
ried Sarah Allen, in 181 5, who was born Ma}- 16, 1796. They 



I 



lUOCiUAI'IllCAl, SKKTCHES. 643 

came to Collins from Danby, V^t., in 18 15 and located on lot 
fifty-ei<^ht, where Mr. Bartlett commenced the tanning of 
leather in a very primitive manner. About 1828 he built a tan- 
nery on the same lot. In 1850 he moved on to lot fifty-seven, 
where, notwithstanding" his advanced age, he displa^'ed his usual 
energy and i)erseverance in modeling a farm from the wilderness. 
He died at this place Sept. 1 1, 1859 ! Mrs. Bartlett dying Aug. 9, 
1 86 1. Mr. Bartlett's ancestry were related to Josiah Bartlett, 
one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. 
and Mrs. Bartlett reared a family of nine children, as follows : 

Z. Allen, born April 23, 1816; married, 1838, Ruth White; 
died Sept., 1874. Mary, born Jan. 14, 1817 ; married, 1835, 
John G. Pratt ; reside in North Collins. Jane, born Nov. 9, 
1819; married, 1838, George Lawton ; died in Evans. Seth, 
born Jan. 4, 1822; married, 1847, Marietta O'Brien, 1849, 
Aurilla Peasly ; reside in Collins. John S., born Sept. 14, 
1825; married, 185 1, Mary Kelley ; banker in Gowanda. Silva, 
born Jan. 29, 1828; died young. Richard, born Nov. 28, 
1829; married, 1851, Phoebe Smith; reside in Pontiac, Mich. 
Silva, 2d, born May 7, 1832 ; married 1850, Elijah Willit,;. 
farmer in Collins. Sarah, born Sept. 24, 1834; married, 1854 
Andrew Allen; died in 1876, in Michigan. Ann C) , born Oct. 
26, 1837; married, 1864, George Taylor; reside in Collins. 

Seth T. Bartlett is a wealthy farmer of Collins. Up to twenty- 
three years of age he worked at tanning, carriage aad shoe- 
making. He has two daughters, Julia and Alice. 

Curtis I. Bates. 

Mr. Bates was born in Collins, in 1843. He was a son of 
Jacob Taylor Bates and his mother's maiden name was Mary 
Nichols. In the Fall of 1859, ^^'^ became a clerk with S. T. 
White, engaged in general mercantile trade at Collins Center. 
He remained until he became a member of the firm, now 
known as Bates & White. He was appointed Post-Master in 
1872 and has occupied that position ever since. He was mar- 
ried in 1867 to Calista E. Briggs ; they have two children' 
Alton C. and Mary E. 



■644 BIOGRyM'HICAL SKETCHES. 

r>aiiiel Brown. 

Daniel Brown, son of Isaac C. and Judith A. Hopkins Brown, 
was born Nov. 12, 1837, in Collins, where he has always resided, 
except five years residence in Allegany county. He was 
married to his present wife, Betsey C. Conger, in 1867. 

Mr. Brown was a union soldier and the manner in which he 
performed the duties of a soldier reflect great credit upon him. 
He often performed service that entitled him to promotion, 
but he preferred to remain a private. 

He enlisted Sept. 8, 1862, in Compan)- L, loth New York- 
Cavalry, and was mustered out of the service Aug. 5, 1864. 
He took part in all the battles in which his regiment partici- 
pated except those which occurred during the interval from 
May 2d to Nov. 27, when he was in the hospital sick with yel- 
low fever, besides the battles of Spottsylvania Court House, 
Bloody Run and the surrender of Appomattox Court House. 
At the last named place a lucky incident placed him in a posi- 
tion in which he overheard the terms of the capitulation between 
Generals Grant and Lee. 

Nathan M. Bailey. 

Nathan M. Bailey, son of Morgan L. and Marj' Ann Bailey, 
is a native of Collins and was born April 7, 1838. He was 
married Jan. i, 1862, to Esther Burke, daughter of Cortland 
and Ann Burke, of Collins. Shorth* after his marriage he 
moved on to his father's farm which he now owns and occupies. 
For the last two or three years he has also rented William A, 
Johnson's farm. 

The names of their children are : Ellis C., born Dec. 23, 
1863 and died Sept. 24. 1865. Ella M., born April 20, 1S66. 
Preston L., born Feb. 4, 1868. Arthur W.. born Jan. 28, 1871. 
Alvin H., born Feb. 18, 1876. Cora E., born Feb. 3, 1880. 

As a farmer he is prudent and industrious, but has labored 
under pecuniary disadvantages, b\- being left at an early age 
with the care and responsibilit\- of his father's large and de- 
pendent family. 

His father, Morgan L., was born in 1804 ^"d passed his 
early life in Clarence, N. Y. In 1830 he removed to Collinsand 
bought a farm formerly owned by Charles Bar.ien. at which 



HKXJRArillCAI. SKKTCMKS. 645 

place he resided to the time of liis death, wliich occurred March 
16, 1850. He had a family of ten ciiildren : Maria, born May 
6, 1833, and lives in Michi<^an. Emmons, born Jan. 24, 1835, 
and lives in Wisconsin. Nathan M.,born April 7, 1838. Eme- 
line, born Vch. 12, 1840, and li\es in Pennsylvania. Cynthia, 
born Au^. 17, 1843 and died in Collins in 1874. Minerva, born 
in 1845 and lives in Michii^an. Rosette J., born in 1847 ^^^ 
lives in Michigan, and Lucinda, Morgan and Monroe, who died 
young. 

Emily Borkor. 

Emil}- Becker, daughter of Austin and Maria Shav\-, was born 
in Danb\-, V't., Doc. 23, 1832. When young she remo\'ed with 
her people to Erie count}', N. \'., and also to Washington 
Township, Erie county, ]^i., and in 1846 removed to Collins, 
their present place of residence. In 1854 she married Jacob 
Becker, son of Isaac and Nancy Becker. The names of her 
children are as follows : 

Charlotte M., born Feb. 13, 1855 and died Dec. 3, 1871 
Isaac, born Oct. 9, 1857, unmarried and lives with his parents 
Ella R., born April 28, 1859 ''^nd died May 31, 1859. Helen 
R., born April 22, 1872. 

Margaret liecker. 

Margaret Becker, daughter of IJr. Levi Goldsburrow, of 
Waverly, N. Y., was born in Waverly, Dec. 13, 1831. July 22, 
1849, s^^'^ married John Becker, son of Isaac and Nancy 
Becker. 

The names of their children are as follows : Laura, born 
Oct. 3, 1855, and died April 17, 1861. Ettie, born Dec. 12, 
1856; married Vird Button, and resides in Collins. Frank, 
born March 19, 1862, and died July i, 1865. Levi G.. born 
July 9, 1867. Charles, born Sept. 5, 1868. Clarence, born June 
10, 1870. 

Savid Bartlett. 

Savid Bartlett was a machinist and edge-tool manufacturer. 
In 1810, he established himself in this business at Danby, Vt., 
and carried on the business there for nearly thirty years. In 
1846, he removed with a large family to Collins, and com- 
menced the manufacture of sc\'thes, axes and hoes, near where 



646 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Collins Station now is. Mr. Bartlett claims to have made the 
first cast-steel scythe in America. He had the reputation of 
being the best scythe manufacturer in the country. 

Mr. Bartlett died in 1856, his wife, Prussia Allen, dying in 
1868. Of the children, six are now living: 

Marcus resides in Buffalo. Pliny married Susan Chase ; 
resides in Collins. Ruth married Albert Wilber. Smith is 
proprietor of the Collins Center Hotel. David A. resides at 
Tarport, Penn. Jeremy resides in Collins. 

Daniel T>. Barnliart. 

Daniel D. Barnhart, son of Stephen A. and Hester Barnhart, 
was born at Hoosic Falls, N. Y., Aug. 17, 1831. When three 
years of age, his people removed to Collins, where he resided 
until the Spring of 1854, when he went to California, and 
was there engaged in farming until the Fall of 1859, ^vhen he 
returned to Collins, where he has since resided, owning and 
occupying a farm located two miles northeast of Gowanda. 

Oct. 30, 1868, he married Sarah Pratt, widow of Cyrenius 
Pratt, and daughter of Jonathan and Temperance Soule, of 
Collins. He has no children. 

Cliaiincey Beckei'. 

Chauncey Becker, son of Isaac and Nancy Becker was born 
in Dansville, N. Y., Sept. 20, 1826. In about 1833, he came to 
Collins, where he has ever since resided, now owning and occu- 
pying a farm located three miles southwest of Collins Center. 

Oct. 2, 1852, he married Hannah Poland, daughter of Tru- 
man and Sally Poland. They have a family of two sons : 

Adelbert R., born Aug. 25, 1853; married Mary O'Brien, 
and lives with his father. Willis A., born March 24, i860. 

Sarah E. Beverly. 

Sarah E. Beverly, daughter of Henry and Rachel Palmer- 
ton, was born in Collins, March 14, 1829. In July, 1879, ^^^ 
married James F. Beverly. In July, 1879, ^^^^ purchased a farm 
of 107 acres, formerly owned by George Valentine, which 
place she now owns and occupies. Her father, Henry Palmer- 
ton, was born in the eastern part of New York, in 1794, and at 



lilOOKAl'lIlCAL SKlilt IlKS. 647 

the a<;c of seventeen he came with his brother Joshua to what 
is now the town of Colhns, where he remained for one year 
when he returned to Vermont for two )-ears. DurinLj these 
two years he served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and was 
present at the burning of Buffalo, at which time he narrowly 
escaj)ed being killed. He and a companion, Calvin Car\', of 
Boston, Erie county, N. Y., were pursued by the Indians. 
Car}', being a large, hea\'\' man, became exhausted and was 
not able to keep up with Palmerton, who was encouraging him 
to run, when the Indians came up and Cary was killed but 
Palmerton succeeded in escaping. 

His widow, who still survives him, receives a government 
pension. In 1S14, he returned to Collins, and No\' 28, 1816, 
he married Rachel Albee, daughcer of Benjamin and Abigail 
Albee. Soon after his marriage he took an article of land in 
Collins where he resided to the time of his death, which 
occurred Sept. 9, 1870. They have four children : 

Julia Ann, born Jan. 15, 1819; married Medad Towilegar, 
and li\'es in Angola, Erie count}', N. Y. Warren A., born Dec. 
4. 1S20, and died Sept. 25, 1822. Sarah E., born March 14, 
1829. Albert T., born Feb. 17, 1833, and died Nov. 19, 1852, 
and they also adopted a son, David Akins, who was born Sept. 
18, 1822, and died in 1876. 

i\A. Sylvenus Cook. 

I was born in Richmond, Mass., Jan. 14, 1795. M}' father 
moved to Danby, f^utland county, Vermont. I came to thi;; 
county in February, 1814, cameto Hamburgh first, then to 
Collins, and finalh' located at Nichols' Corners, on the John 
Nichols place. In April, 1814, Jehiel Albee and I went from 
his father's house, near Collins Center, to Nichols Corners, in 
Concord, and built a log house or shanty on my lot and finished 
it all off and returned the same day. We used no boards, no 
nails and no shingles. When I located at Nichols Corners 
there was no other settler in that part of the town of Concord. 
The next settler was Nehemiah Paine, who located on the next 
lot west of mine, the same Spring and .^oon after I did. Jere- 
miah Richardson came in the Spring of 1815. He was not 
married then, but said he liad a wife picked out He sla}-ed 



648 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

and chopped, and put up a house that Summer, and boarded 
with me most of the time. We frequently assisted each other 
by exchanging work. He went to Batavia in the Fall, and 
worked through the Winter and returned in the Spring. John 
Battles came about 181 5 and located on the Morton place. Mrs. 
Pike came about two years after I did. Simeon Holton came 
and settled on the lot south of me. Luke Simons came not 
many years after I did. Seymour Newel settled north of me, 
up toward Goodels. While I lived there I went to Townsend 
Hill to training, and sometimes to Springville to town-meet- 
ings. Four or five years after I came I sold out to Levi Nich- 
ols, father of John and Isaac Nichols, and I removed down 
below Bagdad in Collins. 

COMMISSION OF COL. SYLVANUS COOK, JR. 

TJic people of the State of Neiv York, to lo/uvn all these pres- 
ents shall eoiiie : 

Know ye, That pursuant to the Constitution and Laws of 
our State, we have appointed and constituted and by these 
presents do appoint and constitute Sylvanus Cook, Jr., Colonel 
of the 198th Regiment of Lifantry of our said State, (with 
rank from July 28, 1838), to hold the said ofifice in the manner 
specified in and by our said Constitution and Laws. 
In testimony whereof, we have caused our seal for mili- 
[l. S.] tary commissions to be hereunto afifixed. 
Witness, William L. Marcy, Esquire, Governor of our State, 
General and Commander-in-Chief of the militia, and Admiral 
of navy of the same, at our city of Albany, the 24th day of 
August, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred 
and thirty-eight. 

Passed the Adjutant General's office. 

William L. Marcy. 
Allan MacDonald, Adjutant General. 

State of NE^Y York, ) 
Erie County, \ '"' 
I hereby certify that on the 3d day of September, A. D. 
1838, the within-named Sylvanus Cook, Jr., personally appeared 
before me and took and subscribed the oath required by law to 



HlOC.KAI'IIICAl. SKKTCIIES. 649 

qualify him to discharge the duties of the office to whicli he is 
commissioned. JKIIIEI. Hll.l,, 

Brig. Gen. 54th Brig. N. Y. S. Inf. 

Norman Cook. 

Mr, Cook's father, I'eter Cook, came to ColHns from Ver- 
mont, in 1825. lie was married at the residence of Hosea 
White, in Collins, in 1827, to Lydia White. He died in Ham- 
burg, in 1873, aged sixty six. His widow resides in Buffalo 
with her daughter, Mrs. Johnson. 

Norman Cook was born in Collins in 1 828, where he lived 
until nine years old, when his parents moved to Concord. He 
lived there until twenty-two years of age, when he returned to 
Collins, where he has since resided, a farmer. 

Mr. Cook was married in 1852 to Alzora Ashman, who died 
in 1854, leax'ing a daughter, Eva, who died in i87i,aged seven- 
teen. He was again married, in 1857, to C)'nthia Bartlett, by 
whom he has had two daughters: Helen and Clara; Helen 
died when three years old. 

Mr. Cook came onto his present farm of two hundred and 
three acres in 1862. 

John V. Cole. 

John V. Cole, son of Vincent M. and Julia Squires Cole, was 
born in Concord, N. Y., May 2, 1857. He attended school at 
the Springville Academy, and in 1879 studied dentistry with 
E. R. Vaughan, of Lancaster. In June, 1881, he established 
himself in the dentistry business at Collins Center. 

He was married in December, 1881. to Jennie E. Beverly. 

They ha\'e one child. 

Nicholas J. Coon. 

Mr. Coon was born in Otsego county, N. Y., July 26, 1815. 
He afterwards lived in Susquehanna county. Penn. He came 
to Zoar in Collins in 1846, where he has since lived. He has a 
family of three daughters and one son. 

He married Sarah Fitch, in Otsego county, a lineal grand- 
daughter of Capt. Isaac Da\'is, of Re\olutionary fame. Mary 
Fitch Coon has just reason to be proud of her ancestry. She 
was born Feb. 22, 181 1. in Hancock, N. H., and came to Otsego 
when ele\-en }'ears old. Her father, Noah h'itch, was a native 



650 BIOCiRAPHICAL SKE'ICIIES. 

of Acton, Mass. He married Mary Davis, youngest child of 
Capt. Davis. History relates that Captain Davis was a gun- 
smith of Acton — which was a village near Concord and Lex- 
ington, Mass. He was Captain of the Acton company of 
Minute men, being at that time about thirty years of age — 
brave and thoughtful, and having a wife and four children, one 
of whom was afterwards the mother of Mrs. Coon. Captain Davis 
and his company led the way in the march to meet the British 
at Concord Bridge, exclaiming as he drew his sword, " I haven't 
a man that's afraid to go." At the first volley from the British he 
fell, shot through the heart, being the first one killed in the 
Revolutionary War. His remains now rest under the Bunker 
Hill monument. In the language of James Russell Lowell : 

" The Concord Bridge which Davis, when he came, 
Found was the bee-line traclc to Heaven and fame." 

Herbert Clark. 

Mr. Clark, son of Adam Clark and Margaret Bennet, was 
born June 14, ICS54, in Collins, N. Y. He has been a mercan- 
tile clerk in SpringviUe, Belfast, Allegany county, and Gowanda, 
N. Y. He is a druggist by occupation. He was married Oct. 
28, 1878, to Lillian F. Emmett. 

James Colvin. 

Mr. Colvin was born in 1816. He is the second son in a fam- 
ily of four sons and one daughter; the daughter being the 
oldest. His father's name was John Colvin, his mother's 
maiden name was Lucy Frink. His grandfather, Luther Col- 
vin, settled in Danby, Vt., in 1765 ; he was a Quaker and a 
noted hunter and trapper. 

Mr. James Colvin married Lydia Gilbert. They resided in 
Vermont until February. 1873, when they moved to Missouri, 
remained there until December of the same year when they 
came to Collins and located on their pre.sent farm ; they have 
had nine children, viz : 

Lucy Ann, married Jared L. Cook ; reside in Danby, Vt.. 
Lucinda, married Wesley J. Leach; reside in Pawlet, Vt. 
David, married Ursula Kelly; reside in Collins, N. Y. Emma,, 
died at fourteen years of age. Nora, married J. C. Williams,. 



I 



lUOCkAI'HICAI. SKKICIIF.S. 65 I 

author of a history of Danby, Vt., wlierc the)- now reside. 
Merrit L., dead ; Noah, dead ; Henry, Willie, died }-()un<^f. 

Ahsoii a. Conger. 

Anson G. Coni^erwas born at Danby, Vt., on the 26th of Oct. 
181 2, and was consequejitl)^ in the sixty-eighth year of his age 
at the time of his death, which occurred Feb. 12, 1880. He 
was born of Quaker parentage, his father, Noah Conger, having 
been a preacher in that denomination. When quite young he 
was left in the care of his father's family. He taught school 
in Vermont when a )'oung man and afterwards engaged in sup- 
plying district school libraries in this state with books. 

He was married to Miss Portia White, daughter of Isaac 
White, in September, 1845, '^''"-' then settled in Collins, where 
he resided until his death. 

He was Supervisor of Collins in 1859 ^^^^ i860 and again in 
1878. In 1862 he represented his district in the Legislature, 
and in whatever body he appeared he made himself felt. He 
actix'ely engaged in business up to the time of his death, and 
was known for his shrewdness, industry and enterprise. 

Soon after taking up his residence in Collins, he entered upon 
the business of buying and selling lands and negotiating loans, 
and possessing a speculative turn of mind, together with a sound 
judgment, soon succeeded in accumulating a handsome fortune. 

Mr. Conger was a man of character and force and had the 
qualities of a leader. His brain was large and active and he 
was knf)wn as a man of quick antl am|)le resource. He was a 
man of gentle ([ualities. a kind husband and a most indulgent 
father. 

Mr. Conger had a son, J. Anson, who died in 1864. aged two 
years, and two daughters, Ella P. and Emma M., born repect- 
ively in 1853 and 1857. 

Ella P. was married in 1876 to Charles W. Goodyear. Esq., 
of Buffalo, where the\' now reside. They have a son and 
daughter, Anson C, born June 20, 1877 and Esther, born May 
20, 1 88 1. Emma M. was married in 1880 to Charles W. Lap- 
ham, of Chicago. The}' ha\'e one son, Anson G., born JuK' 14, 
J 88 1. 



652 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Noah Conger. 

Noah Conger, son of Almond D. and Sophronia Conger was born- 
in Collins April 26, 1841. He was married May 8, 186410 Mary 
Ann Heath, of Collins, N. Y. Shortly after his marriage he 
bought and occupied a farm situated one and a half miles north 
of Collins Center, and formerly known as the Stephen White 
farm, at which place he resided up to the time of his death, which 
occurred April 27, 1873. He was by nature a very ingenious 
mechanic, possessing a mind gifted with more than ordinary 
intellectual and originating power, which, with the limited means 
and opportunities afforded him, he had improved to the best 
advantage. 

As a farmer he was thrifty and industrious and commanded 
the respect of the community in which he was known. His 
widow still resides on the farm. He had a family of three 
children: Willie H., born Aug. 30, 1866 and died April ii,. 
1870. Ada, born May 4, 1871 and died July 27, 1875. Almon 
N., born March 27, 1873. 

David B. Conger. 

Mr. Conger was born in North Collins in 1847. His father's 
name was Noel Conger; his mother's maiden name was Bet- 
sey Sherman. Mr. C. resided in his native town until twenty 
years of age, when he moved to Collins, where he now resides- 
on a farm of 160 acres. He was married in 1867 to Angeline: 
Foster. 

Joseph H. Conger. 

Mr. Conger is a brother of David B.; was born in North Col- 
lins in 1830; came to Collins in 1861, where he resides on a 
farm of 102)^ acres. He was married in 1853 to Amanda M. 
Foster. 

They have two sons : Burt M. and Charlie F. A daughter,. 
Elnora G., died when seven years old. 

Sally C. Clark. 

Sally C. Clark, daughter of Lewis and Serrepta Trevett, was 
born in Homer, Cortland county, N. Y., Sept. ii, 1814; while 
young she removed with her parents to the Town of Concord, 
where she resided till 1849, when she married Timothy Clark. 



HIOCRAI'IHCAL ski: TCI IKS. 653 

of Collins, in which place she now lives; her husband died 
Aug. 7, 1873. She raised a family of fi\'e children : 

Florence, born Now 14, 1850; married Andrew W. Conger 
and resides in Collins. Fillmore, born July 14, 1852; died 
Dec. 3, 1873. Charles, born Oct. 25, 1855; married Jennie 
Canfield ; lives in Collins. Arthur, born March 21, 1857; mar- 
ried Antoinette Spaulding and resides on the old homestead. 
Douglass, born Sept. 21, i860, and lives in Collins. 

Tli«MMl<)r<' A. Caiifielcl. 

Mr. Canfield was a son of Sillick Canfield, who was born 
in Armenia, Dutchess county, N. Y. The following is Sillick 
Canfield's famih' record : 

I'AREXTS. 

Sillick Canfield, born Sept. 12, 1791 ; married Jan. 22, 18 14, 
to Susanna Tousy : died Sept. 20, 1865. Susanna Tousy, died 
March 4, 1857. 

CHILDREN. 

Orrin S., born Now 29, 1814; died Dec. 6, 1816. Orville S., 
born March 29, 18 16; married in 1841 to Sally Briggs ; resides 
in Minnesota. Lyman D., born April 28, 1818; died March 
28, 1822. Jane E., born April 20, 1820; married in 1839 to 
Bijah Gray: died Feb. 5, 1844. Theodore A., born Feb. 13,, 
1823; married in 1848 to Nancy S. Sampson. Newmon O., 
born Nov. 26, 1825 ; died July 8, 1829. Sarah A., born Feb. 
II. 1828: married in 1846 to A. G. Needham ; died Oct. 3, 
1 85 I. Helen M. (twin), born Jan. i, 183 i ; married in 1851 to 
Warren Gates; resides in Minnesota. Fllen S. (twin), born 
Jan. I, 1831 ; married in 1848, to John Sampson; resides in 
Missouri. Cecelia, born June 21, 1834; died Sept. 26, 1855. 

Theodore A. Canfield was born in Concord. When three 
years old the family moved to Boston, and back to Concord 
again in 1833. Mr. Canfield moved to Collins in 1866, where 
he has since resided ; has alwa\-s been a farmer. The follow- 
ing is his family record : 

Florence, born in February, 1850; married in 1872 to Frank 
Hunt. Walters., born Dec. 31. 1852; married in 1876 to Ida 



^54 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

May Potter. Jennie L., born Dec. 15, 1857; married in 1876 
to Charles Clark. Mary A., born Aug. 7, i860. 
Mrs. Canfield was born Oct. 15, 1825. 

Craiirtell Family. 

Luke Crandell, Sr., a soldier of the Revolution, came to Col- 
lins from Vermont about 181 5, with three sons — Darius Wil- 
liam and Philander, another son, Luke, Jr., having come several 
years before and ser\'ed in the war of 18 12. They were promi- 
nent among the early pioneers of Collins. They all resided in 
Collins till their death, except Luke, Jr., who died in Illinois. 

William Crandell was born in Danby, Vt., in 1795, and died 
in 1 861 or 1862. He married Betsey Harrington, also a native 
of Vermont ; she died in 1855 o^' 1856. The}- had nine chil- 
dren, all living : 

Three of the sons, Watson, James and Delos, settled in Mis- 
souri. W'atson was a Major in the Union army, and was twice 
a prisoner in Libby prison. Jefferson lives in Collins and Phi- 
lander in Steuben county. There are four daughters : Rachel 
livee in Wisconsin. Phoebe in Illinois, Sophia in North Collins, 
and Olive, who married Hiram Stage in 1843, and resides at 
Collins Center. 

Mr. Stage served in the war of the rebellion. They liave 
four children : 

Three sons, living in Buffalo, and one daughter, Mrs. Flora 
Cooper, of Concord. 

Moses Conger. 

Mr. Conger was born in what is now North Collins, Feb. 12. 
1826. He now resides on his farm near Collins. Mr. Conger 
has undoubtedly the largest herd of thorough-bred Ayrshire 
cattle in the southern towns of the county. At present ( 1881), 
he has thirty-four head. 

Mr. Conger was married in 1851, to Martha Wood. The}^ 
have one son, Lawton M., born April 5, 1865. 

Amasa L.. Chaffee. 

Amasa L. Chaffee, son of .Stephen Chaffee, was born in Rut- 
land, Vt., December, 1797. He had four brothers — Kingsley, 
James, Oliver and Ambrose, and three sisters — Lucy, Alzina 



II 



ni()(;RArnKAi, sKirrciiKs. 655 

and Ruba. Stephen Chaffee moved to Cazenovia, Madison 
count)', N. v., when Amasa was three years old, and when he 
was some twelve or fifteen }-ears old they moved to Attica, N. 
Y. At the age of seventeen years, he enlisted in the War of 
1812. At the close of the war, he learned the trade of wool 
carding and cloth dressing, and at the age of tuent\'-four he 
married Lydia W^ade, and moved to what is now Gowanda. in 
May, 1 82 1, carrying on the wool carding and cloth dressing 
business some ten years, building the first establishment of the 
kind in that ])lacc, it being cntircl}' new. He built the first 
frame house in that village having a brick chimney. He carried 
on the mercantile business from 1836 to Dec. 5, 1869, when he 
died, aged se\ ent\'-two \'ears. 

He held the office of Ju-tice of the Peace and Supervisor, 
and was also nominated for the office of Legislator and Con- 
gressman of his district. 

Mis wife died in Jul}', 1879, aged seventy-six years. 

WarrtMi X. Fish. 

Warren N. Fish, son of Royal and Harriet Fish, was born in 
Danby, V^t., Feb. 11, 1834. In 1847, ^^^ came with his parents 
to the Town of Hamburg, Erie county, N. V., and soon after 
removed to the Town of Rrant ; in 1851, he came to Collins, 
where he was engaged in farming until 1855, when he removed 
to Sauk county. Wis., where he remained for nine }'ears, being 
there emplo\'ed in farming, and, lasth', in 1864, again returned 
to Collins Center, where he now^ resides. 

His occupation has been various: Farm labor, photograph}', 
clerk in the store of Rates & White, and for several Winters 
taught school, and was also book-keeper and pa}'master for 
William A. Johnson. 

Mr. Fisk is a man of sound judgment and undoubted integ- 
rity. He is quiet and unobtrusive, contenting himself with his 
own concerns. 

April 15, 1855. he married Delia Harris, daughter of Esek 
and Susannah Harris of Collins. They have two children : 
Albert W., born Oct. 21, 1857, and Marion, born Sept. 3, 1869. 
Albert W. is a stenographer and is in the employ of I. L.Wood 
&Co. 



656 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Ainaiid Fischer. 

Amand Fischer, son of Amand and Mary Fischer, is a native 
-of Germany and was born in 1848. In 1868, he came to 
America and engaged in teaching German for three years ; 
after which he became employed in the brewery business, and 
at the present time he owns and runs a brewery and hotel, 
situated in Gowanda, N. Y. 

In 1869, he married Isabelle Goldcamp, who was born in 
•Ohio in 1847. He has a family of three children : 

Mary, born in 1870. Sophia, born in 1872. Adele, born in 
1874. 

William C iioUn. 

William C. Golm, son of John and Christian Golm, was born 
in Germany, March 22, 1855. He immigrated with his parents 
to America in the Fall of 1861. He resided with his parents 
at Aurora, Erie county, until 1876, when he came to Collins, 
where he has ever since resided, being engaged as a carpenter 
and builder, and is considered an excellent workman. While 
in Collins, he has been superintending workman in the build- 
ing of William A. Johnson's storehouse for cheese, situated at 
Collins Station, and also in the building of the dwelling-houses 
■of George Potter and George Waite. He is now engaged in 
building a residence for himself at Collins Station. He is 
moral and industrious. He has improved his mind to the best 
advantage with the limited means and opportunities which he 
possessed. 

Aug. 3, 1 88 1, he was married to Ruth Joslin, daughter of 
Henry Joslin of North Collins. 

Joseph Griftord. 

Joseph Gifford, son of Philip and Charity Gifford, was born 
in Hartford, Washington county, N. Y., Feb. 13, 181 3. W'hen 
two years old he was taken to live with his uncle, with whom 
he resided until he was twenty-two years of age. October 12, 
1834, he married Mary Ann Goodell, daughter of John and 
Ruth Goodell. In 1835, he came to Collins and located on 
one hundred acres of unimproved land, which was left to his 



HiO(;RAi'nicAi, ski; i( J IKS. 657 

wife b\- her father, to which Mr. (iiffortl lias acUietl fifty acres, 
which tarm he still owns and occui)ies. His children are: 

Ruth C, born Vcb. 2, 1836, who is unmarried and lives with 
her father. Mary E.. born Feb. 2, 1839, who married Avery 
Kniy^ht, and died in Collins October 18, 1873. Lovinda and 
Melinda, who are twins, and were born July i, 1841. Melinda 
is a maiden lad}- and lives with her father. Lovinda married 
Martin Lewis, Jan. 13, 1863, and resides at Jamestown, X. \'. 
She has two chiklren ; Am\- G., born Oct. 12, 1S74. and (irace 
M., born April 6, 1878. Mar}' E. had one son, Irwin A., born 
April 6, 1870, who, since the death of his motlier, lives with 
his i;randfather. 

Isaac Hunt. 

Isaac Hunt, son of iJaniel and Merc)' Hunt, was born in 
Pittstown, Rensselaer county, X. Y., June 14, 1808. In 1817, 
he came with his parents to what is now the town of North 
Collins, and located near where Lawton's Station now is. 
When he was seventeen \-ears of age, he was bound out to 
Smith Rartlett, of whom he learned the trade of tanner and 
currier. In 1831, he married Diantha Albee, daughter of Ben- 
jamin and Abigail Albee. Shortly after his marriage he took 
an article for fift)- acres of land in Collins, upon which he built 
a tannery and followed his trade until 1852, when he went to 
California, where he was engaged as a merchant, keeping a 
miner's store. In 1854. he returned to his family in Collins, 
where he has since resided, being engaged in farming. Mr. 
Hunt is among the early settlers of Collins, and has encoun- 
tered all the obstacles and prixations necessarily experienced 
during the establishment of a home in an unsettled country. 
He came to Collins when it was but thinly settled, but he has 
had the pleasure of seeing the town become populous and 
sujiplieci with nearly all the needful ad\antages for domestic 
comfort. He is a quiet, industrious and unobtrusive man, con- 
tenting himself with his own affairs. When Mr. Hunt was a 
young man, w ild beasts were still to be found in Collins, espe- 
cially bears and wolves of w hich he tells many capital stories, 
one of which happened about hft\-fi\e years ago, is worthy of 
notice. One of his neighbors. Mr. Cadwcll, observed that his 



658 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

corn was being destroyed, as he thought, by his neighbor's 
large black hogs, which were allowed to run at large. Mr. Cad- 
well told his neighbor of the ravages which his hogs were mak- 
ing in his corn field and that if he did not keep them out of 
his field he would shoot them. On going to his corn field a 
few days later he saw that the same ruin was still going on, 
whereupon he loaded his gun and told his son,, a boy of twelve 
years to go to the field, and if he saw his neighbor's hogs 
there to shoot them. The boy took his stand in the field, and 
after watching until near sunset, was about to go home when 
he heard the intruder crashing through the corn which \vas so 
tall as to prevent the boy seeing the animal until it came very 
close to him, when it arose upon its hind-feet upon which the 
boy fired, and without waiting to see the effect of his shot ran 
home and informed his father that he had shot the neighbor's 
largest black hog. On going to the field the}' found dead, not 
the neighbor's hog, but a very large black bear which had 
ravaged the corn. The names of his children are : 

Warren P., born March 23, 1832, and lives in Idaho. Ciar. 
issa, born June 2, 1836; married Reed Clark and resides in 
Collins. Benjamin F., born May 18, 1850; married Florence 
Canfield and resides with his father on the old homestead. 
The names of Benjamin's children are : 

Ira B , born in 1874, and Coridan ¥., born in 1877, and died 
in Sept. 1881. 

Plyii Holteii. 

Mr. Holten was born in Dorset, Bennington county, Vt., in 
1832. He studied medicine two years but never practiced. He 
wasmarriedin 1858 to Francis A. Williams. In 1856 Mr. Holten 
engaged in mercantile pursuits at Danb}', Vt., which he con- 
tinued at that place for twenty years. He was Post-Master at 
the same place fourteen years and Justice of the Peace three 
terms. In 1876 he removed to Collins Center, N. Y., and 
engaged in trade at that place where he now resides. Mr. and 
Mrs. Holten have three children : Carrie F., Herbert P. and 
Lillie May. Nellie Gay, twin sister of Lillie May, died an 
infant. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 659 

John Heiii. 

Mr. Hcin's ancestors were natives of Alsace, France, from 
which place his father, Clemens Hein, his mother, Elizabeth 
Beekman Hein, and his {grandfather, came to this country. His 
grandfather was a soldier of Napoleon. 

John was born in Aurora, N. Y., April 21, 1852. He fol- 
lowed the occupation of gardener in Hamburg, for three years. 
In I.S59 he became an employee of the Hon. A G. Conger and 
has continued in his service and that of his family since. 

Erastus L. Harris. 

Erastus L. Harris, son of Esek and Susanna Harris, is a 
native of (Collins and was born Jan. 4, 1871. He resided in 
Collins until 1854, at which time he went to California and there 
engaged in mining until the Fall of 1857, when he returned to 
Collins. In the F'all of 1858 he went to Iowa, where he bought 
land and engaged in farming until the breaking out of the late 
rebellion in the Spring of 1861, when he returned to Collins 
where he was chosen to represent the famous Ellsworth Regi- 
ment, the 44th New York Volunteers. On the 8th of August, 
1861 he was mustered into service at Alban)' and joined the 
Army of the Potomac under General McClellan, in front of 
Washington, in November of the same year. While serving 
in this regiment he was appointed Corporal and Sergeant. He 
served in this regiment until No\-ember, 1863, at which time he 
was promoted to second Lieutenant in the ninth United States 
colored troops, and in the Spring of 1865 he was promoted to 
first Lieutenant, which position he occupied until the close of 
the war, when he resigned August, 1865. He was in all the 
battles in which his regiment was engaged, participating in 
the siege of Yorktown and the battles of Hanover Court House, 
Malvern Hill, second Bull Run, Antietam, Shepardstown F^ord, 
P'redericksburg, December, 1863, Chancelorsville, Middletown 
and Gettysburg. He was in the above-named battles while in 
the 44th Regiment. While Lieutenant in the United States 
colored troops he was engaged in the operations about Charles- 
ton until August, 1864, when he went to Virginia, and was 
here engaged in the siege of Petersburg, Strawberry Plains, 
besides numerous severe skirmishes, and was also in the lines 



66o BIOGRArHICAL SKETCHES. 

before Richmond when that last stronghold of the rebellion 
surrendered and was among the first to enter it after its sur- 
render. 

At the close of the battle of Malvern Hill he was the only 
officer in his company who was not either killed or disabled, 
and for a short time after this battle he was in command of his 
compan}', and for his meritorious conduct in this battle he was 
mentioned in general orders by Gen. Daniel Butterfield, Brig- 
ade Commander, and recommended for promotion. 

In February, 1863, he was married to Emily A. Smith; 
daughter of Gilbert P. Smith, of Springdalc, Cedar county, 
Iowa, and Lydia Smith, then deceased. At the close of the 
war he returned to Collins. He has a famih- of five children : 

Howard L., born Oct. 22 1864. Earl W., born April 28, 
1868. Alice, born March 13, 1871. Mary, born March 18, 
1873. Gilbert P., born Nov. 12. 1875. 

Elizabeth Hudson. 

Elizabeth Hudson, daughter of Stephen and Mary Wilber, 
was born in Scipio, N. Y., Sep*. 25, 1810 ; when }'oung she 
came with her parents to what is now the Town of Collins 
Marcii 8, 1832; she married Stukeh' Hudson, who was born 
March 21, 18 12, and died in Collins in February, 1868. After 
the death of her husband Mrs. Hudson removed to Collins 
Center, where she now resides. She had but one son, Stephen, 
born Ma\' 23, 1834, and died in Collins Nov. 3, 1866. Stephen 
was twice married ; his second wife still survives him, and is 
now the wife of Charles Russell. Mrs. Hudson has three 
grandchildren : 

Grace, born March 11. 1859; married Herbert Reynolds and 
resides at Cc^llins Center. Elmer and Louisa, who live with 
their stepfather, Charles Russell. 

Orra L. C Huj»lies, Kscj. 

Mr. Hughes was born in York count}'. Pa., Oct. 14, 1836, of 
colored parents, and is a notable example of what indomitable 
perseverance and indefatigable energy will do for a person in 
the struggle for talent and position. Not onh' his color, but 
unpropitious circumstances and ad\'ersc surroundings, hav^e 



I!I()(;K.\!'1II> AI, SKI;|( IlKs. 661 

S()UL;"lit to letter his success. Tlidt his struL;"L(lcs h;i\'e achieved 
for liini an eiU'iable |)ositioii in life is ex'ident from the respon- 
sible positions he has held and the auto^i^raph letters he has 
from men jirominc-nt in the ])o]iticsand literature of the nation. 
He began life as a farm laborer, then scliool teacher and printer. 
He has edited and published sexeral newspapers in different 
parts of the United States, has delivered lectures and always 
been foremost in movements tendinis" to the elevation of his 
race. He was at one time Superintentlent of I-lducation in 
Tennessee, and was appointed by President Hayes Consul to 
St. Marc, Ha}-ti, but never entered ui)on the duties of his office 
on account of the prex.dence of )'ellow fe\er at that ]jlace. He 
was admitted to the bar, and is now a lethal practitioner at Col- 
lins Center. 

i\('ll<i(']l rloIUISOII. 

Kendell Johnson, father of the late Hon. William .V. John- 
son, was born in 1786 in Wendell, Mass., from which place he 
came to Collins in i<Si i and located on lot nine, township seven, 
ranj^e eight. Mr. Johnson was one of the earliest pioneers 
whose hardihood and energ\- lead the wa)' from the unbroken 
forest to the productive fields and fine homes that constitute 
the Collins of to-day. He made the mill-stones for Taylor's 
mill at Taylor Hollow and Aldrich's mill at Gowanda. the first 
grist mills built in town. After chopi)ing on his newl\' acquired 
estate all Summer, he walked to Massachusetts and back. 
When he came to Collins he was single, but in 1813 he married 
01i\e Townsend, daugliter of Jonathan Townsend. b\- whom 
he had fi\x children : 

Kendell, born Jan. 21. 1S14; married Lucinda Washburn; 
died in Wisconsin about 1870. .Sarah, born fan. 29, 1816; 
married first,. Jared King, who died in 1846; second, Hiram 
Lindsley. David, born March 12, 1818 ; married Nanc\' Ouinn; 
lives in Wisconsin. Charles, born May 29, 1829; married Lu- 
cinda Carle}-; lives in Kansas. Ruth, born Now 25, 1822; 
married Hiram Hathaway; died in Vermont. 

His first wife having died in 1826, he was married a second 
time to Julia Ford, by w honi he had four children : 

Eli, Martha, Mary K. and William A. 



662 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Mr. Johnson died Feb. 26, 1834. His second wife died in 
September, 1877, aged seventy-eight years. 

W^illiaiii A. Johnson. 

VVilham A. Johnson, son of Kendall Johnson, was born in 
Collins, May 26, 1834, on the farm his father located in 181 1, 
He succeeded his father on the old homestead and lived there 
until 1877, when he removed to Collins Center. His education 
was attained in the district school, with the exception of one 
term at Westfield Academy. He taught several terms in the 
district schools ; was twice elected Supervisor of his town (in 
1876 and '78), and twice represented the Fifth Assembh' dis- 
trict (in 1875 and '79) at Albany. 

He was, perhaps, the most extensive cheese manufacturer in 
the world, being at the time of his death sole and part owner 
in fifty-nine factories, that during the best of the season turned 
out seven hundred cheese daily, each weighing some sixty 
pounds. He erected an immense storehouse for his business 
at Collins Station, three stories, with basement ; 150 feet long- 
by sixty feet wide. 

In 1862, he was married to Miss LucindaA. Potter, by whom 
he had four children, viz.: 

Curtis A., Elton E., Grace E. and Edith A. 

Mr. Johnson died at Collins Center, July 19, 188 1, \'ery sud- 
denly, and his loss was felt to be a great calamity at the time, 
but Mrs. Johnson and her two eldest sons took hold of his 
immense business, and have very successfulh' carried it on 
since. 

Mr. Johnson was a man of great cnerg\' and whate\"erhe un- 
dertook was carried forward to completion, and he was 
possessed also of good business ciualifications, which rendered 
his undertakings remunerative, and luid he been spared the 
allotted span of life, he would ha\'e acquired a great fortune. 
As it was, he left his family in independent circumstances. A 
kind and indulgent father, a loving husband, a true friend and 
a safe counselor, can be truthfull)- said of William A. Johnson. 

Kli F. ffoliusou. 

Mr. Johnson has always been engaged in farming and owns 
a fine farm about two miles south of Collins Center. 



I 



RIOCK.M'inCAI- SKKTCllKS. 663 

About , he married Miss Dimmis M. Allen. They have 

four children : Lillx' E., Mary V., who died Dec. 27, 1865, 
Jessie R. and Allen K, 

/ 

floliii 11. tlohiisoii. 

Mr. Johnson's father. John T. J(ihnson, referred to in an- 
other part of this work — was one of the earh' pioneers of Col- 
lins. John II. Johnson was born in Collins Ma)' 29. 1835, 
where he has since resided. Heis a successful farmer and has 
been assessor of this town for nine )'ears, and is now (1883) 
Supervisor of Collins. 

Mr. Johnson was married in 1858 to Helen White. They 
liax'e two sons : Daniel, born Feb. i. 1863, and Frank, born Nov. 
23, 1866. 

Francis Joheiigen. 

Francis Johengen was born in North Collins, Jan. 18. 1847. 
His father, Michael Johengen, was of Prussian birth. His 
mother, Margaret Culp, was born in h' ranee. Mr. Johengen 
was married in 1869 to Susanna Lackas. They have three 
children, viz.: 

Rachel L., Margaret M. and Lucell M. Mr. Johengen is a 
mechanic. 

KiiiU'lit Family. 

Nathaniel Knight was born in Chatham, Columbia county, 
N. Y., Jan. i, 1792, where he was married to Polly Chadwick, 
three )-ears his junior. They mo\-ed to Middlefield, Otsego 
county, N. Y., about 18 14, and from there to Collins about 
1 8 19, locating on lot seventy-five, about three miles east of Col- 
lins Center, where he always resided up to the time of his 
death, Oct. 7, 1864. His wife having previously died Nov. 15, 
1857. Mr. Knight was the second Supervisor elected in the 
town of Collins, holding the office for eight )-ears in succession, 
from 1822 upwards. He was elected Member of Assembly in 
1830, being the first Assembh'man elected south of the Reser- 
vation. The following is Mr. Knight's family record : 

Francis L., born Aug. 6, 1815, in Otsego county; married, 
first wife, Marie White, second wife, Nanc\' Dunham. He died 



664 BIOGRAI'IIICAl, SKETCHES. 

in March, 1873. Deborah J., born June i, 181 7, in Otsego 
county; married Job Wilber. John, born Feb. 13, 1821 ; died 
May 29, 1880, in Colhns. Sarah Ann, born March 16, 1823; 
married James Neiper; died on the old homestead, March 29, 
1859. Ruth A., born Aug, 7, 1827 ; married Humphrey Rus- 
.sell and resides in Colhns. Caleb, born Aug. 8, 1828; resides 
in Kansas. Betsey died when a child. William S., born Jan. 
10, 1833 ' married Maryette Sherman and resides in Kansas. 

Stephen T. Knight was a son of Francis L. Knight. He 
was married tf) Fmma Parkenson in 1865. He resides in Col- 
lins Center, and is a Justice of the Peace. 

flolui Kiii.i>']it. 

John Knight was a nativ^e of Collins and was born in 1829. 
He married Silvia Ann White, daughter of Stephen and Sally 
White. He owned and occupied up to the time of his death, 
which occurred in 1880, a farm known as the Herrick farm. 
At about 1870, while riding on the New York and Erie Rail- 
road, the train was thrown from the track, by which he received 
injuries, from the efTects of which he never fully recovered and 
which ultimately resulted in his death. At the time of his 
accident he received a severe wound on the head from which 
his memory and intellect ever after seemed to be dazed. 

He raised but one son, Reuben, who married Miss Palmer- 
ton, daughter of Evans Palmerton of Michigan. Reuben 
occupies and works the old homestead. 

Monroe Kelley. 

Joseph Kelie}', Monroe's father, was born in 1807. in Danby, 
Rutland county, Vt. His wife's maiden name was Harriet 
Rudel, and she was born in Danb}' in 1 809. They came to 
Hamburgh, Erie ccninty, N. Y., in 1834. and to Collins in 1838, 
and now reside in Zoar. Their children are : 

P^rancis, born in I)anb>-, V^t., and married Abagail Bates, and 
is a farmer and lives in Zoar, Collins. Nanc\-, born in Danby, 
Vt., and married George Bates and lives in Otto, Cattaraugus 
county. Monroe Kelley was born in Plamburgh in 1835; came 
to Collins with his parents in 1838, where he has ever since 
resided. He married Rosaltha Babcock. He has been engaged 
in farming and has also followed the business of buying and 



lUOCKAl'lllCAI. SKKTCIIKS. 665 

scllini;- stock to a consitlcrablc extent for several years past. 
He has no chiUlren. Delinca married Daniel Bridenbecker, 
and lives in Arcade, Wyominj^^ county, N. Y. Marxin married 
Alice Kelley, and lives in Collins. He is a farmer. 

Caleb KiiifAlit. 

Caleb Knio-ht is a son of Nathaniel Kni^dit. He was born 
in Collins Aug-. 8, 1828. He has been twice married. First to 
Fanny Matthews, second to Mary Rush, by whom he has two 
dauL^hters: Laura A. and Emma. 

In 1868 Mr. Knight removed to Effingham, Atchison 
county, Kansas, where he is engaged in farming. 

Kiii.&r Family, 

In the Spring of 181 1, Allan, Arnold and John King came 
in company with others from Danby, Vt., to Collins. They 
located on lot forty-nine, near Collins Center. They built a 
log-house and in the Fall, their father, Nathan King, and the 
rest of the family came. Allan, the oldest who was married 
then moved on to lot fifty-six, from there he moved to Zoar ; 
from Zoar on to the farm now owned by John Becker, in Col- 
lins, where he lived until his death in 1851. He married Rezina 
Thompson, who died in i860. They had eight children, as 
follows : 

Mariette, born April 27, 1812 ; married Sylvenus Bates, Jr.; Mr. 
Bates died April 7, 1874. Lydia, born Dec. 28, 181 3; died in 
1855. Harlan, born Oct. 2, 181 5 ; married Phoebe Irish; he died 
in 185 I. Emily, born Jan. 6, 1818 ; died in 1822. William T., 
born Aug. 17, 1820; married Lucy Cook. Alvin J., born May 
1 ] 1824; married Susan A. Southworth. Charlotte, born May 
18, 1828; married George Southworth. Amanda, born April 
18, 1832 : died in 1834. 

Mrs. Bates, the oldest, had two children : Melissa A., born 
in Nov., 1835; died Nov., 1872; she married Hiram Cook. 
Sarah W.,born in Dec, 1844; married Butler Potter. 

Arnold was married in Vermont to Candace Cook and had a 
large family of children. He died in Cattaraugus county 
about 1870. 



666 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

John married Tryphenia Pratt. He died in one of the west- 
ern states about 1872. 

The father, Nathan King, died in ColHns in 1830, aged sev- 
enty-six. He married Mary Viol, who died in 1842, aged 
seventy-four. The following are the names of their children : 

Allan, married Rezina Thompson. John T., married Try- 
phena Pratt. George, married Betsey Hazard. Lydia, married 
Ira Waterman. Polly, married Adolphus Albee. Phila, mar- 
ried Edwin Farnsworth. Chloe, married Hiram Hazard. Ar- 
nold, married Candace Cook, Isaac, married Emily Allan. 
Jared, married Sarah Johnson. Charlotte, married Jared Can- 
field. Sally, married Thomas Farnsworth. Angelinc, married 
William Farnsworth. 

Henry Kouard. 

Mr. Konard was born in Mecklenberg. Germany, Jan. 21, 
1843. He came from thereto Otto, N. Y., the December after 
he was twenty-three years old. He remained there six years then 
came to Collins. He has always been a farmer. He was mar- 
ried in 1865 to Kate Hahgolstone, who was born March 26,. 
1833. They have had five children, viz: 

Mary and Minnie, born April 21, 1866. Henry, born March 
5, 1869. Charles, born Aug. 5, 1871. Louise, born July 30,. 
1875 ; died Aug. 15, 1881. 

Aaron Lindsey. 

Aaron Lindsey was born in Connecticut. He came to 
Madison county in this State and remained a few years. He 
came to Collins to look for land in 1809, and located on lot 
forty-two, township six, range eight, and moved his family on 
in March, 1810. His brother-in-law, Arad Howard, came with, 
him and located on the same lot. They had to cut their own 
road part of the way from Boston. , 

His children were : Almond, who married Rachel Smith.. 
Aaron, who married Tryphena Bates. Sally married Wright 
Jewel. Ira I., died young. Betsy married Jeremiah Smith. Moses 
married Hannah Bates. Norman married Lucretia Bates. 
Hiram married Sarah Johnson. Simeon married Mary Eaton- 
Lucy married Asa Patch. 



tf 



hi()(;rai'IIIca[, sketches. 667 

Aaron Liiidsey, .Tr. 

Aaron Liiuisc}-, Jr., was born in the Town of Nelson, Mad- 
ison county, N. Y., April 19, 1807, '^'^^^^ ^^''^^ married to Try- 
phena l^ates, in the Town of Collins, Nov. 23, 1828. 

Tryphena Bates was born in Orant^e, Franklin county, Mass., 
Aug". 4, iSii. The}' have resided in Collins about seventy 
years. Their children were: 

Sylvia, born Nov. 30, 1829. Sylvenus, born Oct. 18, 1831. 
Daniel F., born Aug. 21, 1833. Orissa, born May 15, 1836. 
Richard C, born April 8, 1838. Luc}', born Jan. 9, 1842. 
Mary Loretta, born Sept. 20, 1846. 

Sylvia died Sept. 14, 1849. Orissa married William Barn- 
hart, and died Jul}- 28, 1 856. Daniel died in December, 1877. 
Richard married Malora Chafee, and died May 2, 1877. Syl- 
x'enus married Dorcas Bartlett, since died. Lucy married Albert 
Halcomb, and resides in Collins. Mary Loretta married Nathan 
Peasley, and resides in Collins. 

When Mrs. Tryphena Lindsey was a small girl four or five 
years old, her father, Syh'enus Bates lived at Taylor Hollow. 
One day she undertook to walk across the mill race there on a 
couple of poles, and fell into the water. David and John Wil- 
ber, then fourteen and sixteen years of age, happening to be 
at the mill, saw her fall in and ran and rescued her from drown- 
ing. This happened sixty-five years ago, and the ])arties are 
all still living in Collins. 

Georji*' Lenox. 

George Lenox, a native of Ireland, was born in 1 809. In 
about 1830, he came to America and bought a farm in Collins, 
situated three miles north of Collins Center, where he was en- 
gaged in farming, until the time of his death, which took place 
May 16, 1871. 

In 1832, he married Elizabeth Skeggs, daughter of William 
Skeggs. His widow survives him and resides at Collins Cen- 
ter. They raised a family of nine children : 

Jane, who married Rufus Washburn, and lives in North Col- 
lins. William S., who was a Sergeant in Company D, Tenth 
New York Cavalry, and died in 1862, at Alexandria, from the 
effects of a wound received at Bristol Station. George H.,who 



668 BKXIRAI'IIICAL SKETCHES. 

was also a soldier of his country in the darkest days of her tri- 
als and dangers ; he died in a rebel prison ; his friends were 
unable to learn the particulars of his capture and death. Ljxlia 
M., who married Charles Potter, and lives in Collins. Francis, 
who married Lucy Washburn, and lives in Collins. Johanna, 
who married John Sherman, and resides in Collins. Chauncy 
B. and Selam, who own and occupy the old homestead, and 
Ellen, who married Charles Ottenbacher and lives in Collins. 

The Liiphaiii Family. 

Abram Lapham came to Collins in 1809, from Genesee 
county. He was formerly from Ames, Mass. He purchased 
in the vicinity of what is now known as Bagdad, one thousand 
acres of fine timber land. The next year his son Stephen 
came, who, in 18 14, built a saw-mill where the m^ll now stands 
at Bagdad. Stephen was married in Genesee county to Mar- 
garet Robinson. His brothers were John, Daniel, Savery and 
Ira. None of the family reside in Collins at present. Their 
descendants are living in Oakland county, Mich. 

Samuel Lumbard. 

Samuel Lumbard, an old and respected citizen of Collins^ 
was born in the Town of Wells, Rutland county, Vt., in 1820. 
He married Aurelia Hopkins and came to Collins in 1836. He 
owns and occupies a farm known as the Hopkins farm. He 
has one son : 

Albertus, who married Matilda Wickham, daughter of Hu- 
ram and Louisa Wickham. Albertus resides with his father and 
assists in working the farm. 

Mr. Lumbard has also an adopted daughter : 

Ida, who married Walter Canfield, and lives in Collins Center. 

John 3Iilli.s. 

John Millis and wife came to this country on foot, some 
three hundred miles. He brought a gun and pack upon his 
back and an axe in his hand, and she carried a child nearly two 
years old. Millis located some two hundred acres on lot sev- 
enty-five, township seven, range seven, which is now in the 
Town of Collins. The first night he built a fire by the side of 



J5|()(.KArilI(;A[, SKK'I'CHKS. 669 

a tree, aiul witli tlic aid of his axe he constructed a shelter for 
his wife and child. The next day he set about preparinj^ a 
more substantial abode for his family. He built a cabin, but 
had no door, this necessarj' article was improx'ised out of hem- 
lock boughs. Mrs. Millis, when in after years she related these 
experiences, often spoke of the wolves. W'hen pressed with 
hunger the\' would often gather near the cabin, and nights 
would be weird and hideous by their bowlings. She tells of the 
boldness of one old she-wolf; her husband was away; she 
was performing her usual household duties; her child was 
about the cabin ; she raised her eyes to the door ; a sight was 
there that would shock the nerves of almost any one ; the ugly 
and gaunt form of an old slie-wolf stood peering in. She said 
" its eyes shone like balls of fire, and when it met her gaze it 
showed its cold, murderous teeth, then turned and slowly 
walked off." 

John Millis was a character that pertained to that period, 
and one would almost infer that nature, at the start, had de- 
signed him for the very position which he occupied. Of low 
stature, broad shoulders and possessed of the strength of an 
ox, he had a constitution that never wearied, a will that never 
yielded until the object sought . had been attained. Uncle 
David Wilber says that he has often met John with two bush- 
els of corn upon his back, which would be carried to Aldrich's 
mill at Lodi and would be returned to his home in meal the 
.same day, making the task in coming and going fully sixteen 
miles. He was a great chopper, and day in and day out, early 
and late, Summer or Winter might be heard the echo of John 
Millis' sturdy and telling blows, and they were truly telling, 
and the dense, heavy forest soon crept away from his cabin 
door and its place was supplanted by broad, fruitful fields. 
A large family of stalwart sons and daughters (thirteen in num- 
ber) who partook largely of their parent's industrious habits, 
lent their willing hands in aiding John Millis to clear his farm. 
Scarcely had a score of years gone by before he sold one-half 
of his cultivated claim to Esquire Nathaniel Knight, who gave 
as a consideration enough to secure a clear title to the other 
half; and he found the great aim of all his bitter toils and pri- 
vations accomi)lished. He held in fee-simple a deed to his 



670 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

home, a home that \\'as bei^un that dismal April ni'jht by the 
side of a tree in that great wilderness with onl}- the compan- 
ionship of the wolf, whose weird howl often disturbed his slum- 
bers. A neat and tasty cottage had taken the place of the 
rude log structure, fruits and flowers grew, bloomed and ma- 
tured about its door, and ere this honest, industrious couple 
had attained the summit of life, -they were enabled to spend 
the remainder of their days in comparative ease. John gave 
up the making of black salts, and Mrs. Millis did not toil as 
busy and constant with her loom and distaff. 

Some thirty years ago Mrs. Millis died, and though this made 
a broken home and was a truly a great sorrow to the toil-worn 
pioneer, still he remained on the farm until all his large family 
of boys and girls had gone out into the world for themselves. 
The most of them had gone WY-st. Some twenty-five years 
ago he sold the old homestead and followed them ; then he had 
reached more than the allotted span of three score and ten, 
still he was hale and acti^'e. and devoted his time and means in 
establishing each of his children in a home; he ga\'e to each a 
deed of fifty acres of land and he passed his days in visiting 
alternately among them. 

Georg-e J. Motzger. 

George J. Metzger, son of George and Catharine Metzger, is 
a native of Germany, and was born Feb. 26, 1832.. In 1842 he 
came to America with his parents, and in 1852 he was married 
to Catharine .Scott, daughter of Robert and Lucina Scott, of 
North Collins. He is engaged in farming, owning a farm in 
North Collins, upon which his son Millard resides, and also one 
in Collins which he occupies. The names of his children are 
as follows : 

Millard G., born March 30, 1855, who married Kmma Al- 
drich and lives in North Collins. Caroline, born May 19, 1858, 
who married Ernest Valentine and lives in North Collins. 
Emma, who died young. Alice, born Aug. 11, 1861. John, 
born Jan. 18, 1863, Leonard, born May 15, 1864, and died 
March 15, 1866. Sylvester, born March 6, 1867, and died May 
30, 1867. 



BHXIRAl'lIICAL SKETCHES. 67 I 

Saiiiiiel Ttiliiias*' Mmij;or. 

Samuel Talmagc Muiit^cr was born at Roxbury, Conn., 
Feb. 6, 1805, and in the year 1816, his father, Samuel Monger, 
removed to Warsaw, Wyoming county, and soon after bound 
out his son Samuel to his brother, Deacon John Munger of 
Warsaw to learn the trade of tanner and shoemakx-r. After 
his majority he carried on the shoe business at W^arsaw till 
the year 1829. In Jul}' he came to Gowanda, then Lodi, and 
engaged in the tanning and shoe business in connection with 
Nathaniel Frank, under the firm name of Frank & Munger. 
Subsequently Gideon Webster purchased the interest of Mr. 
Frank and the firm name became Munger & Webster, who for 
several years carried on — for those times — a large and success- 
ful business in which he achieved success. In 1839, ^^^- Mun- 
ger retired from mercantile business and engaged in farming, 
having purchased the farm of Thomas B. Sowle, one mile east 
of the village, where he continued to reside until 1853, when 
he purchased the farm and built the house where he died. In 
the fall of 1829, Mr. Munger returned to Warsaw and married, 
October i, Miss Cornelia Clark, daughter of Daniel Clark, Esq., 
of Pawlet, Vt., with whom he lived pleasantly until her death, 
June 19, 1852. In 1853, he married Eliza Haskell of Sandy 
Hill, N. Y., who survived him. Of his seven children, three 
sons died in infancy and William in Oct., 1863, at the age of 
twenty-five years, leaving a wife, Rachel, daughter of George 
Sisson, and a son. Milton H. Munger, now of Glens Falls, N. 
Y. Jennette, his only daughter, married Sumner C. W'arren, 
and after his death in Oct., 1865, was married to George Kirby, 
Jr., of New Bedford, Mass.. Oct., 1869, where she now resides. 
Charles, his eldest son, went to Kansas in 1868 and married 
Mary Walters of Effingham, Kan., where they now reside. 
Samuel Clark, his youngest child, succeeded to the homestead. 

In all the relations of life Mr. Munger hds acted well his 
part having been a kind husband and father and a good citizen. 
It is not too much to say that few if any shared more largely 
in the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and fellow- 
citizens. 

He died April 14, 1875, ^.ged seventy years, after a lingering 
illness, and his funeral was attended at his late residence, where 



672 ki()(;rai>iii(AI skktches. 

a large number leathered to show resj^ect for the dead andsj'm- 
pathy for the Hving. Trul)' it may be said of him. " The 
remembrance of tlie just shall not pass away.'" 
»i allies Mattlu'w.s. 

Mr. Matthews' father, Francis Matthews, mo\'ed to Collins 
from Essex county, N. Y., (formerlx' from Vermont), in 1833, 
where he lived until his death. He married Roxena Aldrich. 

James Matthews was born in Irasburg, Orleans count}', Vt., 
Feb. 3, 1823 ; came to Essex county when fi\e \'ears old and 
from there to Collins with tiie family. Has always claimed a 
residence in Collins and North Collins since. 

In the .S])ring of 1849, Mr. Matthews went to Illinois, 
remained a } ear, then started for California and reached Salt 
Lake City in July, 1859; remained there until the subsequent 
Spring, teaching school during the Winter. In July, 1851, he 
reached California and was engaged in mining there until 1853, 
when he returned to Collins and engaged in lumbering until 
the Fall of 1861 when he enlisted, Sept. i6th, in Company D, 
Tenth N. Y. Ca\-alry. He participated in nearly every battle 
in which the Army of the Potomac took part. He was ne\-er 
wounded, sick, or excused irom duty a minute during his ser- 
vice. He was commissioned second Lieutenant Dec. 22, 1862, 
and first Lieutenant July 16, 1864. He was mustered out of 
service at Petersburg, Ya.. Nov. 22, 1864. At the close of the 
war he returned and engaged in farming in \orth Collins 
where he resided until 1880, when he moved to Collins Center, 
where he is now engaged in the general grocer\- trade. 

James H. McMillain. 

Mr. McMillain was born in Aug., 1806, in Onondaga count)-, 
N. Y., from which place he came to Gowanda in 1821, where 
he resided until his death Sept. 26, 1879, which was occasioned 
by the running awa\- of his horse in the streets of (Gowanda. 
Vov several \'ears afte-' coming to Gowanda Mr. McMil- 
lain was in the employ of the Plumbs who were exten- 
sive real estate owners and business men. Afterward he 
engaged in the grocery trade for hiniself which he continued 
until his death. His sons Robert and George continue the 
business. 



l!|()(iUArillC.\L SKKK'IIKS. (ij I 

Mr. McMilhiin was Constable, Collector and Deputy Sheriff 
t..r thirteen years in succession, and Supervisor of Collins in 
1854 and 1 855. He received the appointment of Commissioner 
to locate and build the road throui;h the Cattarau<,ais Indian 
Reservation, which occupied a period of four years. 

He was married in 1832 to Clarissa Grannis, dau^ditcr of 
David Grannis. Of their children there are iivini;- Robert and 
(George, who are successfully conducting the grocery and pro- 
vision trade at Gowanda, and iM'ances, who married Henry 

Russell. 

Their great-grandfather, James McMillain, was a resident of 
Perthshire, Scotland. Their grandfather was the youngest son 
by the last wife of their great-grandfather, which last u ife was 
the sister of James Alexander, who figured in the war of the 
revolution in this country as Lord Stirling. He died in Phila- 
delphia before the war ended. The AicMillains who came to 
this country were Peter, Jane and Joseph. The latter was their 
•Tandfather. }ane was married in the old country to a man by 
The name of James Miller. They all first stopped in Provi- 
dence, R. 1. Joseph was married in Rhode Lsland to A\is 
Howen .md followed the sea some few years and afterwards 
moved to the State of New York, Town of Galway, Saratoga 
county. He was with James Alexander, or Lord Stirling, in 
his last sickness, in Philadelphia, but went home on business 
and Lord Stirling died in his absence and was buried before he 

returned. 

Mr. McMillain was appointed to superintend the construction 
of a road across the Lulian Reserv.ition from Lodi to the mouth 
of Cattaraugus Creek. The following extract from a letter ex- 
plains itself : 

HlM'l'Al.o, Sept. 22, 1843. 

James II. McMilUun, lisq. 

Dear Sir: — Having tra\eled the road across the hidian 
Reservati(Mi from Lodi to the mouth of the Cattaraugus Creek, it 
affords us great pleasure to say that it is wisely located and better 
constructed than any public road we have examined for many 
years. We think it as perfect as it could have been made 



674 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

with the sum expended, and that the Superintendent of the 
work is well deserving the public thanks. 

Thomas L. \^()\'Yl, Judge of Eric county. 

Ira Cook, 

.fosepli Mugridge. 

Mr. Mugridge was born in Kent county, England, April 8, 
1822. He came to America in 1833 and settled in Utica, N .Y.; 
removed to Buffalo in i84i,and became a member of the firm 
of Mugridge & Son ; he remained a member of the firm a short 
time. In 1852 he went to California and engaged in mining 
for about two years when he returned to BulTalo and engaged 
in business, where he remained until the Spring of 1864, when 
he came to Collins Center and entered into the mercantile 
trade which he still pursues. He has been Justice of the Peace 
and Town Clerk. Mr. Mugridge was married to his present 
wife in i860; her maiden name was Susanna Hill; they have 
one child, Edward C. 

Ezra Nichols. 

Mr. Nichols' ancestry can be traced back to the 17th century 
when three brothers emigrated from Wales and settled in 
Rhode Island. His father, James Nichols, was born in Rhode 
Island in 1768, and removed to Danby, Vt., in 1780, where Ezra 
the oldest of a family of eight, was born Jan. 19, 1795. He 
came to Collins in 1816 and located on lot fifty, where he lived 
until his death, Aug. 31, 1881. 

He was married June 6, 18 19 to Sarah Curtis, who died May 
30, 1863, aged sixty-seven. They never had any children. By 
strict industry and perseverance he accumulated quite a large 
property. He was a man of exact honor and business integrity. 
It is said he never was in debt a dollar or paid a cent of interest 
during his life. Mr. Nichols was a Quaker, as were his ances- 
tors, and he was reared under rigid Quaker discipline. 

Charles E. Otteiibacher. 

Charles E. Ottenbacher, son of Charles and Sarah Otten- 
bacher, was born in North Collins, on the 21st of April, 1858. 
Jan. 29, 1878, he married Elli Lenox, daughter of George 



HiocRAi'HicAi. ski; ic I IKS. 675 

and Eli/.abcth Lenox. Soon after his marria^^c, he purchased 
a farm formerly owned by GeorL^e Valentine, on which farm he 
now resides. He has no children. 

C. B. Parkinson. 

Mr. li. Brii^gs. 

Dear Sir ;— Vou requested me to write a short sketcii of 
my father's, C. B. Parkinson, life, to be published in your forth- 
coming; history of Collins. In reply, I would say tliat father, 
in company with his brothers, came to Collins in 1816. being 
then si.xteen years old, and from that time until a short time 
prex'ious to his tleath, he was actively engaged in helping to 
make Collins and the surrounding country what we now see it. 
The greater and earlier portion cjf his life was spent in building 
barns, bridges and mills; while later he turned his attention 
more or less to farming. 

He lived a temperate, peaceful and orderly life. 

I suppose that you. in canvassing this country for informa- 
tion, find a great many men and women who can say the same, 
\'iz.: "They passed a busy, toilsome and honest life," you find 
that they "acted well their part." The\^ are now passing 
rapidly away, and your efforts to perpetuate the memory of 
these old settlers should meet with the hearty support of their 
descendants. We scarce!}' realize the great work that they 
have accomplished so successfully. What are now fine farms 
was then a wilderness. Giant hemlocks, pines, beech and 
maples occupied the places where now we see orchards, barns 
farm houses and villages. 

They were resolute men who could hew out a ci\-ilization in 
so short a time and u'ith such limited means. Wolves were 
encountered in the woods, and the wolf of hunger in the house 
but their spirits never failed. 

Difficulties were encountered onl}- to be o\'ercome. Mills 
were to be built. The irons to be brought from Albanj' by 
teams — so they used but very few irons. Father's bill for 
blacksmithing on the Gowanda bridge was only .$18. The 
plows had wooden mold-boards ; the sleighs were shod with 
wood, and their houses were built of logs; their clothing of 
flax and wool made at home, carded, spun and woven. In 



6/6 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Summer, they went barefooted and walked four and five miles 
to church or to " raisings " and " loggings." Then they had 
fun, and it was lively fun. After they had worked all day roll- 
ing the big logs into heaps to burn, and our mothers in the 
house had been quilting, a supper was prepared and eaten 
with relish ; then log heaps were set on fire for light and warmth^ 
and the deck was cleared for a" dance." If they had no fiddler 
some one would sing ; where there was a will to dance there 
was a way. 

The old log houses have vanished. The " logging fallows " 
have disappeared, and the old times have long since passed 
away, and with them passed many of the old folks. Their work 
has been well done, and we, their descendants, should feel a 
great pride in them. 

We have a great national pride in the Puritans, whose 
achievements did not much surpass the deeds of the Pioneers 
of the Holland Purchase. 

I hope your book will be a simple story of how our fathers 
and mothers lived, and of what they have done. It will be 
prized by us and the generations to come, and now, as these 
few remaining " old settlers " are silently and unostentatiously 
passing away, let us uncover and reverently bow to their " old 
fashions " as a record of a glorious past, and as the old gentle- 
man's eye lights up as he recites the "stories of the old times," 
let us tell him that we are proud of his achievements, and that 
his deeds shall not be forgotten, and after their footsteps are 
silent and that " old, old-fashioned " death has kindly helped 
them across the river, let us drop a tear over the grave of the 
"old pioneer." Very respectfully, 

W. H. Parkinson. 

Philip H. Perry. 

Philip H. Perry was born in Washington county, N. Y., 
April 26, 1816. His father, Philip Perry, was in the war of 
18 1 2. Mr. Perry came to Erie county about 1823. When six- 
teen years of age he went to Gowaiida, where he learned the 
harness maker's and saddler's trade ; about 1845 he established 
himself in this business at Collins Center, and pursued it up to 
his death. Nov. 12, 1877.- 



liKXikAlilK AL SKKTCIIKS. 677 

Mr. rcny was a man who always sou<;ht the best interests 
of the community in which he hved. lie was an ardent advo- 
cate of the temperance cause, and for many years occupied 
some position of public trust ; he was Postmaster at one time, 
and filled the office of Justice of the Peace twenty-five years in 
succession, and Justice of the Sessions one term, while Roswell 
VV. Burroughs was County Judge. He was married in 1839 to 
Mariette Perry, by whom he had one son, Wilber C, who per- 
ished in Andersonville prison ; and one daughter, Alice (i., who 
married A. R. Chase, and resides in Collins. 

Mr. Perry was married a second time, in 1865, to Elizabeth 
Willson, daughter of Gideon H. Willson. of Mansfield, Catta- 
raugus county, N. Y., by whom he had one daughter. May. 

Triiinaii B. Payne. 

Mr. Payne was born in 1797 in Essex county, N. Y., where 
he lived at the time of the war of 1812, in which he served as a 
soldier. He came to Collins in 1816 and located on lot forty- 
three. He remained four years ; then returned to Essex county 
and lived ten years, when he again returned to Collins and 
resided until his death, Sept. 30, 1872. He married Betsey 
Sampson in 1821 ; she was born in 1794 and died Feb. 18. i860. 
They had a family of nine children, viz.: 

Lucinda, born Sept. 13, 1824. Hamilton, born May 16, 
1826; died in 1826. Rozilla, born July 30, 1827; married Al- 
vin Hopkins. Joseph, born May 11, 1829; married Wealthy 
Canadey. Emery, born Nov. 13, 1830; married Angeline Sin- 
gleton. Ira, born April 24, 1832 ; died in 1844.. Almeda, born 
March 12, 1834: died in 1839. Truman W., born Nov. 2, 
1835 ; married Mary A. Mason. Amos G., born April 19, 1838; 
married Sarah A. Mason. 

Joseph Paluierton. 

Mr. Palmerton's ancestors were a long-lived New England 
people of English descent. His paternal grandfather was a 
Revolutionary soldier. Mr. P.'s father, Joshua Palmerton, was 
born in New England March 3. 1785; he came from Danby, 
Vt., in 1899 to Collins, from Farmington, Ontario county; he 
came in company with Stephen and Abram Lapham and 



6/8 



h[()(;raphk-ai. sketches. 



Stephen Peters. After inspecting and selecting lands, Mr. 
Palmerton and Peters returned to Batavia and articled their 
land. They went on foot, carrj'ing the articles necessary for 
the journey in knapsacks. Mr. Palmerton in 1809 selected 
lands on the west part of lot forty-eight, and Mr. Peters selected 
lands on the east part of the same lot, and they both took con- 
tracts for the same. In 18 10 Mr. Palmerton took a contract' 
for lands on the east part of lot fifty, on which he settled, and 
where he cleared up. improved and owned a fine farm, on which 



%'l< 




Joshua Pai.mkkion 

he lived from that time forward during the remainder of his 
life. He died July 12, 1870. He was married Jan. 26, 18 12, 
to Hannah Nichols, who was born Feb. 18, 1793, and died Dec. 
19, 1870. He was a prominent member of the Society of 
Friends, or Quakers. He was what is known among them as a 
recommended minister, and for many years after coming to 
Collins he preached much, over a wide extent of country. He 
usually traveled on horseback, and was often sent for from long- 
distances to preach funeral sermons. He was a man of unlim- 
ited hospitality, his doors being always open. 



lUOCRAI'IIUAI. SKETCHES. 



679 



The followiiiL,^ is the faniil)- record of his cliilch-eii : 
Joel, born Sept. 4, KS14; died Au^. 2-], 181 5. Elisa (twin), 
born Sept. 12, 1816; married in 183910 Louis V'arney. Elisha 
(twin), born Sept. 12, 1816; married in 1843 to Lydia Ann 
Soule ; died Oct. 10, 1849. L>dia, born Dec. 8, i8l8; married 
in 1837 to Gilbert P. Smith; died Dec. 25, 1848. Joshua E., 
born Dec. 11, 1820; married in 1846 to Cliarity Bennet.. 
Phueba, born Sept. 13, 1822; married in 1847 to Chauncey Bal- 
lard. Joseph, born Oct. 8, 1824; married in 1854 to Ruth 




Mrs. Joshua Palmkrion. 

Allen. Eunice N., born May 5, 1827; married in 1851 to John 
J. Gurnsey; died Aug. 7, 1852. Hannah, born Oct. 16, 1829; 
died Dec. 27, 1848. James W., born Dec. 4, 1S31 ; married in 
1854 to Henerette Roberts; died Oct. 3, 1859. M'^iiy- born 
April 4, 1836; married, first, in i860, to Daniel Johnson; sec- 
ond, in 1865, to Thomas G. Paxon. 

Joseph Palmerton was born in Collins, where he has always 
resided in the capacity of a farmer. He has been three times 
elected Commissioner of Highways of Collins. His wife, Ruth 
Allen, daughter of Isaac Allen, a prominent pioneer of Collins. 
They have three children : 

Durant A., Eunice A. and Frank. Durant is proprietor of 



6<So HKJCRAl'IIICAL SKETCHES. 

the " Linden Lawn Apian," which has produced some seasons 
as high as four thousand pounds of surplus honey, Eunice is 
a teacher. Frank, at the present writing (October, 1882), is a 
student of the college at Lima, N. Y. 

David Pound. 

Mr. Pound was a Quaker and came to Collins from New Jer- 
sey in 181 1, locating where the Collins railroad depot stands. 
He erected a saw-mill on his lot. Mr. Pound and his wife died 
in Collins years ago, as did four of their children, a remaining 
one d\ing since at the west, leaving the family extinct. 

AVilliam P. Pratt. 

William P. Pratt, son of John and Lovinia Pratt, was born 
in the town of Concord, Oct. 6, 1847. When about nine years 
of age he removed to Collins with his parents where he has 
ever since resided, living at the present time at Bagdad, where 
he owns and occupies a farm. June 15, 1870, he married Flora 
Rolfe, daughter of Reuben and Rachel Rolfe of Collins. His 
wife was brought up by Augustus Smith. They have no chil- 
dren. 

Natliaii Pierce. 

Nathan Pierce, son of Charles and Flliza Pierce, is a native 
of Collins and was born Jan. 12, 1843. March 12, 1868, he 
married Julia A. Bartlett, daughter of Seth and Aurilia Bart- 
lett. Since his marriage he has mostly been engaged in 
the manufacture of cheese for William A. Johnson, being now- 
employed in the Collins Center cheese factory. He has but 
one child. Lena May, born Sept. 13, 1870. 

Merritt K. Paliiiertoii. 

Merritt R. Palmerton, son of Elisha and L)'dia Palmerton, 
was born in the town of Sheridan, Chautauqua county, X. Y., 
March i, 1847. Nearly his whole life has been passed in Col- 
lins, where he has been engaged in farming and the manufac- 
ture of cheese. He now owns and conducts a meat-market at 
Collins Center. In Sept., 1864, he married Hattie Tanner, 
daughter of Anson and Lucy Tanner. The names of their 
children are as follows : 



Hin(;KAI'IlI( AI. SKE'K HKS. 68 r 

Anson P., born Au<j. 13, iiS68; James M.. born Jan. 31. 1S71, 
and Kdith. born March 13, i<S77. 

Joseph Pottor. 

Joseph Potter, an old and highly respected citizen of Colh'ns. 
was born in the Town of Providence, SaratOLja county. X. Y., 
in 1804. He married Persus Hayden and came to Collins in 
1836 and bou<^ht the farm which he now owns and occupies of 
the Holland Land Company. Mr. Potter is a man of quiet and 
domestic habits, spending his time almost wholh- with his 
famil)\ He has many \-ears been a worthy member of the 
Free Methodist Church. His name should ever be remembered 
as being associated with those who encountered so man\" diffi- 
culties and hardships in subduing the great forest to prepare a 
home for themselves and their descendants. 

His children are three: Moses, Charles and William. Moses 
married Helen Ferris and lives in Collins. Charles married 
Lydia Lenox and lives in Collins. William married Dora 
Knight and resides with his parents and works the farm. His 
oldest son, Moses, has for many years been afiFiicted \\ith the 
consumption and has for the greater part of his sickness been 
confined to the house. 

Joseph AV. Potter. 

Mr. I'otter was born in Collins, in 1844, where he has ever 
since resided, a thriving farmer. His father, Peter Potter, came 
to Collins from Vermont in 1843. 

Joseph W. Potter was married in 1872 to Ann Fliza Ha\i. 
land The)' ha\e two children, viz: (icorge H.and Herbert L 

George Parkinson, 

George Parkinson, son of James and Sarah Parkinson, was 
born in Collins, Dec. 24, 1826, where he has e\er since resided, 
now owning and occupx'ing a farm located three miles south of 
Collins Center. Oct. 28, 1848, he married Prusha Allen, daugh- 
ter of Lsaac and Lydia B. Allen, of Collins. They have a famil\- 
of three children : James, born April 22, 1850, married Sarah 
Ann Tyrer, and lives in Collins. Horace, born Jan. 13, 1855, 
married Ida Adams, and resides in Colden, Erie count}-, X. V., 
and Nellie, who is an adopted daughter, born March 22, 1863. 



682 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Philander Pierce. 

Philander Pierce, son of Charles and Betsy Pierce, was born 
in the Town of Hamburg, Eriecounty, Aug. 31, 1818. In 1836 
he came to Collins and engaged in farming until 1877, when he 
removed to Collins Center, where he now resides. Jan. 10, 1841 
he married Rhoda Albee, daughter of Adolphus and Polly 
Allen. The names of their children are as follows : Lyman, 
born Jan. 22, 1842, and died young. Myron, born Oct. 26, 
1842; married Abbie Ford, and now owns and occu])ies the 
farm formerly owned by his father. Abigail, born April 11, 
1847 ! married Luzerne Clark and resides in Collins. They also 
have an adopted daughter, Alice, \\'ho was born Dec. I, 1853, 
and married Milton B. Sherman and lives in Collins Center. 
He is a peaceable, quiet citizen, a kind and obliging neighbor. 

Xeheiniah Keyuolds. 

Nehemiah Reynolds, son of Abram and Hannah l\c\nolds, 
was born in Oswego count)', N. Y., April 14, 1810. When 
eighteen years of age he came to Collins, where he has since 
resided and is now living with his son-in-law, William H. Vail. 
In the Fall of 1836, he married Julia Woodward, daughter of 
Enos and Anna Woodward. His children are : 

Sylvester, born Dec. 16. 1838; married Fanny Gould, and 
resides at P^jrestville, N. V. bVancis, born Sept. 30, 1841 ; 
married Lola (iilson ; is a dentist and resides in Pleasantville, 
Pa. Byron, born Jan. 3, 1845 '■• niarried Amelia Vail, and lives 
in Ohio. Alice, who married William H. Vail, and resides in 
Collins. 

Mr. Reynolds is respected by all u ho know him, and he has 
been among the' worthy and useful inhabitants of the town. 
He came to Collins at a time \\hen it was but thinh' settled, 
but he has had the pleasure of seeing the town become thickly 
populated, and sujjplied with the adx-antages of an enlightened 
and prosperous communit)-. 

Huniplirey Kiis.sell. 

Humphrey Russell is a son of ThcMiias Russell, who was born 
in Easton, Washington county, N. Y., of Quaker parentage. 
At an early age, his parents removed to Scipio, Cayuga county, 



liKKiKAI'IIICAI. SKKTCIIKS. 6S3 

and after rcsiclin!4' iIki'c awhiK' the)- rciiioxcd, about 1S17, to 
Collins, antl located on lot thirty-nine. He lived here until 
1869, when he moved to Farmin^ton, Mich., where he died 
a<4ed sevent\'-tw(). He was a member of the Baptist church 
fort\'-five years. While a resident of Collins, he was school in- 
spector and justice of the peace, and also supervisor in 1846, 
"47 and '48. 

Humphrey Russell was born in North Collins, Feb. 13, 1828, 
where he has always resided as a farmer, with the exception of 
four \'ears — 186910 1872, when he became a merchant; two 
years at Collins Center and two years in Michigan. 

He was married in 1848. to Ruth A. Knight. They have 
one son Casper L. Russell, wlio married Ivllen L.Harris. 

Aii.nustus Smith's Statt'uu'iit. 

I was born in Uanby, Rutland county, Vt., April 27, 1792. 
M}- father's name was Nathan, and resided in Massachusetts, 
and in the fore part of the Revolutionary War he served as a 
soldier. He afterwards removed to Vermont. My mother's 
maiden name was I^lizabeth Rogers. 

I and m}' wife and twf) children came through from Danby, 
V't., to Collins in March, 1816, with horses and wagon, and 
landed at Stephen Wilber's. We haci made preparations to 
come with a covered sleigh ; had victuals cooked up and the 
neighbors came in to make a farewell visit, and that night it 
rained and the snow all went off, and we had to make different 
arrangements and come in a wagon. 

My wife's maiden name was Elizabeth White, sister to Isaac 
White. P^zra Nichols, then a y(Hmg man, came into the coun- 
tr\- with us. I took an article of my farm in April, 1816, 
and built a house on it that Summer, and mo\-ed into it 
in the Fall. 

At that time, there was no road past nu' place or near it, 
I have resided on this farm from that time to the present, being 
a period of about sixt\'-seven )-ears. 

The first Summer after I came to Collins I Ii\-ed in Stephen 
Wilber's ok! log house, w ith a bark roof and puncheon floor. 
He had built him a new log house. I cleared off an acre of 
land on .Stephen Wilber's lot that Spring and had the use of it, 



684 I'.IOGRAPIIICAL SKETCHES. 

and also of another acre that was already cleared. 1 raised 
corn enough that Summer to keep my family. Job Irish and 
wife and one child came into the country when we did from 
Vermont. He had been here the Summer before and located 
some land over near Poverty Hill. i<Si6 and 1817 were very 
hard years. Many families in Collins had no bread to eat for 
weeks together. Sometimes the children went into the woods 
and dug roots to eat. 

In 1817, Stephen Wilber had corn to sell, and asked seventy- 
five cents per bushel. A man came over from Perrysburg and 
offered to take all he had at that price, and Mr. Wilber refused 
to let him have it because he wanted to take advantage of the 
necessities of the people and speculate on it. 

When I came to Collins, the Friends had a church organiza- 
tion and a log meeting-house just over the line in North Col- 
lins on Nathaniel Sisson's land. Afterwards, they had a log 
meeting-house near Bagdad. The Friends never had any hired 
preachers. The Friends' meeting-house standing on my place 
was built about 1840. During the first five years after I came 
.to Collins, I spent one hundred days attending raisings and 
the}' were mostl}- log raisings. There are abcnit one hundred 
and twenty persons now li\'ing entitled to call me father, 
grandfather or great grandfather. I had four grandsons and 
grand sons-in-law in the Union Army in tlie time of the Rebel- 
lion, and one of them was killed. 

Augustus Smith born April 2"], 1792; married Elizabeth 
White, Oct. 29. 1812. Elizabeth White, born Sept. 2j, 1793; 
married in the Order of Friends, Danby, Vt ; she died April 
.27, 1875. in Collins. He is still living. 

THEIR CHILDREN, 

Rhoda, b(jrn ()ct. 9, 1813, in Danb}' ; married Caleb Tarbox, 
who died ; she lives in Collins. Rachel, born Oct. 20, 18 14, in 
Danb\'; married Isaiah Monson ; lives in Iowa. Maria, born 
May 13, 1819, in Collins; married Abram Southwick ; died in 
Farmington I"eb. 19, 1840. Reuben, born Sept. 11, 1821, in 
•Collins; married Mary White; died in Leon, Cattaraugus 
•county. April 19, 1S68. Lydia, born Aug. 7, 1823, in Collins. 
Amy W., born June ro, 1825, in Collins; married William 



IJIOCRAIMIICAI, SKF/rcIIKS. 685 

Tyrcr ; lives in Pontiac, Midi. Ilannah, born Sept. 26, 1S27, 
in Collins; married Joiin Wood; lives in Leon, CattarauL;"us 
county. Stephen W., born Sept. 6, 1829, in Collins; married 

Mahala Dou<;las ; second, Mary Knight; third, Knight, 

resides on the old homestead in Collins. Phcjebe L.. born 
March 8, 1832, in Collins; married Richard Bartlett ; lives in 
Pontiac, Mich. 

Si.ss«>n Family. 

Nathaniel .Sisson, Sr., was a Quaker who came from Dart- 
mouth, Mass., and settled in Cilens Falls, Warren count}', N. 
Y. From there his two sons, Stephen and Nathaniel, Jr., and 
son-in-law, Moses Tucker, started for Western New York 
in 1814. with their wives. Their outfit and mode of convey- 
ance consisted of a wagon and a single 3'oke of oxen. Arriv- 
ing at Buffalo, the}- followed the lake shore until Silver Creek 
was reached, when they struck out boldh' through the Indian 
Reserwition for what is now North Collins; they were three 
days wending their way through the wilds of the Reservation, 
their broad brims (the}' were Quakers) affording them a safe 
pass through the Indian country. Stephen located on lot fifty, 
where he always lived until his death, Aug. 17, 1869. Nathan- 
iel, Jr., and his brother-in-law. Tucker, located on lot forty-nine. 
The}' brought w ith them apple seeds, which the}' i:)lanted on 
their new possessions, and at the present writing (October, 
1880,) ajiples are growing upon some of the identical trees 
which grew from those seeds. 

George Sisson was born in Collins in 181 7, where he has 
always resided. He was married in 1838 to Huldah Potter. 
They have had nine children, \iz.: 

Stephen L. Peter P., died in 1865. Rachel, married Wil- 
liam Munger; after his death she married Charles R. Eddy. 
Caroline, died in 1844. Reuben, George F., Annie H. Emma 
J., died in 1846. Ambrose D. 

George Si.sson, in company with James Wilber. Ansel F. 
Conger and Enoch Taylor built the first cheese factory in Erie 
county. Messrs. Sisson and Taylor went to Herkimer county 
and Rome to obtain information from the best dair}men of 
that section on the manufacture of cheese. In 1862 a factory 



686 biuc;raphical sketches. 

was built on the north-east corner of lot sixty-one, Collins ; its 
dimensions were one hundred feet in length by thirty-three in 
width, consisting of a basement and two stones ; it was opened 
for the reception of milk May 5, 1863; it was called the Sisson 
factory. By the middle of the Summer, twenty-five cheese, 
weighing io<S pounds each were manufactured daily. The fac- 
tory is now owned by William A. Johnson. 

Stephen L. Sisson, son of George Sisson, was born in Collins 
March 4, 1840. He is a farmer. Was married in 1863 to 
Anna H. Haviland. They have three children, viz.: 

Lydia A., Anna E. and Alice. 

HOW STEPHEN SISSON WENT TO MILL. 

Soon after Mr. Sisson located in Collins he had occasion to 
go to mill. The mill easiest of access to him was situated a 
mile or two below what is now Water Valley, distant fifteen 
miles. He loaded his grain on to a conveyance which was 
termed a crotch or drag, constructed by cutting off the body 
of a tree just below the forks and rounding up one side so that 
it would pass over obstacles. On to this V-shaped contrivance 
Mr. Sisson hitched his oxen and went to mill. Returning the 
next da\', following the Indian trail along through the wilder- 
ness, night overtook him within four or five miles of home; 
fearing he would lose his way if he attempted to proceed in 
the darkness and not wishing to remain over night in the 
woods, he resorted to this novel plan : Relieving that his o.xen 
would instinctively follow the trail home, he unyoked them and 
placed them one ahead of the other, the leader ahead, and 
seizing the hindmost bovine by the tail, Mr. S. was piloted 
safely home, returning next day for his grist. The very owls 
must have laughed from their perches to see the good Mr. Sis- 
son conducted along through the darkness in this manner. 

Stephen A. Si.ssoii. 

Mr. Sisson's father, William Sisson, a brother of Stephen 
Sisson, came to Collins from Washington county, in 18 18, and 
located on lot sixty, where he resided until his death m 1863. 
aged seventy-eight years. He was married to Lydia Lapham. 

She died in 1873 aged eighty-si.x. They had a family of six, as 

follows : 



i;I()(;r.\I'1I1c:ai. skktciies. 



687 



Clarinda. born i8w,: married Thomas J. Kerr and resides m 
Collins Charles L.. born iSif, ; died in 1876 in North Collms. 
Amanda, born 1820; married Abram Foster and resides in 
North Collins. Stephen A., born 1822 ; married Irene Wilson, 

and died in I an. 1875. 

Stephen A. Sisson was a man of no ordinary business capac- 
ity Earlv in life he resolved to be the architect of his own 
fortune, ami Ion- before he had touched the meridian of hfe 
he had bv judicious management, surrounded himself by afflu- 
ence These sterling business qualifications were recognized 
by the electors of his town and for three years he represented 
Collins on the Hoard of Supervisors. In 1852, he was united 
in marriage to Miss Irene Wilson, and two children were born 
to them, viz. : 

Laura A., and Herbert S. 

Mr. Sisson died in January, 1875. and Mrs. Sisson still resides 
on the homestead with her two children. 

Edwin T. Slaiglit. 

Edwin T. Slaight was born near Sodus Bay at a place called 
Sodus Corners, March 22, 1828. His father moved to Otto, 
Cattaraugus county, when he was two years old. His father 
was a carpenter and joiner and also worked at clearing land and 
farming. His father was born on the Mohawk and was Cap- 
tain of^a militia company in the war of 1812, and served at 
Sackett's Harbor. His father moved to Buffalo in 1837, where 
his mother died in 1839. Edwin peddled newspapers five or 
six years, and in the meantime was bound out to learn the 
cooper's trade to a man by the name of Stevens, in Dunville, 
Canada. Stayed a vear in Dunville, then Stevens took him 
across the lake to Dunkirk, in a yawl boat, and coasted up the 
lake to Ashtabula, and when they arrived there the waves rolled 
so high that thev were carried right over the top of the pier. 
After leaving Dunville. he came to Buffalo and engaged in 
selling and delivering newspapers. In 1846, went to learn the 
tin smith's trade of Varrum Hodge of Buffalo; remained with 
him till 1850, then went to Springville and worked with P. G. 
Eaton ten years. He married Waitee Eaton, in 1851. She 
died in 1870. Had two sons and three daughters, two are 



688 HIOCiRAPHICAL SKPnCHKS. 

living. Was married in 1 871 to Hattie A. Springer, daughter of 
Samuel C. Springer of Gowanda. Have three children, two 
dead. In 1861, Mr. Slaight opened a tin shop at Otto, and 
remained there until 1865, when he removed to Jamestown and 
engaged in the same business until 1870, when he came to 
Gowanda and engaged in the tin and hardware business. Mr. 
Slaight, in 1850, made the first apparatus for manufacturing 
cheese put up in Cattaraugus county. Mr. Slaight has one 
brother living in Buffalo ; one sister, Mrs. George W. Shultus, 
now resides in Carson, Minnesota ; another sister, Mrs. E. W. 
Allen, resides in Persia, Cattaraugus county. 

J. A. Southwiek. 

Abram Southwiek, brother of J. A. Southwiek, was born 
in Mount Holly, on the Green Mountains, in 1809, where he 
lived until seventeen years old, when he came to Collins. He 
came o\'er the Erie canal and was twenty-one days making the 
trip. He has resided in Collins ever since, except four years 
spent in Michigan. His wife, Elizabeth Smith, came from 
Danb}', Vt., the same year with her father, Berrick Smith ; she 
was then six years old. Her father settled where Harris' mills 
now are. He was a Quaker, and a noted Abolitionist. He 
made it a point to assist fugitive slaves in their escape, and his 
house was a wx^lkknown refuge for the pursued negro on his 
way to Canada. Mr. Smith was a mechanic and built many of 
the oldest residences in Collins. He died in Iowa in March, 
1869. His wife, Mary Calmer, died in 1874. 

Mr. J. A. Southwiek is a farmer and prominent citizen of 
Collins. In the Fall of 1S81 he was the candidate of the 
Greenback party for State Senator. 

Solomon 1j. Soule. 

Solomon L. Soule, son of William and Ruth Soule, is a 
native of Collins, and was born June 26, 1852. In 1872, he 
married Amelia Van Slike, daughter of John and Sally Van 
Slike, of Sardinia, Erie county. He is a carpenter and builder 
and resides in Collins Center. He is a man of quiet and indus- 
trious habits, being sociable and amiable in all his relations. He 
had one son, William J., born Oct. 19, 1873, and died Jan. 
4. 1874. 



inocjRAi'iiRAi, ski:tc iiHs. 6?9 

Milton li. Sheriiiau. 

Milton B. Sherman was born in Evans, X. Y., Oct. 22, i<S48. 
He was a son of Benjamin W. Slierman ; his motlier's maiden 
name was Anna C. Shaw. When lie was a child the family 
moved to Collins Center, and when ten years of at^e to Buf- 
falo, remainiiii^" there three years. They removed to Ham- 
buri^h, N. v., and back to Collins aijain about 1864. 

Milton attended school at the Hamburg Acadeni}- two \'ears. 
He has been a very successful teacher, having taught twenty- 
four terms, all in the Town of Collins except the first, which was 
kept in the Park's district, Hamburg, in the Winter of 1864 and 
1865. He has been Collector of his town four years. Mr. 
Sherman was married in 1870 to Allie Pierce. The}' have one 
child, Elma A. Mr. Sherman is at present engaged in trade at 
Collins Center. His father came herefrom Dartmouth, Mass.. 
and settled at first in what is now North Collins. He was at 
one time Supervisor of the Town of Collins. 

Silas Schooiiover. 

Silas Schoonover was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., in 

1820. He married Elizabeth Hopkins and came to Collins in 

1846, and now owns and occupies a farm formerly owned by 

Amos Hopkins. He has but one daughter, Alida, who married 

Wallace Wood, who lives with his father-in-law and assists in 

running the farm. 

Liions Studley. 

Mr. Studley was born in PVanklin count}-, X. Y.. Jan. 5, 
1829; moved from therewith his parents to Yorkshire, when 
five v'ears old. Came to Collins in 1857 and located on the 
farm he now owns at Bagdad. Mr. Studley was married Jan. 
12, 1854 to Olivia H. Pratt, b}- whom he has four children, viz : 

Lovina L., born March 12, 1855. John D., born March i, 
1858; married Hortense Parsells. Sumner W.. born July 10, 
1861. George E., born Jan. 16, 1865. 

Mr. Studley was married a second time, Nov. 13, to Sally S. 
Bump, by whom he has two children: Lois ()., born Eeb. 21, 
1874; Lucie L., born June 3, 1879. 

Mr. Studley's father, Jonathan Studlc}-, died in ^'orkshire. 
N. Y., in 1878, aged ninety-one }'ears. 



690 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Mrs. Studley's brother, George Bump, was one of the patriotic 
number that did excellent service in the rebellion. He enlisted 
from Yorkshire in the Ellsworth Zouaves; was in three years; 
was Commissary-Sergeant of his compan)- and participated in 
twenty-seven engagements. 

A. J. Setter. 

Mr. Setter was born in Eden, N. Y., in 1847. His paternal 
ancestors were from Prussia. His grandfather lived to the age 
of ninet}'-eight. His father, Antoinette Setter, is a mill-wright 
residing in Eden. Mr. A. J. Setter is one of a family of eleven 
children, ten of whom are living, all brothers and mechanics. 

Mr. Setter lived in Eden until eighteen years of age when he 
traveled about two years in the western states ; returning in 

1866 he was emplo}^ed b}' Sellew & Popple, foundry proprietors 
at Gowanda, to manufacture mowing machines. At the expi- 
ration of two years he moved to Brant and was employed by 
the Erie Preserving Company, as machinist; remaining there 
a while he next bought the mills at Taylor Hollow in 1873. 
While there he invented a mill-wheel known as Setter's Tur- 
bine Wheel, which is quite generally used. From Taylor Hol- 
low Mr. Setter removed to Fenton's Mills, where he is now 
engaged (1882) in general mill business. He was married in 

1867 to Angeline Averell. They have two children : Joseph A 
and Alonzo G. 

John Schoos. 

Mr. .Schoos was born in Luxemburg, Germany, in 1826; re. 
sided there until twenty-seven years old ; then came to Collins^ 
where he has since resided ; has always been a farmer. Was 
married in 1857 ^'^ Catharine Babbinger. They ha\e three 
children, viz.: 

John, born July 8, 1862. Rosa, born Aug. 7, 1 863. Mary, 
born March 2, 1869. 

Anthony Shiuover. 

Anthony Shinover is a native of Prussia, and was born in 
1834. He came to America in 1857 and located in North Col 
lins, where he resided four years, after which he removed to 
Brant, Flrie county, where he lived six years, and in 1867 he 



BIOCRAI'HICAL SKETCHKS. 69I 

came to Collins, and now owns and occupies a farm formerly 
owned by Orton J. Knight. In i860 he married Mar\- Ritter. 
They have a family of six children, namely: 

Francis, Joseph, Lena, John, Louise and Anna. 

Francis displays a marked mechanical ability. 

C. C. TorraiH't'. 

Cyrenus C. Torrance, Attorney and Counselor at Law, Go- 
wanda, Erie county. N. Y., was born at Mt. Clemens. Mich., 
July 21. 1825. His parents were from East Middlebury, Vt., 
and settled in the Town of Lancaster, Erie county, in 1808. 
they removed from there to Michigan in 1824, and returned 
again in 1826 to Western New York, settling near Gowanda. in 
Cattaraugus county. Mr. Torrance studied with Hon. Chester 
Howe, and was admitted to practice as a lawyer in 1848, and 
then associated himself with Mr. Howe as a partner in the law 
business at Gowanda, N. Y.. where he has ever since continued 
in the successful practice of his profession as a lawyer. He 
was married in 185 1 to Miss Mary Curtiss. They have now 
three children living : 

Jared S. and Lewis C, sons, both in business at (iowanda, 
and Jennie, a daughter. 

C. C. Torrance was appointed by the Governor as Attorney 
for the Seneca Nation of Indians in 1852, for three years. He 
ran upon the Democratic ticket for County Judge of Erie 
county in i860, but was defeated with his party in the county. 
In 1862 he again ran upon the Democratic ticket for District 
Attorney of Erie county, and was elected by about 2,200 ma- 
jority, and he very ably discharged the duties of that office for 
three years. He again ran upon the Democratic ticket for the 
office of State Senator for Erie county in 1875, but was de- 
feated, the whole Republican ticket being elected. In 1879 
Mr. Torrance was elected Supervisor of the Town of Colhns, 
and was again re-elected in 1881, representing his town on the 
Board for three years, at the end of which time he declined to 
serve any longer. 

As a lawyer, Mr. Torrance stands in the front ranks of the 
profession in Erie county. 



i 



692 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Jndsoii Li. Tolnian. 

Mr. T()linan's ancestors were of English descent. His grand- 
father, Nathaniel Tolman, came from Stockbridge, Mass.. in 
1805 to Lincoln, Chenango county, N. Y,', and bought a large 
tract of wild land which he divided among his four sons Mr. 
T.'s father, Nathaniel Jr., lived on his portion eight years ; then 
in March, 18 14, having previously married, he moved with an 
ox team and sled to Evans, Erie count)-, N. Y., via Buffalo; 
there being no road cut through the forest, he reached Evans 
by traveling on the beach of the lake ; he located near what is 
now Evans Center. At that time he had three children : 

Altana, Elisha and Orrin : the last two died young. Altana 
married Dr. Marvin, now of Grand Rapids, Mich., and since 
died. 

Four more were born in Evans: 

Aurelia, who became the second wife of Dr. Marvin. Ann 
Eliza, married Orrin Cathin. Judson N. Mary, married Spen- 
cer Ikillock. 

Judson N. Tolman was born Aug. 27, 1S27, in Evans, where 
he resided until the Fall of 1868, when he moved to Zoar, in 
Otto. N. Y., where he is extensively engaged in farming. He 
attended school at the Springville Academy under Principal 
Earle. He was married in 1853 to Lucy Hard, who died the 
subsequent year ; married a second time, in 1858, to Eugenia 
Bunda}-. They have five children : 

Cora E., Howard N., Mary F., Ra\- and Altana F. 

Eiioeli Taylor. 

Mr. Taylor was a son of Joseph Taylor and Margaret Root. 
He was born in Frederick county, Md., Jan. 18, 1809, where 
he lived until three }'ears old ; then his father having died, 
and his mother having re-married, he was t<d<en to Fincas- 
tle, Va. When thirteen years old he learned the saddlers' 
trade at Salem, Va., and then went back to Mar\-land and 
engaged in that business for two years. He then sold out 
and attended school at Alleghany college, Meadville, Pa., two 
years, 1834 and 1835. He then spent about two years at 
the West, after which he came to Gowanda, where he re- 
sided five years. His next move was the purchase of the 



BIOCRAriirCAL SKKTCHliS. 693 

homestead of Uncle Jactjb Taylor, the old Quaker missionary, 
who was an uncle of Mr. Taylor ; he occupied it several years, 
when he attain became a residen; of Gowanda for eight years, 
at the expiration of which time he removed to his present fine 
farm, in i860, where he has since resided. He was married in 
1845 to Louise M. Ward. Tiic}' ha\'e a family of five sons and 
three daughters. 

Th«' TaiiiHT Family. 

Warren Tanner was born Ma}' 4, 1786, in Vermont. His 
father Joseph Tanner, a Revolutionary soldier, died when War- 
ren was four years old. His mother moved to Fort Ann, 
Washington county N. V.. and re-married. Mr. Tanner lived 
in Washington count}' until the Fall of 1810, when he came on 
foot to Collins. He went back, but returned again the follow- 
ing Spring, stopping at the land office at Hatavia on his way 
and locating land on lot forty-seven, township six, range eight, 
where he li\^ed until 1853. ^^^ <-^i^'^^ ''^ Ashford, N. Y., Oct. 30, 
1864. He was married in 1817 to Hannah Wilber, sister of 
Stephen Wilber; she died March 20, 1 857. They had five 
children, as follows: 

Isaac W., born Feb. 24, 18 18. Anson and Anna (twins), 
born .Vpril 6, 1819 ; Anson married Lucy A. Hawkins in 1845 '- 
died Nov. 7, 1861 ; Anna married Dr. L C. Blakel}-. Joseph 
D., born Sept. i, 1823; married Betsy Knight in 1855. Sophia, 
born Dec. 23, 1832; died in October, 1853. 

Isaac W. Tanner, oldest son of Warren Tanner, was born in 
Collins, where he has always resided. He is an extensive land 
owner and a successful farmer. He was married Nov. 13, 1839, 
to Betsey A. Beverly. They have had four children : 

Susan, born May 16, 1844; died Sept. 16. 1870. Eveline, 
born June 27, 1850. Warren and Hannah (twins), born Aug. 
13, 1855 ; Warren married Blanche Bosworth in .Sejitember, 
1876. 

ii. W. Taylor. 

Mr. Ta}'lor is the }'oungest of a family of thirteen — seven 
sisters and six brothers, whose names are as follows : 

Darius, Marie, Hannah, Samuel, Simeon, Abigail, Rhoda 



694 15IOGKAP1IICA1. SKETCHES. 

Ann, Benjamin, Mary M., Joseph \V., Ann Eliza. Rosimer and 
George W. 

Mr. Taylor was born in Essex, Esse.x county, N. Y., March 
27, 1832. His father's name was Samuel Taylor; his mother's 
maiden name was Lydia Castle. Mr. Taylor came to Evans, 
N. Y., with his parents when four years of age ; lived there 
until 1852, when he went to North Collins and engaged in farm- 
ing, tanning and currying in com{)any with two of his brothers 
Remained there until 1864, when he removed to Collins, lot 
fifty-seven, old Barlett homestead. He was married in 1864 to 
Ann O. Bartlett, youngest daughter of Smith Bartlett. They 
have three children, viz.: 

Joseph B., born Aug. 16, 1865. Marion B.. born March 27,. 
1867. Benjamin Grant, born Dec. 27, 1872. 

Mr. Taylor is a prominent friend of [progression, and speaks- 
to the people on funeral and other occasions. He is a man of 
fine intellect. 

Kliccla Taibox. 

Rhoda Tarbox, daughter of Augustus and Elizabeth Smith,, 
was born in Danby, Vt., Oct. 9, 1813. In 1S16, she came to 
Collins with her people, where she has ex'cr since resided. In 
1833, she married Caleb Tarbox, son of Benjamin and Huldah 
Tarbo.x. She had a family of eleven children, two of whom 
died when young, the names of the others are as follows: 

Chester, born Sept. 29, 1834, and resides in Collins. Stephen, 
born Dec. 20, 1835 ; married Julia Ann Clark, and lives in Col- 
lins. Francis, born July 12, 1839; in^i'-ried Mary Baldwin, and 
lives in East Otto, Cattaraugus county. Leonard, born April 
10, 1845 ' married Addie Stone, and lixes in Evans, Erie 
county. Emily, born Jan. 27. 1847: married Hiram Cook and 
lives in Collins. Alvin, born Nov. 17. 1848; married Martha 
West, and resides in Morris count}'. Kan. Reuben, born 
March 18, 1851; married Eva Stewart and lives in Collins. 
Hannah, born Jan. 29, 1853; married Charles Babcock and 
lives in Collins. ()li\'e, born Oct. 29, 1854; married James 
Parkcson, and died in Collins, Aug. 30. 1878. 

Caleb Ti rbox died Oct. 21, 1874. 



iiiocRAriiu Ai. sKi:rc:iii:s. 695 

William H. Vail. 

William li. Vail, r.on of Ira H. and Mary Vail, was born in 
Danby, Vt., INIarch 26, 1845. ^'^ the Spring of 1869, he came 
to Collins and i)urchased a farm located t\\ (1 miles cast of Col- 
lins Center, where he has ever since resided. 

Se])t. 22. 1869, he married Alice Reynolds, dauc^hter of Nehe- 
miah and Julia Reynolds. The)' have two children: Ira H., 
born July 20, 1870. Josephine, born April i, 1879. 

His father, Ira H. \\'iil, married Mary Chase, daughter of 
Ephraim Chase. He is a man of integrit}' and industr\-, and 
has accumulated a good proi:)erty. He possesses the confidence 
of his fellow-townsmen, and has been called to fill various 
offices of trust and honor in the P^astern States, ha\'ing been a 
Selectman two }-ears, a Justice of the Peace five years, and was 
a Member of the Legislature in 1859. 

He raised a famiK' of seven children : Edward I. married 
Julia Fish. Amelia. William H. married Alice Reynolds. 
Semantha. Lydia died in 1864, aged eleven. Jennie and Ada. 

.ToliiJ Y<)sl)m-g-. 

John X'osburg was born in Schenectady, N.Y., in 1799. His 
parents moved to Palmyra when he was four years old. He 
lived at Palm}'ra until twenty-two years of age, when he was 
married to Miss Rets)' Fillmore, and moved to P211icottville. 
where he bought four hundred acres of timbered land ; he 
cleared up about two hundred acres of it. P>om Ellicottville, 
Mr. Vosburg moved to Gowanda about 1825, and engaged in 
blacksmithing, and also built a foundry and plow manufactory 
in compan)' with James Locke. He sold out his interests in 
Gowanda about 1837, and bought three hundred acres of land 
on Clear Creek in the west part of Collins, which has since been 
frequently designated as Tub Tow n, because of Mr. Vosburg's 
building, on his purchase, a tub factory and saw mill which he 
operated until the)' were destroyed by fire in 1849. 

Mr. Vosburg was for fourteen years Highway Commissioner 
in Collins, and many of the roads in that town were laid out 
under his supervision. He moved to Perr)'sburg in 1854, and 
resided there until his death in 1872. 

Mr. Vosburg had eight children as follows : Charles resides 



696 hio(;kaphical sketches. 

in Waupaca, Wis. William resides in Gowanda. Laura 
resides in Gowanda. Frank resides in Waupaca, Wis.; hotel- 
keeper. Annette married Robert , and died in i860, in 

Perrysburg. Caroline married Frank Campbell ; resides at 
Perrysburg. Norton, half-brotlier of the others, resides at 
Gowanda. George L. 

Geors»<* \j» \osln\r^. 

George L. Vosburg is a son of the above-named. He 
was born in Collins — Tub Town — in 1838. Mr. Vosburg 
first commenced business at Gowanda as stage and liv^ery pro- 
prietor, and subsequently engaged in the hotel business, which 
he has since followed. He is at present, 1882, the genial land- 
lord of the Commercial Hotel at Gowanda. While a resident 
of Persia, Cattaraugus county ; he was for two )x^ars Deputy 
Sheriff under Cooper. 

Mr. Vosburg was married in 1859, ^o Eliza A. Campbell. 
They have two children : John C. and Nettie. 

Statement of David Wilder. 

My father, Stephen Wilber, came from Danby, Rutland 
county, V^t.. to .Scipio. Cayuga count)-, N. Y., in May, 1810. 
where the family remained until November. In June, 1810, 
my father and Joshua Palmerton followed an Indian trail 
through the woods from Ezekiel Cook's, in East Hamburg, to 
Turner Aldrich's, where Gowanda now is ; the)' had to lay in 
the woods one night. Turner Aldrich, Jacob Taylor, Aaron 
Lindsey, Arad Howard, (brother of Ethan Howard of Boston) 
and Stephen Lapham, on lot fortv'-five, at Bagdad, were here 
before he came. 

Stephen Peters came immediate!)' after my father and Pal- 
merton came ; he took land on the east j)art of lot fort)'-eight, 
township six, range eight. My father took land on the west 
part of lot forty nine and Palmerton on the east part of lot 
fifty, in same township and range. My father, Palmerton and 
Peters lived together and kept bachelor's hall that Summer. 
They chopped three acres of timber and jiut up a log-house or 
shant)- for each one. In the P'all father went to Ca)'uga county 
and brought his familv on as far as HambuiLr aiul lixed in one 



mO(;KAl'IIICAL SKKTCIIKS. 697 

part of Rzckiel Cook's log-house through the Winter until the 
first of March. 181 1, when we moved to Collins. 

It took us three days to move from Hamburg to Collins : we 
staid the first night at Jesse Putnam's, who lived on part of the 
farm that Lewis Trevitt has since so long owned and occupied. 
We came by the way of W^oodvvard Hollow and the Genesee 
road. Besides father's family there were in the company Mrs. 
Luke Crandall, Allan King and wife, Arnold King, John King, 
Henry Palmerton, Jahiel Albee and John Williams. 

When Mrs. Crandall started from Vermont, her father, in 
accordance with olden custom, presented her with a bottle of 
rum, directing her not to uncork it until they reached "The Hill 
of Difficult}-." referring to Pilgrim's Progress. At Woodward's 
Hollow they had to chain the sleds to trees to get down safely. 
At the foot of the ascent on the other side Mrs. Crandall said : 
" Here is The Hill of Difficult}-; let us drink." and o})ened her 
bottle and presented it first to Mrs. Wilber. Any one \\-ho has 
beeii up that hill will appreciate her remark. 

We staid the second night at James T}'rer's, whose house or 
shanty stood on the Genesee road, on lot three, township seven, 
range eight, and was the first one we had seen since leaving 
Putnam's. The shant}' was so small that the whole company 
could not sleep inside, so Jehiel Albee proposed that he and 
the other young men should sleep up-stairs. Accordingly 
Jehiel Albee, John King, Arnold King, Henry Palmerton and 
John Willianis slept on top of the shant}'. There was no road 
and our progress through the woods was necessarily slow-, but 
on the afternoon of the third day we arrived at the house tliat 
father had built, which was located on the west j^art of lot forty- 
nine, some distance north of where the road runs now. 

Our house was built of logs and poles and the ends of some 
of them stuck out two feet beyond the others. There was no 
lumber and no nails used in its construction. The roof was 
made of bark and the first Summer we had no chimney, no 
■doors, no windows, and the house was not muded. We built 
the fire against the side of the house until it burnt through. 
Father said that was the rule. In the P'all father built a stick- 
chimney, with a stone back, and cut window holes and made 
sash after his fashion and put in greased paper instead of glass 



698 



TUOCKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



for window li<^hts ; he split and hewed out basswood plank or 
" Puncheons," for a floor below — had no floor above. My 
mother did most of her cooking out beside a stump during the 
warm weather that Summer. 

In my father's family there were then six children : David,. 
John, Paulina, Alma, George and Betsey. I was the oldest and 
was born Dec. 16, 1800. My father and mother and the six 
children, and all the household goods we had were brought 
from Vermont in one wagon load. 

Our table was a box that we brought some of our things in. 
I cannot remember whether father and mother had any chairs 
or not, but I know that we children had no chairs and after a 
little I made some stools for myself and the others. My father 
cleared off the first Spring about three acres for corn, half an 
acre for oats and one-fourth of an acre for potatoes. 




That Summer we chopped and cleared three acres and sowed 
it to Winter wheat. That Fall father went to Hamburg and 
bought one hundred apple trees and brought home two cherry 
trees in his pocket. 

We had a yoke of o.xen and two cows and a calf. We had 
no hay and we cut the heads of the oats off and gave them to 



HIOCRAIMIICAI. SKKTCIIES. 699 

the calf, and the straw and corn-fodder we i^ave to the oxen 
and cows but the most of their Hving was browse. 

The first Summer after we came to Collins my father and 
mother and their six children, and Allen King and his wife, and 
Arnold King, and John King, two young, unmarried men, all 
lived in our small log-house, and how they all managed to live 
there I cannot tell. 

When we first came to Collins it was sixteen miles to the 
nearest grist-niill. We frecjuently got out of meal and then 
sometimes we would eat potatoes and milk several days and 
sometimes we would grind or pound corn into coarse meal in 
our "plumping mill." This consisted of a large log of the 
proper length, squared off at both ends and set upright and a 
ca\it}' made in the top in the shape of a round bottomed 
basket, and a spring-pole fastened to the corner of the house 
with a pestle attached and suspended over the cavity in the end 
of the log. 

Tile first grinding we had done at a grist-mill was at Boston. 
When father went to Boston to mill, he carried grists for the 
neighbors, and when .'\aron Lindsay went he also carried grists 
for the neighbors, and when Benjamin Albee went he also did 
the same. Once when father went to Boston to mill he had to 
stay over night; and he had no money, and he drew up wood 
for Mr. Butterworth with his team to pay for his keeping. 

Benjamin Albee located on the east part of lot* sixty-four, 
township six, range eight, in the Spring of 181 1, and Luke 
Crandall located on the middle part of the same lot the same 
year. Warren Tanner came and located on lot forty-seven 
same township and range, in 1811. Allen King located on lot 
fifty-six. and Nathan King, father of Allen, Arnold and John 
King, came in the Fall of 181 1 and settled on lot forty-nine. 
Abram Lapham came out in 1809 or 18 10, and bought lot 
forty-five at Bagdad and other lands in the vicinity, which lots 
were covered with nice pine and other valuable timber. 
Stephen Lapham, his son, settled there in 18 10 and built a 
saw-mill about 18 14. The first saw-mill built where R. L. 
Harris' mill now is, was built in 1824, by my brother John and 
myself. David Pound came in at an early day and located on 
lot fiftv-three, near Collins station. 



700 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

In the war of 1S12 and 1815, Luke Crandall, Jehiel Albee^ 
Benjamin Albee, Darius Crandall, Rex Brown, David Nivers 
and Henry Palmerton and probably others, went from Collins 
to the Niagara frontier and served as soldiers. In the time of 
the war people were afraid of the Indians, and some of them 
left. Mr. Lindsay took his famih' out to Warsaw. Albee's 
family went away, he and his son Benjamin remained. I and 
my brother John dug holes in the ground to bury our iron 
ware. We had our other things loaded up to start, and had 
victuals cooked to take along, but father final!}- changed his 
mind and we remained. When I was eleven years old, I had 
to go out with my father and work, chopping and clearing land. 
My brother John and I worked clearing land bare-footed among 
the stubs and fire. 

Jacob Taylor built the first grist-mill at Ta\'lor Hollow in 
1 81 2. John Hanford kept the first store in town at Taylor 
Hollow. 

One time, Kendall Johnson was at Hanford's store and 
wished to purchase a saw, but had not the money to pay for it, 
and Hanford refused to trust him. He went out into the field 
and stated the case to Taylor, and he picked up a flat stone and 
wrote on it an order for the saw, and Johnson went back and 
got it. 

Smith Bartlett ,was the first tanner and currier and shoe- 
maker. He came in about 181 5 and located on lot fifty-eight. 
Dr. McDaniels was the first ph}'sician in town. The first card- 
ing machine was at Gowanda, owned by Bugbee & Chaffee. 
James Parkinson built a saw-mill in the village of Collins 
Center about 1830. Samuel Lake built the first store at Collins 
Center about 1830. Harry Matthewson managed it. 
ISAAC WILBER'S family. 

Isaac Wilber, born Dec. 24, 1748 ; married Elizabeth Badgley 
and died July 27, 1835. Elizabeth Badgely, born Dec. 5, 1758 ; 
died Aug. 13, 1846. Stephen Wilber, born July 27, 1777, (son 
of Isaac); died Aug. 21, 1862. Mary King, his wife, born 
March 6, 1782 ; died Oct., 1866. Their children were : 

David, born Dec. 16, 1800. John, born Sept. 27, 1802. 
Paulina, born June 20, 1804; married Robert Arnold; died 
about 1875. Alma, born April 25, 1806; married Tompkins 



r.IOC.RAI'HICAI, SKKTCIIES. 7OI 

White. Gcori^c R.. born Auy;. 7, 180S ; married Jane Lapham ; 
died in 1867 in Wayne county, Michii^an. Elizabeth, born 
Sept. 25, 1810; married Stukcly Hudson. James, born Jan. 
25, 1813; died Feb., 1815. Job, born Jan. 18, 1815, is dead. 
Daniel, born April 12, 1817; died Oct., 1826. Joshua, born 
June 19. 1819, lives in Dayton Cattaraugus count}-. Stephen, 
born July 14, 182 1, lives in northwest part of Michigan. Mary,. 
born July lO, 1820; died Oct. 22, r868. 

DAVID W I leer's family. 

David Wilbcr married Polly H. Russell, born 1808. Their 
children were : 

Daniel born May 31, 1830; married Hazard and lives 

in Collins. Lucy R., born May 22, 1835 ; married Thomas 
Russell, and lives in Farmington, Oakland county, Mich. 
Robert A., born July 12, 1844; married Eunice Allen and lives 
in Collins. 

John Wilber. 

John Wilber, son of Stephen W^ilber, was born Sept. 27, 
1802, on North Hero Island, in Lake Champlain. He came to 
Collins with his parents in 181 1, where he has ever since resided 
a wealthy farmer and an energetic and capable man of busi- 
ness. He has resided on his present farm fifty-four years. 
Mr. Wilber is one of the few that remain, who have taken 
active part and witnessed the transformation from the unbroken 
wilderness to the beautiful farms and rural abodes that consti- 
tute the present town of Collins. 

Mr. Wilber was married in 1826 to Christiana Strang, whose 
paternal ancestors were long-lived and sturdy French Hugue- 
nots, who fled from France to England on account of religious 
persecution. From England some of them came to New 
York. Mrs. Wilber's father, John Strang, was born at Fort 
Ann, N. Y., where, when a young man, he was engaged in lum- 
bering. He came to Collins 181 2, where he resided until his 
death in Feb. 1879, at the remarkable age of 10 1 years and 
three months. Mr. and Mrs. W^ilber have reared a family of 
six children, viz : 

Emily, born Nov, 24, 1827; married William T. Popple and 
resides at Collins, Mary E., born April 18, 1839; married 



702 BKJGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

William C. Potter and resides in Waupaca county, Wisconsin. 
Albert, born Feb. 28, 1832 ; married Ruth Bartlett and resides 
at Collins. James, born Feb. 20, 1835; married Lydia Chase, 
and resides at Collins. Paulina, born Aug. 16, 1840; married, 
first, Albert Bruce; second, PVank P.Johnson; died in 1879 i" 
Collins. Eugene, born Jan. 24, 1844; married Mar)' Barry and 
resides at Collins. 

J. H. White. 

John H. White was born in 1833, in the Town of Collins. 
His father's name was Hosea White; his mother's maiden 
name was Anna Keese. He was married in October, 1859; ^••'^ 
wife's maiden name was Martha Jane McMillan ; she was born 
Sept. 22, 1840, in the Town of Otto, Cattaraugus count}'. 

Their children are: Georgiana, born July 20, i860. Frankie 
E., born Nov. 28. 1861. Jesse Maud, born April 18, 1867. 
James H., born P'eb. 10. 1873. Ethel M., born May 16, 1877. 

Mr. White has always lived in Collins, except one year, when 
he lived on the Hadwin Arnold place in East Hamburg. He 
has always followed the business of farming, and now owns 
a large dairy, and in addition he has also been engaged in 
the milling business for several years. He owned and run the 
Gowanda mill in 1865, then sold it ; bought the mill in Bag- 
dad, in 1878, and sold it in 1880 ; again purchased theGowanda 
mill and sold one-half U) C. C. Torrance, and they are now 
( 1882) running the same together. He formerly dealt quite 
largeh' in stock. He brought, for his father, the first mowing 
machine into Town of Collins, in 1853 or 1854. He brought 
the first Holstein cattle into Collins in 1879. ^^ ^'^'^^ ^^"^' ^^^ 
the Assessors of the Tow n of Collins for twelve )'ears. He 
was elected Supervisor in 1874 and also in 1875. 

Smith 13. Washhiirii. 

Mr. Washburn, son of Elisha Washburn and Frances Ballard, 
Avas born Sept. 21, 1834, in Collins, where he has resided most 
of the time. He traveled six years as salesman for a Cle\eland 
firm; he was also connected with William A. Johnson in first 
starting and operating the Marshfield factories. 

lie has been Assessor in Collins two terms. 



BIO(;RAriIK AI, SKETCHES. 7^3 

Mr. Washburn was married Sept. 4, 1855. to Marinda Wick- 
ham, who was born in Collins, Nov. 25, 1S34. They have two 
children: Louisa F., born Dec. 18, 1857. George E., born 
June 10. 1864. 

Isaao A. Wells. 

Mr. Wells' grandfather, Rev. Asel Wells, was a Baptist minis- 
ter, and occasionally preached to the early settlers of Collins, 
to which place he came about 1826, with his son Benjamin 
Wells, father of Isaac A. Benjamin Wells, was bom in Halifax. 
Nova Scotia, in 1808 or 1809; came to Rochester, N. Y., when 
four years of age, and to Collins about 1826. where he set- 
tled on lot 21, on land bought from the Holland Land com- 
pan\-, where he lived until 1 876. when he sold his farm and 
moved to near Meadville. Pa. He married ^Lir\-. daughter of 
Isaac Allen. 

Isaac A. Wells was born in Collins, June 6, 1858, where he 
lived until 1867, when he moved to Persia, Cattaraugus county. 
N. v.. where he now resides in the capacity of a farmer. He 
was married in 1857. to Mar\- L. King, daughter of Jared King. 
They have two children : Jared U. and Cora. 

Elisha AVaslibiiru. 

Mr. Washburn was born Oct. 7, 1S07, in Wendell, Mass., 
came to Collins from there in 1821, driving a team through for 
Everett Fisher — twenty-eight days on the road. He chopped 
and cleared land — an acre in six days was about the progress 
he made in chopping. 

He was married in 1826, to Frances Ballard : they located on 
the farm of James Goodell. on lot nine, township seven, range 
eight. Collins. Mr. Goodell died in 1851. and they succeeded 
to the homestead where Mr. Washburn now lives, his wife hav- 
ing died in February, 1881. 

Mr. Washburn has held the office of Commissioner of High- 
ways several terms. He was Commissioner when the second 
Gowanda bridge was burned, and when the Zoar bridge across 
the Cattaraugus was built. About 1842. he built a saw-mill on 
the north branch of Clear Creek. 

Mr. Washburn has four children : Mary married George 



704 HIOGRAPMK'Al, SKETCHES. 

Valentine, who died. Smith H. married Marinda Wickham. 
Rufus (2d} married Ruth Leno.\. Israel, twice married, first to 
Eliza E. Goodell,by whom he had one daughter. Dora; second 
time to Eliza Chafee, by whom he has three children: Jessie, 
Dean and Ira Verne. 

StepliJ^ii Tliorii Wliite. 

Mr. White's grandfather, Reuben White, was a leading- mem- 
ber of the Quaker Society ; he died in Collins at the age of 
seventy-two. His father, Isaac White, was born in Danb\-, 
Vt., in 1794. He married Hannah, daughter of Judge Thorn, 
of Granville, N. Y. He removed to Collins about 1833, his son 
Stephen Thorn, being then a }'Oung lad, ha\'ing been born in 
Danby, Vt., Sept. 28, 1826. He remained on his father's farm 
until 1858, when he engaged in mercantile business at Collins 
Center, which he pursued until his death, March 26, 1872 He 
was a man of honor and abilit)'. He was Postmaster most of 
the tmie while engaged in trade, and was Supervisor of Collins 
three years in succession — 1869, '70 and 71. Mr. White was 
married in 1853 to Eucy B. Randell, b}' whom he had three 
children : 

J. Herbert, w ho \\as for a time in compan\' with C. I. Bates 
at the old stand where his father had conducted business. 
Myra and Charles Car\-. 

Kob( It A. Wilbor. 

Robert A. Wilber, son of David and Polly Wilber, was born 
in Collins July 12, 1844, where he has ever since resided, now 
owning and occupying a farm formerly owned b\" Stephen Wil- 
ber. Sept. 4, 1866, he married lumice Allen, daughter of 
Ahaz and S}-l\'a Allen, of Collins. In 1865 he enlisted in the 
Second New \'ork volunteers, Compan}- (j. Mounted Rifle- 
jnen, and w as honorabl)' discharged at the close of the war. 

Steplioii B. AVhito. 

Stephen B. White, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Beckwith, 
is a native of Collins, and was born Nov. 15, 1848. His mother 
dying soon after his birth, he was adopted by his grandfather, 
Stephen White. March 20, 1867. he married Julia Puller, 



i!i< )(:i<Ariii(\i, ski; !( I IKS. 705 

dauyj^htcr ot Ira ami Lucinda I^ullcr. lie now owns ami occu- 
pies the farm formerly owned b\' iiis grandfather, Stei)hen 
White. He has a famil)- of three children : 

Warren, born Aui^. 23, i86(S. Carrie, born March 11, 1872. 
Charles, born Oct. 23, 1879. 

<ir«M>rf»*' V. Waito. 

(jcor^e C. W'aite, son of Isaac and Mar\' Waite. was born in 
the Town of Eastern, Wasliin^ton count}', N. Y., in 1825. He 
has been twice married, first to Elizabeth Potter, daui^hter of 
Peter and Rachel Potter; second to Mar\- Lockwood, daugh- 
ter of Philo and Poll}- Lockwood. He came to Collins in 1850 
and located on a farm formerly owned b\- George Lindsle)-. 
In 1871 he remo\ed to East Hamburg, and in 1877 he again 
removed to Collins and n(n\' owns and occupies the farm known 
as the George Lawton farm. He is a man of toil and industry 
and alwa\\s contents himself with his own concerns. By well- 
directed efforts he has acciuired a good property. He lias three 
children : 

Henr\-. born .April 4, 1861. Jennie, born Jul\- 19, 1877. 
Ra\-mond. born Aug. 16, 1879. 

Hosea White. 

Hosea White was born in the j'ear 1798. in the town of 
Mount Holly, Vermont. Plis father's name was also Hosea 
White. His mother's maiden name was Susanna Thompson. 
Hosea White, the second, father of John H. White, was married 
in this county to Anna Keese, March 12, 1825. He purchased 
of Hadwin Arnold the land on lot thirt\--four, township six, 
range eight, on which John H. now li\es. and cleared up and 
improved it and built the buildings and resided there until his 
death. He at one time kept hotel at the mouth of Cattarau- 
gus Creek for two years. Hosea White died in Collins June 
2/, 1873, aged sevent>'-five years. Anna Keese White, his 
wife, died in Collins, June 3, i87i,aged sixt\'-four years. Their 
children were : 

Eliza Jane, who married Ransom Moss and died in Collins, 
Oct. 25, 1880. (Oliver H. married Nancy Bartlett and lives in 
Michigan; is a farmer. John H. Hannah Maud married 



7o6 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Silas Taft and resides in Collins. Paulina died young. Phebe 
A. married Albert Southwick and lives at Silver Creek. Silas 
W. died March 30, 1865, in Collins, aged twenty years. Cyn- 
thia E. married Byron Kimball and died Oct, 6, 1873, in the 
town of Persia, Cattaraugus county. 



(;HNKRAL ills TORY OK NDRIll (OI.IJNS. 707 



CHAPTKR XIX. 



NORTH COLLINS-GENERAL HISTORY. 

It was in May or June, in the year 1810, tliat Encxs South- 
wick, Abram Tucker and Stephen Sisson, passed throuy;h the 
village of Buffalo on their way to make a home. They were 
members of the Society of Friends and it is reasonable to infer 
that they were attracted to the settlement made b}' Jacob Tay- 
lor some three years previous, although they did not follow the 
Indian trail of their predecessor but took the more feasible 
route up the lake shore to the mouth of the Cattaraugus Creek 
and then struck out due east through an unbroken forest and 
brought up near Lawton Station, a mile and a half north of 
Taylor's settlement. Here they pitched their tents and made 
a beginning. The next Fall Nathaniel Sisson, a brother of 
Stephen, came. In the meantime James and Luther Tyrer, 
(brothers) from Franklin county, Mass., came and located (^n 
lot three, near Marshfield, some five miles east. These were the 
only white inhabitants that wintered in what is now known as 
North Collins, that year. In the Spring of 1811 Levi Wood- 
ward, Jonathan Southwick and Job Southwick joined the little 
settlement near Lawton Station and Sylvenus Bates made a 
claim on lot ten, near Marshfield. So coming with our subject 
up to 1812, we find the following settlers located in the Town 
of North Collins, viz : 

Abram Tucker, Ste})hen Sisson, Nathaniel Sisson, Samuel 
Tucker, Moses Tucker, Henry Tucker, Enos Southwick, Jona- 
than Southwick, (ieorge Southwick, Jr., James Tyrer, Luther 
Tyrer, John Strang, Stephen White, Stephen Twining, Noah 
Tripp, Hugh McMillen, Levi Woodward, S>l\enus Bates and 
Job Southwick, 



7o8 



NAMES OF PERSONS HUYINC. LAND 



NAMES OF PERSONS WHO PURCHASED LAND IN NORTH COL. 
LINS OF THE HOLLAND COMPANY, THE DATE OF PURCHASE, 
. THE QUANTITY OF LAND AND THE PRICE PAID. 



TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE EIGHT. 



Land. 



Sylvanus Hussey. . . . 
Isaac Hathaway. ... 

Thomas Bills 

Moses Eddy 

George Southvvick. . , 
George Southwick. . . 
George Southwick . . , 

James Goodale 

James Goodale 

Nathaniel Sisson. . . . 

Stephen Sisson 

Stephen Sisson 

Abram Tucker 

Abraham Gifford.. . . 

Henry Tucker 

Henry Tucker 

Jonathan Townsend. 
Kendall Johnson. . . . 
Kendall Johnson. . . . 

Isaac Leggett 

Benjamin T. Leggett 

Levi Woodward 

Stephen Jenkins 

Stephen White 

Stephen White 

Stephen White 

Stephen White 

Gideon Lapham. . . . 

Noah Tripp 

Nathaniel Sisson, Jr. 
Nathaniel Sisson, Jr. 
Nathaniel Sisson, Jr. 
Elkanah Sherman . . . 
David Lawton 



Date. 


1 , 

1 Land. 

1 


Acres. 
328 


Price 


1809, Oct. 10. . 


1 62 . . 


$6;6 


1809, May 18.. 


npt 1 58 &s 








ptl59---- 


400 


800 


1809. Oct. 19.. 


m pt 1 61.. . 


100 


200 


1809, Oct. 19. . 


n pt 1 61 


100 


200 


1 8 10, Sept. 5. . 


1 44 


520 


1 170 


1 8 10, Aug. 4. . 


I42 


316 


711 


181 1, June 10.. 


I35 


.305 


838 


1810, Oct. I.. . 


e half 1 3. . . 


161 


402 


181 1, March 6. 


w half 1 3 . . 


162 


44,S 


1809, Nov. TO. 


n-w pt 1 50 








& s-w pt 1 5 1 


182 


398 


1809, Nov. 10. 


e pt 1 50. . . 


216 


432 


1 8 10, Nov. II . 


Ptl 50 


106 


406 


1 8 10, Nov. I . . 


s-w pt 1 ^ . 


100 


22s 


1 8 10, Sept. 19. 


pt 1 61 & i 








1 60 


217 


488 


181 1, April 25 . 


n-w pt 1 5 1 . 


182 


363 


1 8 14, Jan. 13.. 


s-w pt 1 34. 


70 


210 


1811, April 30. 


e half I 18.. 


169 


464 


181 1, May 7.. . 


s pt 1 10. . .. 


100 


275 


18 18, Mar. 20. 


pt 1 10 


60 


315 


18 II, June 10. 


n-wpt 1 34. 


100 


275 


181 1, June 10. 


e pt 1 42 . . . 


100 


275 


181 1, June 19. 


e pt 1 5 I . . . 


102 


280 


181 1, Oct. 10.. 


spt 1 39... 


100 


300 


181 1, Dec. 23 . 


w pt 1 42. . . 


117 


351 


181 1, Dec. 23 . 


s pt 1 52... 


150 


450 


1 8 14, Nov. 16. 


n-w pt 1 53. 


60 


195 


1 8 16, Sept. 12. 


s pt 1 30. . . . 


149 


^33 


181 1, Dec. 5 . . 


e pt 1 54... 


200 


600 


18 1 2, May 17.. 


s-w pt 1 54. 


ICO 


300 


1811, Dec. 4 . . 


pt 1 40 & 32. 


350 


1050 


18 12, Sept. 19. 


n pt 1 52. . . 


98 


294 


1819, Nov. II . 


s-e pt 1 50. . 


bo 


230 


1813. Nov. 8. . 


s pt 1 60 . . . 


207 


569 


1819, Dec. 24. 


s-w pt 1 42.. 


50 


238 



FROM IllK IIOI.IAND COMrANY. 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE EIGHT— Coniinuet/. 



7C9 



Name. 



David Woodward 
John Woodward. 
William Oatis. . . 
Benjamin Cornell. 
Jesse Standi ff. . . . 
Willard Stancliff. 
Nathaniel Potter 
Hueh McMullen. 



Da IE 



Land 



Levi Parker 

Lemuel M. White. . . 

Lemuel M. White. . . 

Pardon Brown 

Pardon Brown 

Thomas Shrouds. . . . 
Lilly Stafford, Jr. . . . 

Lilly Stafford, Jr 

Lilly Stafford, Jr. . . . 
Benjamin H. Smith. 
Benjamin H. Smith. 
Daniel Hull, Jr.... 

Thomas Cole 

Edmund Tucker. . . 
Penderon Barton. . . 
Humphrey White. . 

Oliver Tripp 

Stephen Smith 

John Train 

Humphre}' Russell. 
Abner Bri^^gs 



Samuel Hall. 

Nathan Starks 

*John A. Lewis 

James Starks 

James Goodale 

James Goodale 

*Caleb Woodward . . 
Jonathan Woodward. 

Lewis Hall 

James Bray ton 

Jonas Bray ton 



1815, May 23 

1814. Nov. 16 

1815, May 23. 
181 5, Mar. 30 
181 5, April 24.': 
1815, April 24. 
181 5, April 14. 
1815, July 3. . .1 

181 5, June 30. 
181$, June 26 

1817, Sept. 25. 

1815, May 26.. 

1816, Sept. 13. 

1815, Oct. 20. . 
181 5, Nov. 4. . 

1816, Aug. 2. . 
1816, Sept. 12. 
1815, Oct. 20. . 
1815, Oct. 20. . 
1815, Nov. 28. 
1815, Dec. 2. . 

1815, Oct. 4. . . 

1 816, May 7.. . 
1816, March 23 
1816, April I . . 
1 8 16, April 3. . 
1 8 16, April 30. 
1816, Mar. 7.. . 
1 8 16, Mar. 7 . . 
1816, Oct. 19. . 
1824, March 4. 

1835, Oct. I... 
1832, Dec. 1 1 . 

1 8 10, Oct. I. . . 

181 1, March 6. 

1832, June 22. 

1833, Aug. 20. 
1842, Nov. 3. 
1837, Nov. II . 

1836, Aug. 18. 



Acres. 



w pt I 26. 
n-e pt I 53 
e pt I 34 . , 
pt I53..., 
w pt 1 64. 

1 63 

w pt I 37... 

n pt I 59 & 

pt I 26. . . 

pt 1 31 

m pt I 37 & 
s pt I 45 . . 

pt I 21 

w pt I 40. . . 
n pt I 47. . . 

s pt 1 47 • • • 
e pt 1 36 . . . 

pt 1 51 

PI36 

e pt I 46. . . 
w pt 1 46. . . 

pt 1 59 

w pt 1 55... 

n pt 1 30. . . 

w pt I 38. . . 

e pt I 37... 

w pt I 29. . . 

n pt 1 39 . . . 

n pt I 3 1 . . . 

I pt I 48 

I s pt I 48 . . , 

; W pt I 2. . . , 

|ptl 2 

1 pt I 2 

i e pt I 2 . . . 

' e pt I 3 . . . 

: w pt 1 3... 

; w pt I 4. .. 

pt I 4 

pt 1 4 

pt I4 

s-e pt 1 4. . 



Price 



125 
60 
160 
242 
200 
316 
100 

2CXD 
250 

100 
120 
I 10 
150 
200 

47 
100 
180 

177 
141 

100 
100 

ICO 

100 
100 

150 
116 

120 
120 
100 

50 

112^ 



437 
'95 
560 
786 
70Q 
1 106 
325 

700 
S74 

892 
500 
420 
467 
562 
750 
190 
425 

675 
663 
528 

375 
375 
400 

375 
375 
600 
464 

450 
450 
450 
212 



75 


300 


161 


402^ 


162 


445 


65 


2iii 


50 


200 


50 


249 


65i 


278 


75 


319 



JIO NAMES OF TERSOXS I5UYING LAND 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN', RANGE EIGHT— Cot!tt>/ucc^. 



Elias Twist 

John Grant 

Greenfield Bates 

Greenfield Bates 

John Jennings 

Barney McDonald.. . . 

Andres Demerle 

John Weeks 

Josiah Whittemore. . . 

Lemon Cole 

Adam Behringer 

David Shrouds 

Nathaniel A. Williams 

Carolus Ball 

Peter Bloch 

Jacob Bricks 

Nathan Wightman. . . 

George Young 

George Young 

Ambrose Schaller. . . . 

Kendall Johnson 

Kendall Johnson 

James Starks 

William Palmer 

William Culver 

James Starks 

Richard Willits 

Chad B. Clark 

Abraham Clark 

John L. Barden 

John L. Barden 

Caleb Woodward .... 

Nathan Hawlev 

Simon M. Hall 

Ephraim Darling 

John Kirby, Jr 

Erastus Clark 

Willard Slocum 

Asa Jennings 

Abraham Clark 

John G. Potter 

Adam Clark 



U.VIE. 



828 
833 
833 

833 
825 
820 

837 
817 

836 
816 

816 
836 

833 
834 
834 
834 
834 

833 
842 

811 

818 

824 

833 
829 

827 
835 
833 
836 

833 
817 
835 
835 
835 
835 
816 

830 
818 
822 
823 



June 13 . 
June 8. . 
Oct. 14. . 
Oct. 14. . 
Jan. 20. . 
July 14., 
Sept. 13. 
May 3. . , 
Aug. 18, 
Sept. 16. 
July 16. 
Sept. 16, 
Aug. 4., 
Oct. I... 
Oct. 6. . , 
Aug. 25. 
April 23, 
Jan. 2. . , 
Dec. 10 . 
June I.. , 
May 7. . . 
Nov. 20. 
March 8. 
Oct. 18., 
April 25 . 
Jan. 3.., 
Oct. 23. 
Nov. 21 , 
Oct. 27. . 
Oct. 10 . . 
Nov. 5 . . 
June 13, 
June 16. 
Sept. 15, 
Sept. 29, 
Sept. 23. 
Oct. 19. , 
Sept. 16. 
June 17. 
April 16. 
Nov. 16. 
Oct. I... 



Land. 



n i)t 1 
pt 15 
s-\\' pt 1 5 
n pt 1 4 . 
s-w pt 1 I 
pt 16... 
s-e pt 1 6 
n pt 1 6 . 
pt 16.. . 
n pt 1 7 . 
pt I7... 
s pt 1 7.. 



/ • 



s pt 1 
pt I7 
pt 18 
pt 1 8 
pt 1 8 
pt 1 8 
pt 1 8 
s pt 1 8 . 
s pt 1 10 
pt 1 10. . 
n pt 1 10 
pt 1 10. . 
pt I II.. 
pt 1 II.. 
n-e pt 1 II 
n-e pt 1 12 
n-w pt 1 12 
pt 1 12 
pt 1 12 
s-e pt 1 12 
n pt 1 13 
pt 1 13.. 

pt 1 13- • 
s pt 1 13 
pt 1 i3.\ 
e pt 1 14 
w pt 1 14 
pt 1 14. . 
pt 1 14. . 
s pt 1 15. 



Acres. 


Price 


150 


590 


100 


400 


50 


162 


81 


344 


.SO 


212 


64 


262 


58 


246 


100 


500 


SO 


212 


178 


756 


100 


425 


178 


758 


79 


335 


50 


212 


50 


212 


50 


212 


50 


212 


50 


212 


50 


212 


50 


275 


100 


27s 


60 


315 


125 


531 


! 86 


365 


175 


575 


50 


200 


108 


459 


50 


162 


120 


523 


45 


191 


50 


212 


55 


1 78 


TOO 


500 


50 


200 


55 


218 


75 


300 


50 


200 


100 


425 


54 


22y 


100 


500 


100 


425 


72 


306 



FROM rill'. llol.l.ANI) (.OMPAW. 
TOVVN'SHIP SEVEN. RANGE EIGHT— C'^;///««.V. 



711 



Name. 



Date. 



Rcbckah Hamlin . . . 
Crampliin Tcwel . . . . 
John McDonald. . . . 
Batson McDonald . . . 
George Wit^htman.. 
*Rachael Conf^er. . . . 

William Smith 

George Barney 

David W. Hunt 

*Silas Kirby 

Teleg Tripp 

*Rachel Conger 

Abraham Conger. . . . 

Eli Barney 

Henry Holiday 

Henry Potter 

Erastus Clark 

Asa Jennings 

Samuel Bowen 

John H. King 

Charles De Vol! 

John Train 

John Train 

Wheeler Birdsley. . . . 

Samuel Brooks 

Aaron Parker 

Elijah Leach 

Cromwell Luther. . . . 
Nehemiah Heath. . . . 
Timothy Russell . . . . 

Joshua Pickins 

John P. Willit 

Aaron Hanson 

Amos S. Willit. . .. 

Asa B. Kinyon 

Henry Potter 

Nathaniel Smith . . . 
James Andrews. . . . 
Wheeler Birdsley . . 

John Perkins 

Joshua Perkins 

Lemuel M. White. . 



1818. Nov. 3. . 
1817, Dec. 26.. 

181 7, Aug. 28. 
1816, Aug. 8. . 
1 8 16, July 12 . . 
1829, May II.. 
1829, July 6.. 

1829, Jan. 15.. 

1830, Jan. 4.... 

1829, Apr. 25.. 
1838, Jan. I . . . 

1830, Feb. 4.. . 

1838, June 16.. 

1839, J^"- ^^- • 
1816, July 25.. 

1818, Jan. I.. . 
1816, Oct. 14. . 
18 1 8, April 14. 

1823, June 5.. 

1824, July 7... 
1816, Oct. -J ... 
1818, Feb. 20 . 
1833, April 24. 
1816, July 24 . 
1 81 8, Apr. 29.. 
1833, June 17. 
1824, Sept. 21 . 
1824, P^eb. 19 . 
1820, Dec. 17 , 
1824, Jan. 19.. 

1823, Nov. 12., 
1831, Oct. 28. . 
1816, Nov. 14 
1 83 1, July 22 

! 1827, Sept. 24 
i 1832, April 30 

1835, Oct. 15. 

1816, July 25. 

1816, July 24. 

1824, Nov. 4. 
1822, Dec. 21. 
181 5, June 26 



Land. 



Acres. 



Price 



Pt 1 '5 

Pt 1 15 

pt 1 15 

n pt I 15... 

1 16.... ;... 

n-w pt 1 18. 
s-w pt 1 18.. 
w ])t 1 19. . 

pt 1 19 

e pt 1 19. . . 

pt 1 20 

pt 1 20 

pt 1 20 

w pt 1 20 . . . 
e pt 1 2 1 . . . 
w pt 1 21... 
s pt 1 22. . . 

pt 1 22 

n pt 1 22. . . 
s-w pt 1 23 . . 
e pt 1 2 3 ... . 
ptl 23 .\-., 
n-w pt 1 23 
s pt 1 24 . . . 
pt 1 24 . . . . 
n pt 1 24. . 
ept 1 26. . . 
e pt 1 27 . . 
ptl 27.... 
pt 1 27. . . . 
w pt 1 27. . 
ept 1 28. . . 
w pt 1 28. . 

pt 1 28 

pt 1 29. . . . 
pt 1 29. . . . 
e pt 1 29. . . 

pt I30 

e pt 1 32.. . 
n-w pt I 36. 
s-w pt I 36 
pt 1 37. . .. 



100 

50 

100 

342 

100 

69 

50 

7ii 

200 

70 

50 

48 

100 

150 

104 

100 

100 

130 

80 

100 

TOO 

79 
150 
100 

66 

93 

lOI 

75 
100 

75 

80 

200 

TOO 
TOO 
100 

61 
100 

84 

66 
60 

155 



325 
500 
262 
400 
1368 
300 
240 
200 
286 
600 
297 

150 
206 
648 
600 
520 
450 
500 
558 
340 
450 
500 

335 
600 
500 
280 
279 
428 
318 

425 
318- 
320 
750 
396 
400 
340 
244 
400 

336 
297 
270 

542 



712 



NAMES OF PERSONS HUVINC LAND 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE ElGUl— Continued. 



Name. 


Date. 


Land. 


Acres. 


Price 


Thomas Russell 


1828, 


Oct. I... 


|ptl38 


50 


200 


John Whiting 


1828, 


Oct. I... 


ptl38 


50 


200 


Truman Reed 


1829, 


July 18.. 


|ptl38 


50 


200 


Moses Martin 


1829, 


Aug. 22. 


i ept 1 38... 


97 


388 


Jonathan Potter 


1822, 


Feb. 22.. 


pt I39 


100 


4SO 


Matthew West 


1 8 1 6, 


Sept. 14. 


1 pt 1 40 


104 


442 


George Southwick .... 


1820, 


Aug. 5 . . 


I e pt 1 43 . . . . 


200 


766 


Enos Southwick 


1 820, 


Aug. 5 . . 


s-\\' pt 1 43 . . 


48 


184 


Aaron Davis 


1 8 16, 


Jan. 29. . 


i pt 1 45 


100 


375 


Samuel Tucker 


1 8 16, 


Julv 1. . . 


1 n pt 1 45 . . . 


153 


612 


John Boughton 


I S16. 


Oct. 7... 


1 pt 1 47 


95 


427 


Jedutham B. Taber. . . 


1834, 


July 5... 


n pt 1 48 . . . 


94 


399 


Marshall Judson 


1827, 


Feb. I . . 


s-e pt 1 53.. 


60 


285 


John T. Huson 


1^33. 


Jan. 23. . 


|ptl53 


50 


212 


William Sisson 


1828, 


Dec. 22 . 


!ptl53 


31 


124 


William Hulls 


1828, 


Dec. 22.. 


1 pt I53 


50 


200 


Charles Wood . 


1816, 


Jan. 20. . 


n-w pt 1 54. 


66 


247 


Samuel Tucker 


1816, 


Nov. I . . 


' ept 1 55... 


^55 


1 147 


Samuel Rogers 


1817, 


April 15 . 


Ptl 56 


100 


500 


Michael Rogers 


1817, 


Feb. 5 . . 


e ptl 56 


100 


450 


Seneca Corbin 


1830, 


June 21 . 


pt 1 56 


70 


297 


John Whiting 


1830, 


Dec. 1 . . 


wpt 1 56. . . 


64 


274 


*Donation for church 












purposes by Land Co 


1823, 


Dec. 27. 


e pt 1 64 . . . . 


100 





TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANCiE SEVEN. 



Ebcn'r & JoshuaHeath 

Solomon Heath 

Hosea E. Potter 

Moses Leonard 

Matthias Whitney 

Alexander Hopkins.. 

Robert Arnold 

Jirah Tunney, Jr 

John Lawton 

Thurston J. Goseline. 
Ebenezer Cheney. . . . 

*John Hall 

Josiah F. Coy • . . 



1810, 
1810. 
1816, 
1816, 
1816, 
1816, 
1817, 
18 1 7, 
1819, 
1830, 
1831, 
1H31, 
1832, 



Sept. 1 1 
Oct. 31. 
June 25 
Oct. II. 
Oct. 16.. 
Oct. 16. . 
Nov. 1 1 . 
Nov. 12. 
June 29. 
Nov. 20. 
Jan. 7... 
Dec. 9 . . 
Oct. 22. . 



ptl 56 


332 


747 


e pt 1 64 . . . 


100 


250 


w pt 1 55. . . 


2 CO 


800 


pt 1 64 


100 


450 


e pt 1 67 


100 


450 


pt I67 


95 


427 


w pt 1 68. . . 


100 


500 


spt 1 55 ... 


100 


500 


pt I 68 . . . . 


50 


250 


n pt 1 54--- 


75 


300 


pt I54 


125 


500 


s-w pt 1 60 . 


40 


149 


e pt 1 58. . . 


60 


220 



KROM 11 IF. HOLLAND COMPANY. 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE SEVEN— Coniinur,/. 



Name. 



*Hcnry Hall, Jr 

Andrew Hall 

Cyrus Coy 

Samuel Heath. ...... 

*Asahel W. Field .... 

Jonathan Townsend . . 

David Harkness 

Jonathan Townsend. . 
""Kendal Johnson .... 
"'■•'Jar\'is Thompson. . . . 

Rial Crouch 

■^"Nicholas Feade 

Calvin Matterson 

James Cooper 

Matthew Grover 

Philip Bartholomew 

ami others 

John Shoe and Geori^e 

Smith '. . 

Mans & Boardwin . . . . 

Francis Mitchell 

Smith Scwartz 

"Flbenezer Chene)-.. . . 
Heman H. Annis 

*Jacob Tamerle 

Flveret Fisher 

Frederick Hoffman. . . 

■-■•John Schneider 

Nicholas (jier 

Andrew Nenno 

Alexander Bettini^er. . 

Maj^dalena Hund 

Lansiny," Tooker 

Jacob HodLje 

Moore & West 

John Simon 

Samuel Burchill 

Crandall L. Hodges... 

Peter Thiel ' 

Milo Lewis 

.Abel Cushin<r 



Dati:. 



833, 
834, 
834, 
835, 
835, 
835. 
835. 

836, 
836, 

836, 
836, 
836, 



Jan. 8.. . 
Feb. 13.. 
Nov. 13. 
June 26. 
Aug. 22 . 
Aug. 28. . 
Oct. 12.. 
Oct. 12. . 
July 9... 
July 19. 
June 29, 
Aug. 18 
July I... 
July 19. 
July 19. 



St,6, Aug. 19 



8^,6, 


Aug. 


18 


836, 


Sept. 


7- 


836. 


Sept. 


5- 


836, 


Aug. 


29 


836, 


Dec. 


14. 


^37^ 


Nov. 


1 1 


837- 


Dec. 


1 1. 


837- 


Oct. 


IQ. 


838, 


Jan. 6. . 


838, 


July 


13- 


S38, 


Aug. 


13 


838, 


Nov. 


20 


838, 


Nov. 


20 


838, 


Dec. 


21. 


842, 


Sept 


>5 


841, 


Nov. 


I . 


841, 


Nov. 


I . 


840, 


Aug. 


20 


842, 


Nov. 


I . 


841, 


Nov. 


r. 


841, 


Nov. 


I . 


837, 


Nov. 


9- 



Lamj. 



Acres 



837, April 26. pt 1 



pt 1 66 3 1 

s-w pt I 66. . I 66 

w pt 1 51 . . ., 100 

s-e pt 1 59. . 86 

pt 1 60 80 

pt 1 5 I 150 

pt 1 5 I 50 

ptl52 50 

e pt 1 60. . . . 80 

pt 1 59 50 

s-w pt 1 50. . 100 

n-w pt 1 70. . 25 

n pt 1 72. . . 100 

n-e pt 1 59. . 50 

w pt 1 64. . . 100 

pt 1 70 75 

s-w pt 1 70. . 25 

pt 1 7 1 63 

ptl52..... 50 

s pt 1 7 I . . . . 50 

pt 1 62 50 

w pt 1 60 & 

e pt 1 68 . . , 200 

vv pt 1 69 . . . ! 1 50 

e pt 1 62 . . . 98 

pt 1 69 ! 50 

w pt 1 62. . . 25 

pt 1 62 50 

pt 1 63 60 

w pt 1 63 . . . 50 

pt 1 62 78 

ls6i & 53.. 713 

e pt 1 50. . . 82 

s-e pt 1 66. . 76 

s pt 1 54. . . . 42 

wptl56... 88 

n-w pt 1 58. 50 

sptl72.... 30 

pt 1 67 45 

pt 1 56 150 



713 



Prick 



100 

264 
400 
844 
240 
600 
200 
200 
320 
200 
400 
100 

425 
200 
400 

300 

100 
252 
200 
200 
I 200 

j 80a 
562 

392 
I 200 
[ 100 
I 200 
' 240 
200 
312 
2852 

I 413 
418 
22 J 

395 
260 

180 

i 144 
I 600 



.714 



DEEDS (;IVEN F.V THE HOLLAND COMPANY. 



NAMES OF PERSONS WHO HAVE TAKEN DEEDS OF THE HOL- 
LAND COMPANY L\ NORTH COLLINS — DATE OF PURCHASE, 
ETC. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE EIGHT. 



Lot. 


Acres. 


2 


75 


2 


IT2 


2 


SO 


2 


ICG 


3 


6o 


3 


50 


3 


5« 


3 


2 


3 


100 


4 


140 


4 


50 


4 


50 


4 


65 


4 


100 


.5 


50 


5 


50 


5 


50 


5 


50 


5 


34 


5 


29 


5 


29 


5 


5« 


•6 


5B 


6 


50 


6 


SO 


6 


64 


6 


SO 


6 


2S 


6 


25 


7 


79 


7 


50 


7 


50 


7 


20 


7 


31 


.7 


27 


8 


SO 


^ 


100 



Subdivision. 



e pt . . . 
m pt . . 
w m pt 
w pt . . 
s-e pt. . 
n-e pt . 
n m pt 
s-w pt . 
n-w pt. 
s-e pt . 
s m pt . 
w m pt 
s-^v pt . 
n pt . . . 

s-e pt. . 
s-w pt . 
s m i)t . 
m pt . . 
m pt . . 
n m pt 
n m pt. 
n pt. . . 
s-e pt. . 
s-e m pt 
s-w pt.. 
m pt . . 
n m pt 
n m pt 
n pt. . . 
s pt . . . 
s m pt. 
m pt. . . 
e m pt 
w m pt 
w m pt 
s pt . . . 
s m pt. 



D.\TE OF DEKD. 



Jan. 27, 
Oct. I, 
Nov. 9, 
Mar. 14 
Oct. 16, 
July 15, 
Dec 30, 
Dec. 30, 
Dec. 29, 
Sept. 17 
Nov. 3, 
Jan. 1 1, 
June 22 
Nov. 5, 



184T . 
«35-- 

^^37- 
, 1836 

1837- 
1822. 

1835- 
1836. 

1837 
, 1853 
1842. 
1851 . 
, 1832 
1 841. 



July 

Oct. 

Oct. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Nov. 

July 

Dec. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Mar. 

Dec. 

Mar. 

Aug". 

Sept. 

Aug". 

Nov. 

Nov. 

Nov. 

Jan. 

Jan. 



18, 1839. 
14, 1833. 

21, 1839. 

5, 1839.. 

7, ^838. 

17, 1838 

7, 1838. 
7, 1838. 
16, 1842. 
24, 1838 
24, 1834. 

18, 1 83 1 
12, 183S 
26, 1838 

12, 1838 
4. 1836. 

13, 1841 
10, 1 84 1 
20, 1839 
20, 1839 
20, 1840 

I, 1842. . 
1 , 1 842 . . 



Name. 



Harry Hall. 
John A. Lewis. 
John A. Lewis. 
Hiram Lewis. 
Henry Hall. 
John Arnold. 
Andrew Hall. 
Josiah Rice. 
James Starks. 
Wilham T. Popple. 
Lewis Hall 
John Goodell. 
Caleb Woodward. 
John Benedict Stuhli- 

millar. 
P. C. Sherman. 
G. Bates. 

Benjamin Turner. 
Andrew Regel. 
Lawrence Wolf. 
Jos. Anthony Geiger. 
Lawrence Wolf. 
Francis Geiger. 
Andrew De merle. 
George L. Unger. 
Jacob Huntzeiger. 
Josiah Whittemore. 
Martin Beach. 
Adam Messerle. 
Peter Koutzler. 
Nathaniel D. Williams. 
Louis Poullain. 
Anthony Kuhn. 
John Jennings. 
Jacob Ratzel. 
\\m. Haswell Schwert. 
Ambrose Schaller. 
(leorue Voung. 



I>Ki:i)S CIVKN HV IHF, HOI. I, AND C().MI'AN\'. 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE EIGHT— Contimic^/. 



7'5 



Lot. 'Acres. Subdivisio.n. Date of Deed. 



Name. 



<S 

S 

8 

S 

10 

lO 

lO 

lO 

lO 

i I 
1 [ 
I I 

I I 

I I 

12 
12 
12 
12 
12 
12 



'3 
'3 
"4 

'4 
14 
15 
15 
15 
15 
15 
16 
16 
16 
16 
16 
18 
18 



50 
50 

50 
20 
100 
60 
86 

40 
50 
;o 
62 
62 
125 
55 
45 
50 

H3 
120 

50 

75 
104 

50 
54 
^o 



100 
100 

53 
72 

65 
50 
50 
50 
142 
50 
20 

43 

33 
169 

69 



m ])t . . . 
n 111 pt . . 
n ni pt . . 
n pt 

•^ pt 

s m pt. . . 
m pt . . . . 
n-c pt . . . 
n-\v pt. . 
s-e pt . . 
s-e 111 pt 
ii-c m i)t , 
n-e pt . '. . 
\v pt . . . 
s-e pt . . . . 
s-e m pt . 
s-w ni pt . 
s-w pt . . . 
n-w pt . . . 
n-e pt. . . . 

M^t 

c m pt. . . 
n-e i)t . . . 
s-w m pt . 
w m pt . . 
n m i^t . . 
n-w pt . . . 

e pt 

e m j)t. . . 
w pt . . . . 

■^ pt 

s m i)t . . . 
n 111 pt . . 
n-e pt . . . 
n-w pt . . . 

M^t 

ni pt . . . . 
n m pt . . 
n m pt . . . 

n pt 

e pt 

s-w pt . . . 



Feb. 25, 1854.. 

Aui^. 29, 1838. 

Sept. 12, 1853. 

June 4, 1842 . . 

Feb. 12, 1854.. 

Mar, 22, 1842.. 

Oct. 20, 1843.. 

Oct. 28, 1835 . 

July 6, 1838. . . 

Jan. 20, 1836. 

July I. 1839... • 

June 5, 1837... 

April 9, 1845. . 

April 24, 1829. 
, June 13, 1833.. 

Dec 8, 1842. . . 

Dec. 8, 1842.. . 

July 8, 1839. . . 

Oct. 25. 1835.. 

Nov. 21, 1827. 

Dec. 8, 1855.. . 
Sept. 4, 1843.. 
Aug. 10, 184 I . 
Oct. 25. 1835 . 
April 3, 1843. • 
-Jan. 28, 1852. . 
Sept. 17, 1853. 
Sept. 9, 1824. . 
Dec. 29, 1838.. 
Oct. 30, 1835.. 
Dec. 12, 1837.. 
Dec. 27, 1836.. 
Oct. 26, 1835.. 
Dec. 22, 1838.. 
Oct. 10. 1837,. 
July 7, 1824. . . 
April 7, 1846. . 
N()\-. 15, 1841 . 
Nov. 15, 1841 . 
Nov. 15. 1841 . 
June 19, 1818. 
Feb. 18, 1836.. 



George Young. 

Peter Greiner. 

Peter Bloch. 

Leonard Clark. 

William Palmer. 

Rufus Washburn, Jr. 

Jacob LeRoy. 

John J. Harrington. 

Samuel C. Goodell. 

Eber Rogers, Jr. 

H. Ballai-d. 

John Potter. 

Garner Potter. 

William Culver. 

Caleb Woodard. 

J. L. Barden 

J. L. Barden. 

Pardon C. Sherman.. 

Abraham Clark. 

Chad. B. Clark. 

Michael Sucher. 

Josiah Wittemore. 

Nich. Tienimerlc. 
Abraham Clark. 

Erastus Clark. 

H. Clark. 
E. Clark. 
John Jennings. 
Nicholas Beaver. 
Jennings Bowen. 
James Brown. 
James Brown. 
M. & A. Kuhn 
Andrew Hepperer. 
George Wighrmans. 
George Wightmans. 
Adam Gartner. 
Ignatz Daul. 
Nich. Roesser. 
George A. Herman. 
Ezekiel Goodel. 
William .Smith. 



7l6 DEEDS GIVEN 15V THE HOLLAND COMPANV. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE EIGHT— Con^ium-d. 



Lot. Acres 



l8 

19 

19 

'9 
20 

20 

20 

20 

21 
21 
21 
21 
22 



100 

200 

71 

50 

70 
50 
48 

50 
lOO 
lOO 

104 

^O 



22 


50 


22 


50 


22 


=;o 


22 


65 


23 


100 


^3 


TOO 


23 


80 


23 


49 


23 


50 


23 


30 


24 


75 


24 


75 


24 


100 


24 


66 


26 


38 


26 


55 


26 


125 


26 


125 


27 


50 


27 


51 


27 


50 


27 


50 


27 


75 


27 


75 


28 


80 


28 


100 


28 


100 


28 


100 



Subdivision. Date of Deed. 



Name-. 



m pt . . . . 
s-\v m pt . 
n-w m pt . 

e pt 

e m pt . . 
w m pt . . 

w pt 

s-e pt. . . . 
s-w pt . . . 
e m pt. . , 
w m pt . . 
n-w pt 



n-\v pt.. . . ; May I i, 1829.. 

e pt April 24, 1829. 

s-w pt .... Dec. 28, 1836.. 

n-w pt ... Dec. 28, 1836 . 

e pt July 18, 1839. -I 

Mar. 14, 1843 •' 
Feb. 4, 1830 . . : 
June 16, )838. 
Nov. 25, 1854. 
Jan. 28, 1854.. 
Mar. 8, 1839.. • 
Dec. 22, 1837 . 
Aug-. 19, 1829. 
Nov. 3, 1824. .' 
Oct. 5, 1832. . . 
Oct. 5, 1832.. .; 
Sept. 15, 1836. 

e pt I Oct. 28. 1838. . 

m pt ! May 30, 1833.. 

s-w pt . . . . I Dec. 31, 1836 
I or 1837 

w m I April 14, 1840. 

w m I Sept. 16, 1854. 

w m j April 14, 1840. 

s pt ] Oct. 18, 1838... 

s m pt.. . . ! F"eb. 28, 1839.. 

n m pt ... 

n pt June 29, 1 840. 

s-e pt j Dec. 20, i S36 . 

n-e pt . . . . 1 Dec. 20, 1836. . 

m pt ! Sept. 21, 1824 

w pt 1 Jan. 22, 1824. . 

s-e pt ; Dec. 27, 1836. 



n-e pt . . . 
s in pt . . . 
n m pt . . 
w m pt 



Mar. 31, 1834. 



Mar. 14, 1832. 

Mar. 14, 1832 . 

Nov. 5, 1841 . . 

w pt ; Feb. 28, 1827.. 

e j)t j April 29, i 844 

e ni pt . . . . May 29, 1839. • 
w in pt...i Dec. 27, 1838.. 
w pt ! June 22, 1 83 1 . ' 



Rachel Conger. 
Silas Kirly. 
George M'cMillen. 
Silas Kirly. 
Pardon C. Sherman. 
Philip Bartholme. 
Rachel Conger. 
Abraham Conger. 
Aug. Cook. 
Allen Clark. 
George C. Kerr. 
George C. Valentine. 
Erastus Clark. 
Erastus Clark. 
Erastus Clark. 
A. W. Lawrence. 
Elisha Train. 
Abel F. Avery. 
John TaN'lor. 
N. Richmontl. 

John Train. 
Alfred Jennings. 
Erastus Morgan. 
Asa Jennings. 
Isaac Hoeg. 
Elliot Hoeg. 
Asa Harkness. 
William Smith. 
George Conger. 
Elijah I>eech. 
Fllijah Leech. 
Noel Conger. 
Richard Willett. 
E. Russell. 
T. Russell 
W. R. Willett. 
John Pickins. 
Stephen H.Southwick 
John H. Paddleford. 
Joseph Manchester. 
Thomas Baker. 



DKKDs c;i\i;n r.N nii: Holland ('().mi'.\.\\'. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE FAGUT—0»i/i>iiu</. 



717 



Lot. 


ACKKS 


Subdivision. 


1 

' D.'VTK OF Deed. 


29 


61 


^' Pt 


June 30, 1855.. 


29 


40 


c m pt. . . . 


Mar. 12, 1840.. 


29 


60 


m pt 


April 30, 1832. 


29 


100 


^^' m pt . . . 


Nov. 23, 1 841 . 


29 


100 


w pt 


Jan. 15, 1839.. 


30 


149 


s pt 


Feb. 14, 1822 . 


30 


50 


e m pt. . . . 


Dec. 31, 1838.. 


30 


50 


w m pt . . . 


1 Dec. 31, 1838. 


30 


50 


n-c pt . . . . 


Dec. 22. 1836 . 


30 


50 


n-w pt . . . . 


1 Dec. 24, 1835 • 


31 


50 


s-c pt 


June 16, 1835 . 


31 


50 


-S-W pt . . . . 


! June 22, 1839-. 


31 


250 


m pt 


June 16, 1835. 


31 


60 


n-w pt . . . . 


April 4. 1828. . 


32 


84 


^^Pt 


Feb. 1 1, 1842 . 


32 


150 


s-w pt . . . . 


June 10, 1828 . 


32 


98 


n m pt . . . 


Dec. 31, 1839.. 


32 


44 


n-w pt. . . . 


j June 19, 1828. 


34 


86 


s-c pt . . . . 


Dec. 27, 1836 . 


34 


30 


c m pt. . . . 


Aui;-. 10, 1829. 


34 


50 


n-e pt . . . . 


Feb. 1 1, 1829 . 


34 


70 


s-w pt . . . . 


Mar. 31, 1835. 


34 


100 


n-w pt . . . . 


April 2 , 1 8 19. 




3' 


s-c pt. . . . . 


Dec. 29, 1837 . 


35 


')5 


s-w pt . . . . 


Nov. 1 1, 1836 . 


35 


50 


n-c jjt . . . . 


Nov. 5, 1838.. 


35 


50 


n ni pt . . . 


Dec. 29, 1835. 


35 


70 


n-w pt . . . . 


Feb. I, 1836. . 


36 


100 


s-c pt . . . . 


Jan. 4, 18^8. . 


36 


50 


n-c pt . . . . 


Jan. 4, 1838. . . 


36 


50 


n-c ni pt . . 


Jan. 4, 1838. . . 


36 


5^^ 


n-w m ])t . 


Nov. 14, 1832. 


36 


50 


n-^v i)t . . . . 


Feb. I I, 1842 . . 


36 


60 


s-w pt . . . . 


, Feb. 16, 1828 . 


36 


66 


s ni jjt . . . . 


j Dec. 10, 1836. 


57 


50 


s-e pt . . . . 


1 Sept. 4, 1835.. 


57 


50 


n-c pt . . . . 


Oct. 9. 1835... 


37 


'55 


m pt . . . . 


Mar. 22, 1823.. 


57 


100 


w pt 


Mar. 2. 1819. . 


3<S 


97 


^' pt 


Dec. 29, 1837. 


38 


50 


s m pt. . . . 


Jan. 20, 1836. . 


38 


50 


n m pt . . . 


Oct. 16, 1841 . . 



Name. 



Geori^e Mennikhcim. 
Jo.seph Woodward. 
Henry Potter. 
Francis Leach. 
Darius Anthony. 
Henry Joslin. 
G. R. Godfrey. 
Latham Avery. 
Thomas N. Ferris. 
Latham A\'er\'. 
N. Richmond. 
Con. Southworth. 
Theodore Ferris. 
Richard Rogers. 
Peter Hoeg. 
Horace Landon. 
Horace Landon. 
Abijah Smith. 
Benjamin VV. Pratt. 
John Sherman. 
John Sherman. 
Noel Conger. 
Jonathan Russell. 
Charles K. Sherman. 
Moses W. Griswold. 
Mordecai E. Sherman. 
Mordecai E. Sherman. 
Joseph Sherman. 
Joshua Winner. 
William R. Winner. 
P'red. Howland. 
Roba Pickens. 
Pel eg Wood. 
Joshua Pickens. 
Jonathan Southw ick. 
David White. 
Humphrcx' White. 
David PL' White. 
Lemuel M. White. 
Hubbard W. Arnold. 
Humphrc}" White. 
William labor. 



7l8 DKHDS CIVEN K^" THE HOLLAND COMl'AXV. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE EIGHT— Cojiiuiued. 



Lot. 


Acres. 


Subdivision 


Date of Deed. 


Name. 


38 


50 


s-w pt . . . 


Dec. 28, 1836. 


Sylvester Hanks. 


38 


50 


n-w pt . . 


June 4, 1835. • 


Caleb Bryant. 


39 


50 


s-e pt. . . . 


Dec. 28, 1835. 


John B. Landow. 


39 


50 


em pt . . 


June 8, 1835 . . 


Aaron Parker, Jr. 


39 
39 


50 
50 


n-e pt . . . 




Richard Rodgers. 
Charles Davol. 


s-^v pt . . . 


June 9, 1835.. 


39 


50 


w m pt . . 


Mar. 6, 1837.. 


James Davol. 


39 


100 


n-w pt. . . 


Dec. 28, 1838. 


Wilson Rodgers. 


40 


58 


n-e pt . . . 


Dec. 31, 1838. 


Park Avery. 


40 


140 


m pt . . . . 


Oct. 19, 1832.. 


Lois Sherman. 


40 


120 


w pt . . . . 


May 31, 1819. 


James Marvin. 


42 


100 


e pt 


May 1 1, 1829. 


Silas Kirby. 


42 


50 


s-w pt . . . 


Oct. 5, 1825. . . 


John Lawton. 


42 


67 


n-w pt. . . 


Aug. 13, 1822. 


Stephen Sisson. 


43 


200 


e pt . . . . 


April 20, 1826. 


Elijah Pratt. 


43 


48 


s-w pt . . . 


Feb. 7, 1827.. . 


Oliver Russell. 


43 


68 


n-w pt.. . 


Sept. 6, 1823.. 


Perrv Sisson. 


44 


200 


^ pt 


Mar. 29, 1834. 


Hugh McMillin. 


44 


100 


m pt. . . . 


July 31, [834.. 


Stephen Randall. 


44 


100 


n m pt . . 


Dec. 18, 1836 
or 1835 


Jonathan South wick. 


44 


120 


n pt 


Dec. 21, 1837. 


Jonathan Southwick. 


45 


60 


s-e pt . . . 


Jan. 26, 1839 • 


Stephen Randall. 


45 


40 


s-w pt . . . 


Dec. 30, 1835. 


M. Judson. 


45 


100 


m pt . . . . 


Dec. 20, 1837 . 


Abijah Smith. 


45 


53 


n-e pt . . . 


Nov. 23, 1836. 


Daniel Allen. 


45 


50 


n m pt . . 


Dec. 28, 1841 . 


Daniel Allen. 


45 


50 


n-w pt . . . 


Nov. 21, 1835 . 


H. Smith. 


46 


80 


s-e pt. . . . 


Sept. 25, 1832. 


Joseph Sisson. 


46 


50 


em pt . . 


Sept. 26, 1828. 


Joseph Sisson. 


46 


125 


n pt'. . . . 


Oct. 16, 1829. . 


Ebenezer Avery. 


46 


50 


w m pt . . 


Aug. 19, 1828. 


H. Smith. 


46 


50 


s-w pt'.. . 


Nov. 23, 1841 . 


H. Smith. 


47 


75 


^Pt 


Sept. 20, 1847. 


Daniel Shourds. 


47 


75 


s m pt . . 


. May 2, 1838. . 


Daniel Shourds. 


47 


95 


n m pt . . 


. June 4, 1833. . 


Luther Rice. 


47 


60 


n-e pt . . . 


Nov. 27, 1835. 


Horace Landon. 


47 


50 


n-w pt . . . 


. Nov. 27, 1835. 


Horace Landon. 


48 


60 


s-e pt . . . 


. Oct. 20, 1830. . 


Julia Spaulding. 


48 


1 60 


s-w pt . . . 


. June 3, 1836. . 


Ira Stetson. 


48 


T 20 


m pt . . . . 


. Feb. 21, 1 83 1 . 


Allen Davis. 


48 


94 


n pt 


. Dec. 31. 1838. 


Elias Morgan. 



COPY OK KARLV ASSESSMENT ROLL. 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE EIGHT— Cot: /inueti 



719 



Lot. 


Acres. 
60 


Subdivision 


Date ok Deed. 


Name. 


50 


s-e pt 


Nov. 2, 1825. . 


Nathaniel Sisson. 


50 


106 


em pt . . . 


Oct. 5, 1825. . . 


Stephen Sisson. 


50 


45 


n-e pt . . . . 


Oct. 5, 1825... 


Obed Hathaway. 


50 


ti 


s-w pt . . . . 


May 15, 1823 . 


Moses Tucker. 


50 


40 


w m pt . . . 


Sept. 22, 1824. 


John Lawton. 


50 


50 


n-w pt . . . . 


Feb. 22, 1815 . 


John I>awton. 


51 


1 1 1 


s-c pt 


Aug. 2, 1816. . 


Lilly Stafford. 


51 


100 


n-e pt . . . . 


Aug. 2, 1816. . 


Levi Woodward. 


51 


132 


s-w pt .... 


Feb. 22, 18 1 5 . 


John Lawton. 


51 


66 


w m pt . . . 


Dec. 31, 1836 . 


Amos S.Willet. 


51 


66 


n-w pt . . . . 


Dec. 26, 1836.. 


William Wilcox. 


52 


150 


•'^Pt 


Jan. 24, 1817. . 


Stephen White. 


52 


98 


n pt 


Feb. 7, 1821.. . 


Stephen White. 


53 


60 


.s-e pt 


July 31, 1834.. 


Martial Judson. 


53 


31 


.s-e m pt . . 


Dec. 20, 1837. 


Abijah Smith. 


53 


50 


e m pt . . . 


Dec. 26, 1836. 


Nathaniel Sisson, Jr. 


53 


60 


n-e pt . . . . 


July 31, 1834.. 


William Potter. 


53 


50 


s-w pt . . . . 


Oct. 23, 1835. . 


Samuel Tucker. 


53 


50 


w m pt . . . 


Nov. 8, 1833.. 


Samuel Tucker. 


53 


60 


n-w pt . . . . 


Oct. 14, 1822 . 


William Potter. 


54 


200 


'-pt 


Mar. 7, 1817 . . 


Nicholas Rowland. 


54 


100 


s-w pt 


Mar. 28, 1820. 


Noah Tripp. 


54 


23 


n m pt . . . 


April 22, 1838. 


Jesse Stanclift. 


54 


43 


n-w pt . . . 


Sept. 5, 1838. . 


Ebenezer Smith. 


55 


55 


s-e pt 


Oct. 12, 1835. . 


George C. Valentine. 


55 


55 


s m pt . . . 


June 7, 1832 . . 


L. W. Se\'mour. 


55 


95 


n-e pt 


Dec. 31,1836 or 
1837 


Andrew Davis. 


55 


50 


n in pt . . . 


Jan. 12, 1836. . 


Reuben Stanclift. 


55 


50 


s-w pt . . . . 


Dec. 21, 1836. 


Sherman & Hale. 


55 


50 


n-w pt . . . . 


Dec. 21, 1836. 


Sherman & Hale. 


56 


100 


^'Pt 


Oct. 16. 1835. . 


John Davis. 


56 


100 


m pt 


Oct. 10, 1837. • 


Dudley O. Stevens. 


56 


70 


w m pt . . . 


Dec. 22, 1838. 


Stephen Smith. 


56 


64 


w pt 


Dec. 31. 1836. 


John & Patterson Kerr, 


58 


336 


l57&spt5<S 


Oct. 24, 1809. ■ 


Thomas Stewardson. 


58 


70 


m pt 


Dec. 26, 1838. 


Daniel Pierce. 


58 


62 


n m pt . . . 


Dec. 10, 1835. 


Peter Crapo. 


58 


40 


n m pt . . . 


Mar. 10, 1835. 


Elijah Pratt. 


58 


25 


n-e pt .... 


Dec. 23, 1835. 


David P. Fuller. 


59 


145 


m pt 


Dec. 2^, 1835. 


Israel Wilson. 


59 


35 


n m pt . . . 


June 6, 1844. . 


Daniel Pierce. 



720 DKKDS CIVKX l;V TWE IIOI.I.AM) COMrAXN' 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE EIGHT— (lV«/m//,</. 



Lot. 


Acres 


Subdivision. 

1 


Date of Deed. 


Name. 


59 


70 


n m pt . . . 


Dec. 29. 1837. 


Ralph Plumb. 


S9 


100 


n pt 


Dec. 30, 1837. 


William Culver. 


59 
60 


60 


s m pt . . . . 




Job Sherman. Jr. 

T. T. & H. D. Laing. 


50 


s-e pt 


Aug. II, 1834. 


60 


50 


M^t 


Sept. 24, 1844. 


Job Sherman. }r. 


60 


50 


s m pt. . . . 


Sept. 20, 1837. 


John Smith. 


60 


57 


n m pt. . . . 


Oct. 19, 1839.. 


John Smith. 


60 


no 


n pt 


Mar. 23, 1819 . 


Abraham Gifford. 


61 


TOO 


m pt 


Mar. 4, 1818 . . 


Samuel Tucker. 


61 


. 100 


s pt 


Mar. 23, 1819 . 


Abram Gifford. 


61 


100 


'1 pt 


Oct. I, 1819. . . 


Charles Wood. 


6^ 


328 




Nov. I''. 1 8 16 


Benjamin and Stephen 
Husse\'. 










63 


66 


M^t 


Aug. 18, 1835. 


John Stancliff. Jr. 


63 


100 


s ni pt . . . 


Feb. 18, 1829. 


Jes.se Stancliff. 


63 


50 


n m pt . . . 


April 4, 1823. . 


John Sherman, 


^3 


■ 50 


n 111 pt . . . 


Sept. 28, 1829. 


Elijah Kerr. 


63 


50 


n pt 


Nov. I ^, 1828. 


Reuben Stanclift. 


64 


100 


^ pt 


Dec. 29. 1823. 


First Congregational 
Society of Collins. 


64 


120 


s-w pt . . . . 


Sept. 30, 1833. 


William Stanclift. 


64 


80 


n-w" pt . . . 


Aug. 3, 1833. . 


Charles Wood. 






TOW.NSH 


II' SEVEN, RAXC 


;E SEVEN. 


51 


90 


e pt 


Oct. 15. 1838. . 


Ezra Chase. 


51 


50 


e m i:)t . . . 


Dec. 24. 1839. 


Heman H. Annis. 


51 


50 


m pt 


April 24, 1840. 


Adin Townsend. 


51 


53 


,\v m pt . . . 


June 30, 1855 . 


H. J. Metzger. 


5' 


50 


S-AV pt . . . . 


June 27. 1843. 


William \\\ Luck. 


U 


50 


n-\v m pt . 


Oct. 7, 1854... 


Seymour Lewis. 


52 


q8 


e pt 


June 25, 1840. 


Silas W. Fisher. 


S2 


164 


m pt 


Dec. I, 1855 . . 


Cornelius H. Smith. 


52 


1 6' 


m pt 


July 18, 1839.. 
Nov. 30 or 13, 


Pardon C. Sherman. 


S2 


100 


w pt 


^^37 


Warren Tyrer. 


53 


150 


s pt 


June 2, 1855 . . 


Ansel W. Stickney. 


S3 


50 


1 s ni pt . . . 


Aug. 16, 1856. 


Jacob Rose. 


53 


25 


j m pt 


' Aug. 16, 1856. 


Balzer Lalming 


53 


25 


11 m pt . . . 


Aug. 16, 1856. 


Peter Meyer. 



DKKDS CIVKX liV TlIK 11; )I, LAND (O.Ml'ANV. 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE SEVEH—Condnued. 



•2F 



Lot. 


Acres. 


Subdivision. 
s pt 


Date ok Deed. 


Namk. 
Pardon C. Sherman. 




54 


84 


July 18, 1839.. 




54 


250 


n pt 


April I, 1839. . 


D. H. Chandler. 




55 


50 


M^t 


Oct. 18, 1849.. 


John Harton. 




55 


50 


s pt 


Dec. 2, 1836. . 


Jacob Becker. 




55 


52 


m pt 


May 30, 1833. 


Samuel C. Sweet. 




55 


200 


n pt 


Jan. 10, 1839. • 


F. B. Marvin. 




56 


100 


e pt 


May 13, 1833.. 


S. C. Sweet. 




56 


150 


m pt 


Jan. 22, 1842. . 


Barak Gushing. 




56 


87 


w pt 


Nov. I, 1842. . 


Samuel Burchill. 




5S 


60 


^M3t 


Jan. 19, 1839. . 


Nathaniel Starks, Jr. 




5H 


40 


s ni pt .... 


Aug. 19, 1854. 


Samuel Heath. 




5« 


70 


n m pt . . . 


April 14. 1855. 


Peter Nenno. 




58 


150 


m pt 


Oct. I, 1853.. . 


Alexander M. Bruce. 




58 


25 


n-w pt . . . 


Nov. 1 1, 1854. 


John Michel. 




59 


36 


.s-e pt . . . . 


April 28, 1855. 


J. Gasper. 




59 


50 


c m pt . . . 


July 26, 185 I.. 


J. G. Whitney. 




59 


50 


n-e pt . . . . 


Dec. 2, 1854 . . 


Stephen Conger. 




59 


50 


n m pt . . . 


July 19. 1836.. 


Jarvis Thompson. 




59 


38 


m pt 


Nov. 25, 1854. 


Peter Jonas. 




59 


44 


w m pt . . . 


Nov. 25, 1854. 


Andrew W'ever. 




59 


25 


w pt 


Nov. 25, 1854 . 


Michael Clasen. 




60 


80 


s-e pt . . . . 


July 9, 1836.. 


Kendell Johnson. 




60 


50 


n-e pt . . . . 


July 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman. 




60 


70 


m pt 


Jan. 20, 1855. . 


Joseph Jennings. 




60 


3 


m pt 


July 7, 1855.. 


Joseph Jennings. 




60 


80 


w m pt. . . 


Aug. 22, 1835. 


Asahel \V. Field. 




60 


100 


w pt 


Nov. II, 1837. 


Heman H. Annis. 




61 


355 
50 




July 18. 1839. 
Dec. 14, 1834 . 


P. C. Sherman. 




62 


e m pt . . . . 


Ebenezer Sherman. 




62 


68 


m pt 


July 2, 1840. . 


Martha Hund and 
Magdalena Hund. 




62 


50 


m pt 


Jan. 19. IS' 44.. 


Michael Haberer. 




62 


25 


^\• m pt. . . 


May 28, 1845 . 


Nicholas Gier. 




62 


25 


w m pt. . . 


Oct. 4, 1844... . 


John Gier. 




62 


25 


\v pt 


July 13. 1S38.. 


John Schneider. 




63 


50 


Ill pt 


Dec. 16, 1854.. 


Amb. Schaller. 




63 


30 


\v m pt.. . 


May 28, 1 8"$ 3. 


Michael Nenno. 




63 


30 


w m pt. . . 


May 28, 1853. 


Alexander Bettinger. 




63 


50 


^\' pt 


Nov. 25, 1842. 


Alexander Bettinger. 




64 


100 


^"Pt 


Aug. 16, 1853. 


Uri Clark. 




64 


100 


1 m pt 


Mar. 17, 1846. 


L. S. Clark. 




64 


43 


w m pt. . . 
29 


April 8, 1854.. 


L. S. Clark. 





'22 DEEDS GIVEN BV THE HOLLAND COMPANY 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE SEVEN— Continued. 



Lot 


Acres. 
100 


Subdivision. 


Date of Deed, 


Name. 


64 


w pt . . . . 


Dec. 27, 1845 . 


H. J. Redfield. 


66 


120 


s-e pt . . . 


Oct. 15, 1856. . 


Samuel W. Pratt. 


66 


54 


n-e in pt . 


Nov. I, 1841 . . 


Sylvester Hawks. 


66 


50 


s-w pt . . . 


Dec. 8, 1855 . . 


A. B. Pierce. 


66 


16 


w m pt . . 


Dec. 15, 1855. . 


H. Hall. 


66 


46 


n-w pt . . . 


Dec. 9, 1831 . . 


John Hall. 


66 


31 


n m pt . . 


Jan. 8, 1833. . . 


H. Hall, Jr. 


67 


50 


e pt 


Dec. 30, 1836. 


John Arnold. 


67 


50 


em pt . . 


Nov. 1 1, 1837. 


Thomas Annis. 


67 


45 


m pt 


Nov. 9, 1837. • 


Milo Lewis. 


67 


50 


w m pt. . . 


Oct. I, 1835... . 


John Arnold. 


67 


120 


w pt 


Aug. 29, 1822. 


John Arnold. 


68 


54 


em pt. . 


July 18, 1839. 


P. C. Sherman. 


68 


50 


m pt 


Dec. 30, 1836. 


Robert Arnold. 


68 


50 


w m pt. . . 


Mar. 5, 1827. . 


Robert Arnold. 


68 


100 


w pt 


Aug. 22, 1831 . 


Hiram Arnold. 


68 


100 


ept 


Nov. II, 1837. 


H. H. Annis. 


69 


59 


ept 


June 8, 1844. . 


Mark Smith. 


69 


59 


e m pt . . . . 


June 8, 1844. . 


Jacob Smith. 


69 


50 


m pt 


Feb. 13, 1844. 


Philip Hoffman and 
others. 


69 


150 


w pt 


April 2, 1838.. 


Jacob Tammerle. 


70 


65 


ept 


Dec. 7, 1840.. . 


John Heavy. 


70 


75 


e m pt . . . . 


Sept. 24, 1841 . 


Jacob Johnges, Jr. 


70 


75 


m pt 


Nov. 30, 1840. 


Adam Stephan. 


70 


50 


w m pt. . . 


Jan. 24, 1844. . 


Peter Rincas. 


70 


25 


s-w pt . . . . 


Jan. 18, 1842 . . 


John Shoe. 


70 


25 


n-w pt. . . . 


Aug. 18, 1836. 


Nicholas F'eade. 


71 


50 


M^t 


Nov. 13, 1841 . 


Peter Schmidt. 


71 


31 


s-e m pt . . 


Sept. 16, 1 841 . 


Frederick Dicker. 


71 


31 


.s-^\' m pt . 


Sept. 16, 1841 . 


Zaccheus T. Prince. 


71 


50 


s m pt. . . . 


July 13. 1838.. 


Nicholas Hoardway. 


71 


168 


n pt 


July 13. i8<9. . 


P. C. Sherman. 


72 


194 


s pt 


July 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman. 


72 


100 


n pt 


July 10, 1839.. 


Calvin Matteson. 



NAMES OF ONE OR MORE OF THE FH^ST SETTLERS ON EACH OF 
THF LOTS IN THE TOWN OF NORTH COLLINS. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE EIGHT. 
Lot 2, Samuel Hall, Nathan Starks and J. A. Lewis; lot 3, 
James Tyrer and Luther T}Tcr ; lot 4, Matthew Clark; lot 5, 



XA.MKS OF FIRST SKITLFRS I\ NOR! II COLLINS. 723 

Granficld Gates; lot 6, Mr. Conklin ; lot 7, Kzra Brown ; lot 8, 
Geor^-e Miller ; lot 10, Sylvanius B.ites ; lot 1 1. Gardiner Potter 
and John Potter; lot I2, John L. Harden; lot 1 3, Ghad B. 
Clark; lot 14, Abram Clark, Willard Slocum, J. G. Potter; lot 
15, Stephen Jewell, J.Brown; lot 16, George W'ightman ; lot 
18, William Smith ;• lot 19, llijah Smith: lot 20, Abram Con- 
ger and Mr. Barry; lot 21, I'Vanklin W'ightman ; lot 22, Asa 
Jennings, Erastus Clark; lot 23, John Train ; lot 24, Wheeler 
Beardsley, Samuel Brooks ; lot 26, B. W. Pratt ; lot 27, Corn- 
wall Luther; lot 28, Joseph Willet, Mr. Baker; lot 27, Noah 
Bump; lot 30, George De Voll ; lot 31, Samuel Richmond; 
lot 34, Henry Tucker; lot 35, Jonathan Russell ; lot 36. Mr; 
Pickins ; lot ^J, Lemuel Wliite ; lot 38, Humphrey White ; lot 
39, Aaron Parker; lot 40, Horace Landon ; lot 42, Stephen 
White, Benjamin Leggett and George Southwick ; lot 43, Job 
Southwick ; lot 44, Hugh iMcMiller and Jonathan Southwick; 
lot 45, Daniel Allen, John L. Edd)-, Asher Aver}- ; lot 46, 
Joseph Sission ; lot 47, Asher Avery; lot 48, Humphrey Rus- 
sell, Abner Briggs ; lot 49, ; lot 50, Stephen 

Sisson ; lot 51, Levi Woodward, Lilly Stafford ; lot 52. Stephen 
White, Daniel Hunt ; lot 53, John Woodword, William Potter ; 
lot 54. Noah Tripp; lot 57, Thomas Hunt; lot 60, Abram 
Gifford, Samuel Tucker, John Ray ; lot 63, Jesse Stancliff, 
John Stancliff ; lot 64, Willard Stancliff, Lyman B. Harris. 

TOWXSHIl' SFN'EX, RAXCF: SEVEN. 

Lot 50, William Soule, Samuel Heath; lot 51, Seymour 
Lewis, Adam Townsend ; lot ^2, Jonathan Townsend ; lot 53, 
Mathew Brewer, Amos Patridge ; lot 54, Stickney & Thomp- 
son ; lot 55, Samuel Sweet ; lot 58, J. F. Coy, C. F. Hodges ; 
lot 59, Cooper & Thompson; lot 60, Robert Scott; lot 61, 
Jacob Smith, Mark Smith ; lot 62, M. Haberer ; lot 65, T. 
Thiel ; lot 64, Samuel Clark ; lot 66, Henry Hall, Jr., lot 67, 
John Arnold ; lot 68, Robert Arnold ; lot 69, John Demerlex' ; 
lot 70, Nicholas Ferdick ; lot 71, George Decker; lot 72, Calvin 
Matthewson. 



724 



COPY OF EARLY ASSESSMENT ROLL. 



COl'Y OF THE ASSESSMENT ROLL OF THE TOWN OF NORTH 
COLLINS (then COLLINS) FOR THE YEAR 1823. 

TOWNSHIP SEYEN, RANOE EKiHT. 



Name. 



Land. 



Timothy Stancliff 

Mose.s Tucker 

Jonathan Southwick.. 

Asher Avery 

Lennuel M. White 

Humphrey Smith 

Charles Devol 

Noah Tripp 

W'iUiam Potter 

Daniel Allen 

David White 

Humphrey White. . . . 

William Pickins 

Joshua Pickins 

Job Southwick 

Job Sherman 

Charles Sherman 

Jonathan Russell 

David Conger 

David Conger 

Lilly Stafford, Jr 

Noel Conger 

Jonathan Sherman.. . . 

Henry Joslin. 

Jacob Bardin 

John Bardin 

Leonard Reed 

Levi Parker 

Levi Parker 

Horace Landon 

Richard Rogers 

Elisha Train 

James Marvin 

Humphrey Russell. ... 

Luther Rice 

Daniel Shord 



n-w pt 1 64. 
s-\V pt 1 50. 
n pt 1 44 . . . 
m pt 1 45 . . 
w pt 1 37 . . 
s-w pt 1 46. 
s-e pt 1 46. . 
s-vv pt 1 54. 
n-w pt 1 5 3 . 
n pt 1 45 . . . 
m pt 1 37.. 
e pt I37.. . 
m pt 1 36. . 
e pt 1 36 . . . 
e pt 1 43 . . . 
n-w pt 1 35 . 
s pt 1 35~. . . 
n-w pt 1 34 . 
e pt 1 42 . . . 
w ptl 33... 
s-e pt 1 34. . 
s-w pt 1 34 . 
n-e pt 1 34. . 
s pt 1 30 . . . 
n-e pt 1 30. . 
n-w pt 1 30. 
s pt 1 



m pt 1 3 1 

m pt 1 40 

s-e pt I40& s-w pt 1 



" pt 1 31 i 

n-e pt 1 40 

s-w pt 1 40, n pt 1 39j 

& " pt 1 47 1 

s pt 1 48 I 

"1 pt 1 47 i 

S pt 1 47 : 



Acres. 



70 
50 
310 
98 
96 

56 
70 
98 

58 

144 

152 

94 

99 

59 

195 

68 

124 

96 

97 
179 

78 
66 
80 

145 
48 
48 
96 

1451 
102 1 

144 

100 

67 

269 

234 

94 

148 



Val. 

$191 

177 
740 
258 

344 
162 

175 
385 
145 
382 

488 

244 
260 

147 

527 

•74 
261 

253 

627 

160 
165 
213 

443 
141 
136 
262 



427 

295 
190 



Tax. 



;i 47 

I 
I 
I 



36 
98 
98 

2 64 
I 22 

1 35 

2 96 

1 II 

2 93 
7^ 
84 



13 
08 

33 

2 00 
I 96 

4 82 

I 23 
I 26 
1 63 

3 42 
I 08 

1 05 

2 01 



562 i 4 34 



3 30 

2 23 

I 43 



679 5 24 

486 I 3 75 

197 ! I 51 

388 2 98 



cow OF FARI.V ASSr,SSMi:N 1- ROLL. 725 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN', RANGE EIGHT— G'liiiiiiM/. 



Name. 

James Rathbonc. . . 
James Rathbone. . . 
Frederick Smith. . . 
Darse Roberts. . . . 

Josepli Sisson 

Jesse Stanclift 

John Stanclift 

Lyman B. I'rancis 
Stephen Smith . . . . 
Stephen Wliite. . . . 
Le\i Woodw arc! . . . 
Hui^h McAIiUain. , 

Lilly Stafford 

Obed Hathaway.. , 

Perry Sisson 

Geori^e Lapham . . . 
Stephen Sisson. . . . 
Stephen Sisson. . . . 
John Lawton 



Land, 



n-w pt 1 38. 
m pt 1 39 . . 
n pt 1 46 . . . 
.s-wl 38.... 
m pt 1 46 . . 

pt I63 

n pt 1 63 . . . 
n-e pt 1 64. 
m pt 1 56. . 



John Davis 

Jolm Stanclift. Jr 

Willard Stanclift 

Thomas Stancliff 

Nathaniel Sisson 

Nathaniel Sisson 

Nathaniel Sisson 

Elkanah Sherman . . . . 

Klkanah Sherman . . . . 

Llkanah Sherman, / 

VillaL;elot No. 28, \ 

John Ra}' 

Thomas Hunt 

Cromwell Luther 

Anna Howland 

Isaac Gifford 

John L. Edda 

Thomas W. Howland. 

Josiah Crath 

Geori^c W'ii^htman. . . . 
.Stephen Jewel 



n-e pt 1 51 

s pt 1 44 

s-e pt' 1 51 

n-e pt 1 50 

n-w pt 1 43 

s-w pt I 43 

pt 150...^ 

^^•pt I55 

w pt 1 4 1 , s-w^ pt 1 5 I 
n-w pt 1 50 & s-w 

pt 1 4:^ 

c pt 1 56 

s ptl 63 

s-w pt 1 64 

n-w pt 1 63 

s-e pt 1 50 

n-w pt 1 42 

s-w pt 1 62 

n-w pt 51 

m pt 1 23 •. . . 



471 i 
98f 
96 

47 
96 

94 

46 

6 

99 : 
243 ' 

97 

193 I 
109 

43 
66 

45 
lool 
100 1 



s pt 1 60 . . . 
n pt 1 59.. . 
n-w pt 1 59, 
n-w pt 1 50 . 

Ptl58 

s pt 1 58 . . . 

Ptl58 

m pt 1 15... 

1 16 

m pt 1 15 . 



$375 

267 
117 

244 

304 
148 

56 

314 

797 
264 

7^5 

389 
116 
264 
133 



320 


2000 


89 

61 


211 

180 


104 

48 


340 
■54 


59 
6S 


339 
162 


48 
65 
59 


120 

139 
146 




5 



49 
99 
69 

39 
69 
69 
80 
64 

337 
99 



102 
21 1 
142 

87 
172 
172 
200 
169 
887 
260 



Acres. Val. Tax 



52 88 

2 06 

89 

1 84 

2 34 

1 14 

43 

2 44 
6 14 
2 04 
5 88 
2 00 

89 

2 04 
I 02 



705 5 42 



15 40 



62 

36 
61 
18 



- d3 
I 25 

93 
I 07 
I 12 

04 

78 

162 

I 08 

66 

I 33 
I 33 
I 54 
1 23 

6 84 
I 99 



726 COPY OF EARLY ASSESSMENT ROLL. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE EIGHT— Co;, tinm;/. 



Name. 



John McDaniel . . . 
Abraham Clark . . . 
William Sisson, Jr. 
Stephen Hussey .. . 
Benjamin Hussey . 

Charles Wood 

Charles Wood 

Samuel Tucker. . . . 
Abraham Gifford.. 

Rufus Gifford 

Rufus Gifford 

Joseph A. Gifford . 
John Woodward . . 

Erastus Clark 

Isaac Hoag 

Eliott Hoag 

John Train 

Asa Jennings 

William Palmer. . . 
James Goodell .... 
Nathan Starks .... 

Luther Tyrer 

Andrew Hall 

Henry Hall 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 

Willink &Co 

Wilhnk &Co 

Willink &Co 

Willink &Co 

Willink &Co 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 

Willink & Co 



Land. 



m pt 1 I 5 

m pt 1 14 

m pt 1 21 

n pt 1 62 

s pt 1 62 

n pt 1 51 

n-w pt 1 54 

m pt I61 &s-wpt 1 53 

pt Its 60 & 61 

pt 1 60 

m pt 1 44 

s-w 1 60 

11-c pt 1 53.- 

w pt 1 22 

pt 1^4 

m pt 1 24 

m pt 1 23 

m pt 1 22 

pt 1 10 

pt 1 10 { 

•^-^v pt 1 3 

n-w pt 1 3 

n-e pt 3 , 

•^-e pt 1 3 

e pt 1 2 

1a 



s pt 1 6 

18 

n pt 1 10. . . 

In 

e pt 1 64 . . . 
n pt 1 56. . . 
n pt 1 48 . . . 
e pt 1 38. . . 
n pt I 36. .. 
e pt 1 29 . . . 

I 27 

e pt lot 26. 
n pt 1 24 . . . 
w pt 1 23 . . . 
n pt 1 22 . . 



\CRES 


\^A1.. 


49 


247 


98 


245 j 


99 


247 1 


160 


694 


i5« 


695 


81 


549 : 


66 


132 


T 1 -y 


1223 ! 


167 


493 1 


128 


310 


65 


139 1 


5« 


149 


47 


155 


96 


277 


149 


37^ 


99 


247 1 


99 


256 1 


99 


265 


94 


257 


59 


147 


61 


122 


78 


196 


106 


310 \ 


58 


116 , 


237 


592 1 


386 


945 


350 


875 


223 


557 


330 


765 


21 1 


557 


n n "> 


832 


113 


282 


132 


330 


100 


250 


247 


617 


66 


i6s 


261 


652 


351 


877 


118 


290 


66 


165 


159 


397 


141 


3^7 



I 


88 


I 


87 


I 


88 


. 




:> 


JJ 


5 




4 


23 


I 


01 


9 49 


3 


80 


2 


39 


I 


07 


I 


16 



1 12 

2 13 
2 88 



I 


90 


I 


97 


2 


04 


I 


98 


I 


13 




94 


r 


51 


2 


39 




90 


4 


56 


7 


28 


6 


75 


4 


29 


5 


89 


4 


06 


6 


41 


2 


18 


2 


54 


I 


93 


4 


75 


I 


20 


■> 


02 


6 


75 





24 


I 


20 


3 


06 


2 


52 



COPY OF EAKiA' ASSESSMENT ROLL. 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE EIGHT— Continued. 



727 



Name. 



Willink & Co . . . 
Willink & Co . . 
Willink & Co . . . 
Willink & Co . . . 
Willink & Co . . . 
Willink & Co . . . 
Willink & Co . . . 
Hiram Arnold . . 
Robert Arnold . , 

John Lewis 

John A. Lewis. . 

Orin Servis 

John Arnold . . . . 
Amos Stickney . . 
Samuel C. Sweet 
Edson Putnam . . 
Willink & Co . . . 
Willink & Co . . . 
Willink & Co . . . 
W' illink & Co . . . 
Willink &Co . . . 
Willink &Co . . . 
Willink & Co . . . 
Willink & Co . . . 
W' illink & Co . . . 
Willink & Co . .. 
Willink & Co . . . 
Willink & Co . . . 
Willink &Co . . . 
Willink &Co . . . 
Willink & Co . . . 
Willink & Co . . . 
W^illink & Co . . . 
Willink &Co ... 



Land. 



A( KEs. Val. Tax. 



1 20 

1 19 

w pt 1 1 8 
s pt 1 I 5 . 
w pt 1 14 



1 I 



pt 

1 12 

pt 1 68 

pt lots 67 and 68 

m pt 1 67 

m pt 1 67 

e pt 1 67 

.s-w pt 1 67 

m pt 1 5 5 

m pt I55 

nptl 55 

■ 59 



1 60 

1 61 

1 62 

I63 

w pt 1 64, 

1 66 

e pt 1 68 . 

1 69 

I/O 

I71 

1 72 

1 50 

I51 

153 

153 

154 

158 



405 

33^ 
169 

72 

54 

284 

403 

lOD 

66 
93 
49 
50 
102 

47 
98 
98 

345 
381 
355 
355 
415 
146 
320 
205 
318 
315 

349 
294 

333 
341 
359 
340 
334 
340 



1012 
827 
422 
180 

135 
710 
1007 
260 
162 
236 
102 
100 

^22 
130 
263 
250 
862 
952 
887 
887 
1037 

365 
800 
512 

79=; 
787 
872 

735 
832 
852 
897 
850 

835 
850 



7 80 

6 36 
3 25 

I 39 

1 04 

5 47 

7 75 

2 00 
I 25 

1 79 
78 

77 

2 47 

1 90 

2 02 

1 92 
663 

7 IT 
/ JJ 

6 83 

6 83 

7 98 

2 81 
6 16 



95 
13 
06 

71 

5 66 

6 40 
35 
91 
54 
42 
54 



The total valuation of the present Town of Nortli Collins 
(Collins and North Collins were at that time one town) accord- 
ing to the above assessment roll, was $61,437 ^ the valuation of 
the real estate was $61,121 ; personal property, S3 16; tax, 
$585 ; Collectors' fe:s, $17.16. 



728 town officers of north collins. 

List of the Principal Town Officers of North Col- 
lins FROM THE Organization of the Town in 1853, 
UP TO the Present Time: 

supervisors. 

1853 — Edwin \\\ Godfrey. 1868 — Daniel Allen. 

1854— Edwin W. Godfrey. 1869 — Edwin \V. Godfrey. 

1855 — Edwin \V. Godfrey. 1870 — Edwin W. Godfrey. 

1856 — Lyman Clark. 1871 — Edwin \V. Godfrey. 

1857 — Lyman Clark. 1872 — Michael Hunter. 

1858— Charles C. Kirby. 1873— 

1859 — Charles C. Kirby. 1874 — Michal Hunter. 

i860 — Charles C. Kirby. 1875 — Charles C. Kirby. 

1861^ — Wilson Rogers. 1876 — James Matthews. 

1862— Wilson Rogers. 1877 — Charles C. Kirb}'. 

1863— Giles Clifford. 1878— Heman M. Blasdell. 

1864— Giles Gifford. 1879— Heman M. Blasdell. 

1865— Daniel Allen. 1880— Heman M. Blasdell. 

i86(^Thomas Russell. 1 881— Charles H. Wood. 

1867— Daniel Allen. 1882— Charles H. Wood. 
18S3— Jacob Staffen. 

TOWN CLERKS. 

853— Paul H. White. 1868 -Andrew Hurley. 

854 — Paul H.White. 1869 — Andrew Burley. 

855 — Paul H.White. 1870 — Andrew Burley. 

856 — Charles C. Kirby. 1871 — Andrew Burley. 

857 — Charles C. Kirby. 1872 — Andrew Burle}'. 

858— Paul H. White. 1873— 

859 — Paul H. White. 1874 — Joseph Naber, Jr.. 

860 — Michael Hunter. 1875 — Joseph Naber, Jr. 

861 — Michael Hunter. 1876 — Andrew Burley. 

862 — Michael Hunter. 1877 — Andrew Burley. 

863 — F^rancis Leach. 1878 — Andrew Burle)-. 

864 — Francis Leach. 1879 — Andrew Burle}'. 

865 — Henry Beveir. 1880 — Andrew Burley. 

866 — George Barringer. 1881 — Andrew Burley. 

867 — George B;irringer. 1882 — Andrew Burley. 
1S83 — Joseph Naber, Jr. 



TOWN OFIICKRS OF XORI'II CO], I. INS. 



729 



SUI'FRINIKXDKXTS OF SCHOOLS. 
1853 — Willi. 1111 11. Train. 1855 — Stephen Williani Soulc. 



1854— 



1856 — Alon/.o H. Pierce. 



lUSTICES OF niK I'KACE. 



1^53 • 
854 

856 

«^57 

858- 

859 

860 
861 

862 

86:; 



865. 
866 
867 
868 



1 Charles C. Kirb}'. 
Samuel 1 leath. 

f Thomas S. Hibbard. 
— Samuel Heath. 

-William A. Fish. 

— I.yman Clark. 

\ Charles C. Kirb}\ 

( Matthew Brewer. 

—Michael Hunter. 

\ William A. Fish. 

I Matthew Brewer. 

—Ansel W. Stickney. 
— Charles C. Kirby. 

\ Michael Hunter. 

f Thomas Russell. 
— Thomas Russell. 
— .\nsel W. Stickne}-. 
— Francis Leach. 
John Potter. 
Da\id A. Avery. 
Ansel W. Stickney. 



1869- 
1 870- 
1871- 
1872- 

1873- 
1 874 

1875 
1876 
1877 

1878 

1879- 
18.S0- 
1881- 
1882- 
1883- 



-PTancis Feach. 
-Milton Roeller. 
-H. M. H ark n ess. 
-N. Lollman. 

Milton Roeller. 
Thomas S. Hibbard. 
Charles C. Kirb\-. 
Charles C. Kirby. 
Charles Stuhlmiller. 
N. Lollman. 
Charles H. Wood. 
T. S. Hibbard. 
Henry Joslin. 
Henr}- Joslin. 
Edwin W. Stanclift. 
Charles W'hitney. 
Clarence F. Lawton. 
-Perry T. Scott. 
E. B. Austin. 
Charles C. Kirb\-. 



853 i 
.S54-; 

856- 

857- 
858- 

859-1 



(jeorj^e Burnett. 
Giles (jifford. 
Sanuu;l Sweet. 
William Hathawa)'. 
Loren/o D. Palmer, 
ALirshall Judson, 
Fsaac A. Hale. 
■Daniel Sisson. 
AVilliam T. Popple. 
-Henry Joslin. 
Fsaac A. Hale. 
Matthew Brewer. 



ASSESSORS. 

I 860- 
1861- 



1862 

1863 

1864 

1865 

1866- 

1867 



— Benjamin Salts. 
-Daniel Allen, Jr. 
\ Isaac A. Hale, 
I Daniel Sission. 
\ S. B. Patridge, 
I Lewis Rogers. 

— Olney P. Harkness. 
\ E. W. Stanclift. 
/ John Staffin. 
—John Staffen. 
\ S. W. Lawton. 
/ Nicholas Beaver. 



730 



TOWN OFFICERS OF NORTH COLLINS. 



1868 



\ Nathan Sisson. 



( Henry Joslin. 
1869 — Nicholas Beaver. 
1871 — 

1872— James Lenox. 
1873- 
„ \ WilHam H. Willett. 
^'^74 , jgaac Wilcox. 

1875 — James Lenox. 



1876 — Isaac Wilcox. 
1877— William H. Willett. 
1878— John Staffen. 
1879— W. ^^- Taylor. 
1880 — Edwin W. Stanclift. 
1 88 1 — Nicholas Beaver. 
1 882 — Peter Winter. 
1883— H. S. Kirby. 



COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS. 



1853 I 

1854— 
1855- 

1856- 



1857J 

1858— 
1859- 
1860— 
1861 — 
1862— 
1863— 

1864 I 

1865 ( 



William Smith, 
Benjamin Hussey. 
Benjamin Hussey. 

John J. Jennings, 
Rufus W. Stickney, 
Daniel Allen, Jr., 
Stephen Conger, 
Luther Landon, 
George P. Sipple. 
Stephen Conger. 
Luther Landon. 



Isaac Russell. 



Stephen Conger. 
Stephen Conger. 

Isaac Russell. 



1866 
1867 
1868 
1S69 
1870 
1871 
1872 

1873- 

1874 — John Thiel. 

1875 — John Thiel. 

1876— Augustin Smith. 

1877 — Jacob Staffen. 

1878 — Jacob Staffen. 

1879 — J. J. Pickens. 

1880 — Jacob Staffen. 

1 88 1— George H. White. 

1882— H. S. Bebee. 

1883— 



COLLECTORS. 



1853 — Isaac Russell. 
1854 — Isaac Russell. 
1855 — Sherman Avery. 
1856 — Sherman Avery. 
1857 — Alanson Clark. 
1858 — Joshua J. Pickens. 
1859 — Joshua J. Pickens. 
i860 — Joshua J. Pickens. 
1861— Elias A. Morgan. 



1862 — Elias A. Morgan. 
1863 — Daniel Allen, Jr. 
1864 — Daniel Allen, Jr. 
1865 — Isaac Wilcox. 
1866— 

1867 — Harvey J. Tucker. 
1868— Michael Roeller. 
1869— Milton Roeller. 
1870 — Milton Roeller. 



SOCIKTIKS OF NDRTII COLLINS. 73 1 

1871 — George H. Dana. 1878 — John Pflecger. 
1872 — Thomas S. Hibbard. 1879 — Jolm Pflceger 

1873 — 1880 — William Hyde. 

1874 — Milton Rocllcr. 1S81 ^ 

Ij^j5 . 1882 • Paul J^antle. 

1876 - Paul Bantle. 1883 \ 

1877 ^ 

NoiK. — In 1S73, owing to a fenr of spreading small pox, no town meeiing 
was held, and the officers elected the previous year held over. 

NORTH COLLINS SOCIETIES. 

North Collins has eight secret societies or beneficiary orders, 
all with headquarters at North Collins x'illage, except a lodge 
of Good Templars at Lavvton's Station, and a Catholic order 
at Langford. The following statistics relate to the respective 
orders : 

A. O. U. W., NORTH COLLINS L0D(;E, NO. 96. 

Organized June 9, 1877 ; number of charter members, twenty- 
seven ; present membership, fifty. Original officers : — 

L. B. Shaw. P. M. W.; M. Hunter, M. \V.; W. H. Estes, 
Recorder; David Sherman, G. F".; E. H. P''oster, Financier ; 
E. S. Hibbard, Receiver; E. E. Ensign, O. \V.; James Huzzy, 
G.; Frank Russell, O.; Horace Wood, I. W. 

E. O. M. A., LINCOLN LODGE, NO. 87. 

Instituted Ma}' 8, 1879. Charter members, twcnt\--two ; 
])resent membership, sixteen. Original officers : — 

Job Southwick, Jr., President ; George W. Spaulding, Vice 
President; A. F". Mason, Recording Secretary; Plllmore Rogers, 
Financial Secretar}- ; George Barringer, Treasurer; George 
Sucher, Chaplain; A. T. Huson, Conductor ; Hiram Pease, I. 
G.; Emmonds Hunter. O. G.; Enos S. Hibbard, Past Presi- 
dent. 

K. T. OF T., NORTH COLLINS COUNCIL. NO. J^. 

Instituted Now 17, 1879; charter members. thirt\' ; present 
membership, fifty-five; original officers: — 

S. H. Shaw, S. C; E. A. Morgan, V. C; E. W. Godfrey, 
P. C; A. W. F"ranklin, Chaplain ; E. G. Ellinwood, Secretary 
E. Ensign. Financial Secretar\- ; A. H. Welch. Treasurer; 



732 SOCIETIES OF NORTH CoLLIXS. 

Warren Needham, Herald ; Joseph P. Barr, Guard ; Philip' 
Knopp, Sentinel. 

E. A. v., JEFFERSON UNION, NO. ■/$. 

Instituted April 12, i8So. Charter members, thirty ; present 
membership, fifty-three. Original officers : 

Michael Hunter, Chairman ; Stephen H. Shaw, Advocate ; 
Berton S. Partridge, President; Dora J. Baldwin, Vice-Presi- 
dent ; Adelia Sprague, Auxiliary ; George Barringer, Treasurer ; 
Edwin W. Godfrey, Secretary ; Dewitt E. Hibbard, Account- 
ant ; William G. Webber, Chaplain ; Lydia Hunter, Warden ; 
George W. Sallman, Sentinel ; Orange Sedwell, Watchman. 

(r. A. R., S. C. NOYES POST, NO. 22. 

Organized June 20, 1881. Charter members, sixteen ; pres- 
ent membership, thirty-three. Original officers : 

A. Hilliker, Commander ; E. S. Hibbard, S. V. C; Harvey 
Smith, J.V. C; Andrew Bearly, Adjutant; M. M. Speny, Ser- 
geant ; Isaac E. Stedwell. Chaplain ; Charles Beach, O. D.; 
John Robinson, O. G.; E. J. Foster, S. M.; George Davis,. 
Q. M. S.; Peter Bowers, Guard. 

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF GOOD TEMl'LARS, MC KILLOP LODGE, 

NO. 516. 

Organized June 29, 1882. Charter members, thirteen ; pres- 
ent membership, thirty-two. Original officers : 

A. W. Franklin, W. C. T.; Ida Ensign, W. V. T.; Miss M. 
Van Epps, W. C; W. W. Ransom. W. S. E. C; Hattie E. 
Burnham, W. A. S.; Herbert I. Burnham, W. T. S.; Eva Estes, 
W. Treasurer ; Cortney Brown, W. M.; Fanny Franklin, 
W. D. N.; Santford Bundy, W. I. G.; May Stanclift, W. O. G.;: 
Jennie Stanclift, W. R. H. S.; Lottie Rankin, W. L. H. S. 

I. O. OF G. T., LAWTON LODCIE. NO. 519. 

Organized July l, 1872. Charter members, thirty-eight. 
Original officers : 

Leroy Sherman, W. C. T.; Gladry Lawton, W. V. T.; Lucy 
Sherman, W. S.; G. O. Dillingham, W. F.; George Burgott, 
W. F. S.; George Taylor, W. C; Fred WiUett. W". M.; Fred 
Stage, W. S.; Marion Taylor, W. G.; Helen Sherman, W. A. S.; 
Mrs^ Carl WiUit, W. D. M.; Florence Lawton, \\\ R. S.;. 



NORTH COI.I.IXS SOI.DIKKS RECORD. 733 

Eunice Palmcrton, W. S. S.; Uuran A. Palmcrton, V.. W. C. T.; 
Willie Law-ton. L. 1). 

C. M. H. A., MARTINS BRANCH, NO. 35. 

Ortjjanized May 25, 1879. Charter members, thirteen. Oric^i- 
nal officers were : — 

Jacob Staffen, President ; Paul Bantle. first Vice-President ; 
John Smith, second Vice-President ; George A. Sipplc, Record- 
ing Secretary ; Jolm Junker, Assistant Recording Secretary; 
Peter Hearye, Treasurer- Lewis Andres, MarshaL, George 
Schneider, Guard ; Fred Rider, Charles ThieJ, P^rank Johengen, 
Michael Hoepfinger and P'rank Menges, Trustees. 

NORTH COLLINS SOLDIERS' RECORD. 

The following is believed to be a nearly correct list of those 
from North Collins who serv^ed in the war of the Rebellion. 
Some names have perhaps been unavoidaibly omitted. 

North Collins was represented in thirty different regiments. 
More than half her soldiers, however, were in the following 
regiments : — 

Tenth New York cavalry. One Hundred and Sixteenth New 
York volunteers, P^orty-fourth (People's Ellsworth), Forty- 
ninth New York volunteers, and the Sixty-fourth New York 
volunteers. 

Of the gallant service which her soldier boys performed as 
members of these regiments it is needless to recount, as they 
have been well portrayed in regimental histories and other 
works, and form a permanent part of the brave and patri- 
otic deeds of the War. Doubtless the same may be said of the 
various other regiments, some of which had but a single repre- 
sentative from the town. 

" Up many a fortress wall 

They charged ; those Boys in Blue ; 
'Mid surging smoke and volleyed ball, 
The bravest were the first to fall, 
To fall for me and you." 

Put what of those that fell ? 

" On Fame's eternal camping ground. 
Their silent tents are spread ; 
And glory guards with solemn sound 
The bivouac of the dead." 



734 NORTH COLLINS SOLDIERS' RECORD. 

Noi'E. — A star placed opposite the name indicates death in the service, and the person's 
narae will be found at the close in a list of the dead. 

Allen, Daniel, Sergt. 64th N. Y. V. 
"Baker, Samuel K., loth N. Y. Cav. 

Barring, George, Corp. Lst Reg. N. Y. S. sharp shooters, 
8th Co. 

Burleigh, Andrew, 116 N. Y. V., Co. A. 

Bar, Joseph P., " 900th Scott Cav." 

Brim, Adam, i i6th N. Y. V. 

Blakeley, Sylvester N., ii6th N. Y. N. 

Bettinger, Nicholas, 2d Mounted Rifles. 

-"Bennett, Ferdinand, 44th N. Y. V., Co. 7\. 

Brown, John S., 9th N. Y. Cav. 

Brown, David H., 9th N. Y. Cav. 

Buckmer, Henry, 155th N. Y. V. 

Beaver, Henry, 24th N. Y. Cav. 

Ballard, Joseph, 49th Battery. 

Ballard, Sebastian, 187th N. Y. V. 

-Cook, John, 1 1 6th N. Y. V. 

Cook, Adam, U. S. V. Army. 

Conger, George D., Corp. 44th N. Y. V. 

Clend, Ebenezer R., looth N. Y. V. 

Clark, William, Artillery. 

Cooper, John looth N. Y. V. 

Curtis. Charles H., i6oth N. Y. V. 

Doanc, William, loth N. Y. Cav. 

Davis, George H., ii6th N. Y. V., Co. K. 

Day, Nelson V., i6oth N. Y. V. 

Deyre, Henry, i6oth N. Y. V. 

Demerl}', Charles, 33d Batter)'. 

Dean, George. 

Fisher, Jacob, 28th N. Y. V. 

Foster, Oscar E., 2d Mounted Rifles. 

Fuller, Frank, 11 6th N. Y. V. 

Farnswick, William K., loth N. Y. Cav. 

Cuyger, Lawrence, 44th N. Y. V. 

Gearnie, Matthias, U. S. V. Army, Light Artillery. 

Gray, William F., 72d Reg. (Excelsior Brigade). 

■'•"Harmatinger, John, ii6th N. Y. V. 



NORTH COLLINS SOLDIKRS' RLCORL). 735 

Holcomb, I'ranklin. loth N. V. Cav. 

Hinman, Byron C, 13th N. Y. V, 

Huzzy, James, loth N. Y. Cav. 

llibbard, luios S., Sergt. loth N. Y. Cav., Co. D. 

Heltmcr, Jacob, Jr., "900th Scott Cav." 

Heltmyer, John, Corp. 97th Reg. 

Harmon, Godfrey, 21st N. Y. V. 

Hanson, John, U. S. Artiller}-. 

Hancs, William H. H., i6oth N. Y. V. 

■^'•'Haberer, George, 33d Battery. 

Hanes, Clements, 15th Artillery. 

Hosford, Hiram ii6th N. Y. V. 

Jennings, Asa C, 44th N. Y. V. 

Johnson, John B., 155th X. Y. V. 

Konklin, John C, looth N. Y. V. 

*Leach, Stephen H., loth N. Y. Cav. Co. E. 

L}'nde, Thodore. 

Lynde, Myron, ii6th N. Y. V. 

Laveter, Stephen W. 

Lollman, Nicholas, 27th Light Battery. 

Lighe, Charles, i6oth N. Y. V. 

McCarty, Michael, i6th U. S. Cav. 

Miller, John, i6oth N. Y. V. 

Madison, John, i6oth N. Y. V. 

O'Connor, Patrick. i6oth N. Y. V. 

O'Brian, Daniel, i6oth N. Y. V. 

Prince, Leonartl, loth N. Y. V. 

Parker, Harrison, 44th N. Y. V. 

Pfleger, John, 10th N. Y. Cav. Co. E. 

*Palmer, Thomas, 64th N. Y. V. 

Pratt, Samuel W., 64th N. Y. V. 

Petrie, George, 19th U. S. Cav. 

Robinson, John, 83d Pa. Reg. 

Ro.ss, William, Corp. ii6th N. Y. V. 

Rogers, Samuel S., loth N. Y. Cav. 

Rogers, Jacob W'., loth N. Y. Cav. 

Rogers, William A., Sergt. 44th N. Y. V., Co. A. 

Russell, Isaac H., 44th N. Y. V., Co. A. 

Roeller, Milton. 



736 NORTH COLLINS SOLDIERS' RECORD. 

Randall, Byron, " Sidnay's Reg." 

Randall, Hair}-, " Sidna}''s Reg." 

"Rogers, Jerome B., loth N. Y. Cav. 

Ritter, Francis, 49th N. Y. Inf. 

Sherman, Job B., i i6th N. Y. V., Co. K. 

*Smith, Chester, 44th N. Y. V. 

Smith, Egbert, Corp, ii6th N. Y. V., Co. A. 

Staffin, Peter. 44th N. Y. V. 

Staffin, Jacob, 90th N. Y. V. 

Smith, Marcus, loth N. Y. Cav. 

"Smith. Philip, U. S. V. Navy. 

Smith, William, i6oth N. Y. V. 

Stimpson, John, i6oth N. Y. V. 

Soloman, James, i6oth N. Y. V. 

Skinner, Nelson S., 12th N. Y. V. 

Stanclift, Edwin J., 10th N. Y. Cav., Co. E. 

Smith, Henry C, 44th N. Y. V., Co. A. 

Secrist, Jacob, 97th Reg. 

Smith, Augustin, 27th Battery. 

''■\Shaller, Joseph, 15th Artillery. 

Saunders, James. 

Taylor, John, 19th U. S. Cav. 

Terhams, Gilliam, 12th N. Y. V. 

Uhls, Silfrey, loth N. Y. Cav. 

Uhls. Frank, loth N. Y. Cav. 

Wysinger, David, Corp. ii6th N. Y. V., Co. K. 

Willett, Homer B., ii6th N. Y. V., Co. A. 

"Whittemore, Hor^itio G., ii6th N. Y. V. 

Wolf, Frank, 11 6th N. Y. V. 

Wolf, Andrew, 11 6th N. Y. V. 

Walker, John, 94th N. Y. V. 

West, Francis, 49th N. Y. V. 

Warner, Reuben, 9th N. Y. Cav. 

Wood, Charles, looth N. Y. V. 

Way, Elijah, i6oth N. Y. V. 

'"Winter, John, "900th Scott Cav." 

Zahm, Jacob, U. S. V. armv. 



NOK'l'II (Ol.l.IXS SoI.DIilKS KiiCOKD. -^j 

[.isr OK IIIOSI'. WHO W KRK KII.I.Kl) OR I)Ii:i) [ X J 1 1 1-; SKRXICK. 

]iakcr. Samuel K.. shot in the head and killed at tlie battle 
of the Wilderness. 

Bennett, PY'rdinand. killed b)- the burstin-^ of a shell at the 
battle of the Wilderness. 

Cook. John, shot in the head and killed at the battle of Win- 
chester. 

Harmatin^er, John, died in the hospital at Morj^ans, La. 

Haberer, Georije, died in the hospital near New York, Oct. 
30. i<S64. 

Leach, .Stephen VI., died of starvation at Anderson\-il]e 
prison. 

Palmer. Thomas P.. died in New York of wounds receixed at 
h'air Oaks. 

Rof^ers. Jerome B.. died at home Nov. 15, 1863. 

Smith, Chester, killed July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg. 

Smith. Philip, died in the hospital at the Portsmouth nav\' 
yard. 

.Shaller, Jose})h, died at home Jan. 18, 1865, of wounds re- 
ceived at Petersburg. 

Whittemore, Horatio B , died at Baton Rouge. 

FIRST c()N(;ri-:(;a'1'Ion.\l cihrcii of north colfixs. 

The societ}' was organized June 11, 1818. The ori<^inal 
members consisted of John Stanclift, Sr., a Revolutionary .sol- 
dier, his sons Timothy, John, Jr., Willard, Jesse, and Sarah, 
Lucy, Mary and Phebe Stanclift. Being the first church soci- 
ety organized in township seven, range eight, it recei\ed a gift 
of one hundred acres of land from the Holland Land compan\-. 
The land now comprises a part of the farm of Edward Stan 
clift. The first mention on the records of preaching to the 
society was b)- Rev. John Spencer. No mention is made of 
an}' other minister until 1826, when the names of Rev. Lot 
Sullivan, Rev. Bawlden and Rev. Hiram Smith appear. The 
church ne\"er had a regular installed p.istor. The societ\- was 
reorganized Jan. 4, 1881. The present church edifice was 
built in 1844, Daniel Van Arnem being the builder. 



738 THE SOUTHWICK FAMILY. 

Job SoutliAvick's Statement. 

I was born in Queensbury, Washington county, N. Y., Feb. 
12, 1796. My father's name was George and my mother's 
maiden name was Lydia Sargent : they were natives of Smith- 
f^eld, R. I. 

I came to North ColHns in March, 181 1. Enos Southwick, 
Abram Tucker and Stephen Sisson came in May or June, 
18 10, and settled near Lawton Station. Nathaniel Sisson, 
brother of Stephen Sisson, settled here in the Fall of 18 10. I 
and my brother Jonathan came in March, 181 1. I was fifteen 
years of age at that time ; we were on the road twenty-eight 
days ; came with an ox team ; from Buffalo we followed up the 
beach of the lake to the mouth of the Cattaraugus creek, and 
from there we came to Taylor's Hollow. 

When we first came to North Collins the nearest mill was at 
White's Corners ; we went there to mill generally with oxen 
and sled ; there were no roads and we had to follow Indian 
trails. At one time I carried a small grist for each of nine dif- 
ferent families. 

Abram Tucker, Stephen Sisson, Nathaniel Sisson and Enos 
Southwick were all the white inhabitants in North Collins in 
1 8 10. The settlers who had located in North Collins up to 
and including 18 12 were Stephen Sisson, Nathaniel Sisson, 
Abram Tucker, Samuel Tucker, Moses Tucker, Enos South- 
wick, Jonathan Southwick, George Southwick, Jr., James 
Tyrer, Luther Tyrer, John Strang, Stephen White, Stephen 
Twining, Noah Tripp, Hugh McMillen, Levi Woodward, Syl- 
venus Bates and myself. 

One time all of us about or near Lawton Station went over 
to Springville to town meeting on foot ; we went up the Gen- 
esee road by Woodward's Hollow, and over Townsend hill ; 
when we came back a dozen or more of us stopped at Cooper's, 
stayed all night and slept on the floor. Once we had the town 
meeting at Taylor's Hollow ; the town was twenty-four miles 
long, east and west. 

I have known wheat to be sold at Taylor's mill at Taylor 
Hollow for twenty-five cents per bushel. 

The Friends (or Quakers) would not voluntarily pay taxes 
for war purposes ; some of them would leave money lying on 



TiiK sor riiwicK iamilv. 739 

the mantel shelf or some other place where the Collector could 
<^et it ; others would let their property be levied u[)on. When 
Harry Sears was Collector, he took a nice yearlinj^ colt of mine 
up to Springville and sold it for $12 ; my tax was four dollars 
which he took and returned me eii^ht dollars. 

I settled on lot fort\--three in North Collins, and remained 
there till 1826, when we moved here where we now live. 

Father died in North Collins in 1824, and mother in 1845. 
i\I\- oldest sister, (irace, married John Bragg, and died in Au- 
rora. George married Jane Bowson ; he settled in the Town 
of Collins ; then sold out and went to Meadville, Pa., where he 
died. Royal married Christina Langdon ; lived in North Col- 
lins; sold out, went to Wales and died there. Lydia S. mar- 
ried Hugh McMillen ; lived in North Collins, where he died, 
but she died in Iowa. Jonathan married Martha Irish, and 
they both died in North Collins. Enos married Pauline Bar- 
ker ; they both died in Gowanda. Hannah married Levi 
Woodward; she died in Illinois; he died in Concord. 

Job Southwick married Sophia Smith at Tub Town, in Col- 
hns, in 1816; she is dead ; he lives in the north-east corner of 
Brant. Mr. Southwick has been Highway Commissioner in 
the Town of Evans, and Supervisor of the Town of Brant. 
His children were : 

Phebe, born in 1817; married \\'alter Kimball, lives in Brant. 
Richard, born in 1819 married Amelia Pound; li\'es in Eden. 
Wheeler B., born in 1821 ; married Sarah Stafford; died in 
1864 in the army. Edmond Z., born in 1823; married Mari- 
etta Clough ; lives in Evans. Priscilla, born in 1825; married 
Thomas Brunell ; died in 1855. Josiah H., born in 1828; 
Huldah Ann Hawley ; lives in Evans. Sophia, born in 1835. 
Stephen, li\es in Evans. Job, Jr., born in 1837; married 
Phebe A. Smith: li\es in Brant. 

Job Southwick, Jr., attended school at Westfield academy. 
He was Deput\- clerk under Remington, and "vvas elected Mem- 
ber of Assembh' from the fifth assembh' district in 188 1. His 
children are : 

Grace, born in No\-ember, 1865. Georgiana, b(jrn in June, 
1857. L\-nn, born in October, 1875. 

Job Southwick, Sr., died in 1882. 



740 1!I()(;rai'hical sketches. 

Statemeut of Isaac A. Hale. 

My parents came from Connecticut to York state. I was 
born in 1S03, in the Town of Schoharie, Schoharie count}-, N. 
Y. My mother died when I was but three years old ; there 
were four in the family that were not able to take care of 
themselves. My father broke up house-keeping — the children 
that were eld enough took care of themselves; father bound 
one brother to a man by the name of Furguson, two he gave 
away to two of his neighbors, and I went from place to place 
for two years, then went to live with a man by the name of 
Lamb, a hatter. They were a couple of old people, conse- 
quently I was their pet. The old lady was a weakly woman 
and I worked in the house part of the time an'd part of the 
time in the shop and doing chores; lived there for three years 
when the old lady was taken sick and died ; then Lamb broke 
up and sold out. I was nine years old at that time and was 
then bound out to John Lawton until twenty-one years of age, 
when I was to have a horse, saddle and bridle, to be worth 
sixty-six dollars, two suits of clothes and a certain amount of 
schooling. 

In October, 181 5 we moved to North Collins, then a part of 
the town of Concord and Niagara county. The country then 
was very new and my chances for schooling were very small. 
Mr. Lawton had been out to this county in 181 3 and purchased 
two hundred acres of land, then returned and married a worthy 
woman by the narru: of Eunice Kimball, and w^hen they moved 
here in 181 5, they had one child. About 18 17 they moved on 
to a place on the N orth Clear Creek where there was a mill- 
seat and where he built a saw-mill and a grist-mill. The 
year he built his mill was a very wet season and he was put to 
o-reat expense and everything went wrong. I had to work very 
hard, but I was well fed and well clothed. I had as good amis- 
tress as ever was and my master used me well when not excited. 
I was advised to leave him, but I lived in hopes of better times, 
and in a few years it was better, and I have the consolation of 
thinking that I attended strictly to his business as far as cir- 
cumstances would allow. When the mills were finished he 
sawed and ground for the whole country far and near. He was 
a thorough-going man and kept the mills going night and day 



lUOGRAl'IllCAL SKKTCIIKS. 74 I 

when there was sufficient water. Had a great run of custom. 
He sawed for money when he could get it, and he sawed for work, 
and lie sawed on shares. After main' years the country was 
cleared up, the water failed and the mills went down. 

Mr. Lawton held most of the different town offices in town. 
He was the first Supervisor of Collins when that town was 
organized in 182 I. But the office he liked the best was High- 
wa\' Commissioner. He did a great deal for the town in that 
capacity — got what money the town would allow him, cut out 
the underbrush, girdled the large timber, and through swamps 
made causeways, as they were called in those days ; now they 
are called corduroy. This wcn'k was generally let to the lowest 
bidder, and I have known the corduroy to be built for a shilling 
a rod. People were poor and would take the jobs to get a 
little money to pay their taxes. " '■'' " '-^ "" 

One day a man came to the mill and said there was a bear's 
track across the road. I soon raised five or si.x men and 
started ; the track bore southwesterly towards the South Clear 
Creek ; in abcnit two miles we came to a large basswood — the 
track circled around and went up the tree, wdiere a large prong 
was broken off there was a hole. W'e went to work and cut the 
tree almost down. I had no gun and was selected to fell the 
tree. The men pecked their flints, saw that their priming was 
all right, and placed themselves so that they would not shoot 
each other, and said all read}' — and down went the tree with a 
crash. Up jumps a bear, half bewildered, took a few rounds, 
came partly towards one of the men who stood posted with gun 
in hand, and he cries out at the toj) of his voice, '' S/ioot / 
Shoot/ Shoot.'" The bear took another turn, took her back 
track and left. Not a man fired a gun. All rushed for the top 
of the tree and there found one bear stunned and another fast 
under a shell of a tree. One says " Why didn't \'ou shoot?" 
another says, " Why d'\d\\\ yon shoot?" "Oh, I was afraid of 
shooting the dog," but that dog had not molested the bear at 
all. I went home with m}- axe on my shoulder, and the men 
with their guns in their hands and dragging the two bears. 

The people here were greatly annoyed by an old she-w^olf ; 
she haunted us by night and by da\-. killing the sheep and 



742 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

carrying off the lambs. She avoided all the hunters and trappers 
for a long time ; some dogs she mated with, others she whipped 
severely. One day a neighbor, passing through the woods, 
saw her with a rabbit in her mouth and concluded that she had 
young ones. The next day we rallied out, fourteen of us, and 
strung out in a line in hearing of each other, and started forth ; 
after a while orders were given to halt, and present!)' the word 
rung through the line — "We have found the young ones!" 
Just at that time a man on the farther end of the line saw the 
old wolf and drew up his gun ; she heard the clamor on the 
line and wheeled and fled. We took out the young ones, seven 
in number, and then set spring-guns about the log for two 
weeks, but none of them were discharged. At that time there 
was a bounty of thirty dollars a head for young wolves. John 
Lawton took the scalps to Springville and the Supervisor raised 
two hundred and ten dollars for us. I received fifteen dollars 
for m}' share. 

One dark, lowery morning, between daylight and sunrise, I 
was going throughthe woods with the dog, looking after cows 
that had lain out over night. I saw the dog was uneasy, but 
thought no harm of it. All at once the dog gave a yelp and 
darted between my legs; I looked around and there was the 
old wolf within ten feet of me. I threw a club and started to 
run ; she soon came in ahead of me three times before I got to 
the clearing. That was the first time and the last time that I 
ever was scared that I remember of. At the time I thought 
she meant me, but since, I have thought perhaps she meant 
the dog more than me, but I was scared just the same. 

Now I was one and twent}-. I got up in the morning and 
breathed the free air and invoked the Higher Powers to help 
me to be a man. My mistress often gave me good counsel — 
she sowed good seed in my bosom, which I believe has brought 
forth more or less good fruit ever since. I settled up with my 
master in good friendship and remained so through his life. I 
did not want the horse so he gave me a yoke of steers and a 
\'earling heifer and some money that he had paid on a piece of 
land that I had taken of the Holland Company. 



BiO(;RAriricAi, skktciies. 743 

FAMILY RECORD. 

Isaac Hale, born Oct. 16, i<Sc)3; married in North Collins, 
(then Collins), Sept. 4, 1827; died March 29, 1882. His wife, 
Phcjcbe Pratt, born in Ontario count}', Au^:^. 21, 1807; died 
March 26, 1872. Elizabeth, born July 21, 1828; married E. 
W. Stancliff in 1848. Alexander, born Jan. 22, 1883; married 
N. Kimball in 1856. David P., born Oct. 24, 1836; married 
Mercia Potter in 1858. Eunice L., born June 26, 1844; married 
Evans Potter in 1866. 

Statement of Noah Conger. 

M\' father's name was David Conger; my mother's name was 
Rachael Wilber ; I was born in Danb\', Rutland county, Vt,, 
in 1802. Our family consisted of father, mother and eight 
children ; came from Vermont to North Collins, (then Con- 
cord), in the Spring of 18 17. We brought a span of horses, 
a yoke of oxen and two cows ; came through in twenty-one 
days. Brought our provisions and cooked our own victuals and 
slept in our own beds made upon the floor; we stopped on the 
Mohawk river, got the use of a big Dutch oven and baked a 
bushel and a half of flour into bread which lasted us to near 
Batavia. There we bought a bushel of wheat (all the miller 
had), got it ground and made it into bread. We had a barrel 
of pork, and the pork and bread and the milk of the two cows 
furnished us our living. When we arrived in North Collins we 
purchased of Henry Tucker one hundred acres, six acres im- 
proved. The log-house which ^ve first occupied had no win- 
dows and but one door. We brought no furniture with us and 
father set about making certain articles ; his kit of tools con- 
sisted of an axe and auger. I made a cross-legged table; the 
top was split and hewed out of a whitewood tree, made stools 
for seats; and one-legged bedsteads to sleep on, with elm or 
basswood bark for bed-cords. 

At the time we came to this county there was for a year or 
two a great scarcity of provisions, and it was with the greatest 
difficulty that some families managed to live through. 

Among our neighbors who endured the greatest privations 
was one Joseph Woodward, '\vhose family consisted of a wife 
and three small children. That Spring Woodward went to 



744 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Hambui'ij and bought some seed-corn, and after planting had 
a peck left ; he then went to Jacob Taylor's to buy some more 
corn and all that Taylor would spare him was another peck. 
They had no meat and all the provisions they did have from 
that time until their Winter wheat was so far advanced to be 
eatable was the half bushel of corn. They lived mostly on 
leeks, ground nuts and other roots that they dug in the woods, 
and on buds and the bark of birch, basswood and other trees. 
Mrs. Woodward spent much time in procuring roots, bark, &c., 
from the woods, without which they would have inevitably 
starved, as what few neighbors they had were unable to aid 
them materially, being but little better off themselves. Mr. 
Woodv/ard was not strong and sometimes became so weak for 
the want of food as to be unable to work and felt almost like 
gixing up in despair, and it w^as only through the great energy, 
courage and perseverance of Mrs. Woodward that the famil)- 
survived their many hardships. After their wheat began to 
ripen they fared much better. They cut off the heads and 
rubbed out the wheat with their hands, even while it was in 
the milk and scalded with birch-bark and basswood buds and ate 
it. Mrs. Woodward is still living at a ver\' great age. She 
resides with her granddaughter, Mrs. Clark Alger, in the Town 
of Concord. 

In i8i8 we raised some oats and we threshed them with a 
flail ard cleared them with a hand-fan. I went and worked 
two days for Lemuel White for the use of his wagon and father 
Avent to Buffalo and took fort\' bushels of oats and some buck- 
wheat, etc. He was gone four days, took his own feed with 
him and slept in his wagon. He could not sell his oats for 
money, so he traded the forty bushels for a barrel of salt, sold 
his meal and buckwheat and bought a piece of sole leather for 
tapping boots and shoes, and half a pound of tea which lasted 
a long time, for we only used it on special occasions. 

At this time, and years before and afterward a large she-wolf 
infested this part of the town, and did great damage b\- killing- 
sheep and carrying off lambs. One evening I went over to 
Mr. Woodward's, about a mile from our house, and on my 
return through the woods and in the darkness, I suddenly heard 
the terrible and prolonged howls of the old wolf near by. In- 



I 



lilOCRAlMlICAL SKKTCIIKS. 745 

stantly my hair was on end. ai.d my hat elevated. I had no 
weapon of anv kind to defend myself with, and I thought run- 
ning was the' wisest as well as the most natural thing to do. 
I d\d not stand on the order of my going but ran at once. I 
think I made better time that night than I ever did on any 
other occasion; I doubt if the professional runners now-a-days 
could better it. When 1 got within hailing distance of the 
house I made an outcry and some of the family came out with 
a light, and as I scaled the fence into the yard by the house, 
the^old wolf went o\'er at the same time near by me. I went 
back the next day and looked over the ground. As a race it 
was about an even thing, and I saw where I jumped over a 
small ravii^.e, and the distance was twice as far as I could jump 
under ordinary circumstances. 

In the Fall of 1819, when about eighteen years of age, I 
started to go to Vermont on foot. I went through in twelve 
days a.;d it rained or snowed every day. On the nth day of 
February. 1 started to return on foot with a pack of cloth weigh- 
ing forty-three and a half pounds on my back, and came through 
ii^ten days, being a distance of four hundred miles or more. I 
spent only three dollars and fifty cents on the route both ways, 
and did not beg anythii^g either. 

Mr. Conger is a very respectable and well-to-do farmer of 
North Colli'i^s. Physically, he is large, and has been a strong, 
athletic and powerful man. 

Family Record: Moses married Miss Wood and lives m 
Collins.' Joseph married Miss Foster and lives in ColHns. 
.Ansel F. married Miss Sisson, and lives in Gowanda. Noel 
married Miss Bartlett, and lives West. David married a 
daughter of Stephen Foster; lives in Collins. Sarah Ann mar- 
ried'' a Mr. Flowers, and lives in Versailles. Rachel married 
Henrx- W. Curtis and lives in Brant. Zubia married Oba- 
diah 'Edmonds and lives in Ripley. Betsy married Daniel C. 

Brown and lives in Collins. Helen married Mr. .and 

lives on the old homestead with him. 

Statement of Isaiu- AVo<mUv:u<1. 

Though my father settled in North Collins in 181 i, and was 
the first^ man ever married in that town, but being his third 



746 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

child, my recollections do not dat-e back as far as some men 
who are still living and who might have written something 
more interesting than I can. 

I was born in the year i8ii, and my earliest recollections 
date back to the Summer of 1819, when I was first sent to 
school. My recollection is not clear enough to describe the 
old school-house, which was situated at the western terminus of 
the Cattaraugus or Genesee road, and was soon after pulled 
down to give room for quite a respectable frame house. The 
mode of punishing scholars at that time was somewhat peculiar 
and I must say in cases very cruel. I remember in my own 
case, for some slight offence, I was placed between two girls, 
which so frightened me that I set up such a hallowing that the 
teacher was glad to let me go back to my own seat (but I do 
not suppose that my " hollering" had anything to do with the 
naming of " Woodward's Hollou.' " 1. 

Our immediate neighborhood was settled mostly by Quakers 
— as sober, honest and industrious a people as ever lived. They 
all went to meeting twice a week, viz., on Sundays and 
Wednesdays, or as they called them the first and fourth days, 
for by their rules they were not allowed to speak the names of 
the days of the week ; they frequently held sessions of two 
hours' duration without a word being spoken, as no one was 
permitted to speak in their meetings who was not moved upon 
by the spirit to do so. They never drank any of the ardent, 
but those not belonging to the Quakers always kept a jug of 
whiskey in the house with which to treat a neighbor or friend, 
and I have heard my father say that he would have been 
ashamed not to ha\e had whiskc\- in his house to treat his 
minister when he called on him. 

I have heard my father speak of his frequent encounters with 
bears when he first settled there, but they were pretty well 
thinned out before my remembrance. I never saw a live bear in 
the woods, but I remember having seen James and Luther Tyrer 
carry a bear they had just killed past my father's house. I do 
not know that I ever saw a wild wolf alive but I frequently 
heard them howl. One old wolf in particular was the pest of 
the neighborhood ; for one whole season she mated with a 
large dog belonging to my father. They ran together killing 



BIOCKAl'llHAI. SKKTCHKS. 74/ 

sheep, aiul when the cIol; came home at n'\<^h{ the wolf woultl 
follow nearl\' to tlie house aiul m;ike the m"L;ht hideous with 
her howlini;'. The dog" was suffered to Ii\'e for a long time, 
hoping" b}- that means to capture the wolf, but he was finally 
hanged b)- ni}- indignant grandmother. The wolf was after- 
wards caught in a trap by Samuel Tucker and the neighbor- 
hood again enjox'ed a season of rest. 

Though the west part of the town was settled before my re- 
membrance, the eastern portion was not much settled before 
the year 1830, and when it began to be settled in earnest that 
portion south of the Cattaraugus or Genesee road was called 
New Michigan, and that portion on the north was called New 
Oregon. New Oregon was settled mostly by Germans, and it 
was as great a sight for children at that time to see a lot of 
these men and women, dressed in their uncouth manner, with 
a bag of grain on their heads going to mill as it was to see a 
circus. They passed my father's house and some of them 
went as far as eight miles to Lawton's mill, in that primitix'e 
manner. 

It is \-er}' common to hear old people speak of the hardships 
and i)ri\ations of the earl\' settlers, but as far back as m}' ex- 
perience goes and my recollection serves me, farmers and their 
wives enjo\'ed themselves better than they do now. The\' 
lived on what they raised : most e\ery man's \-ard was filled 
with fowls, and eggs and chickens were no rarity on the poor- 
est man's table : pork was but poorly fattened and but few- 
kept it the year round ; but sheep were plent\' and cheap, and 
mutton w as the poor man's meat through the Summer ; where 
now only the wealthiest can indulge in that luxur\-. Most 
everybody kept a few cows, nuiking butter and cheese, which 
they ate at home, but dair\-men now can scarce e\en afford to 
eat cheese. 

People were more friendl}- and si)ciable with each other then 
than now, and on Winter exenings would yoke their oxen and 
such glorious sleigh rides we had — no snow-drifts then — and 
such glorious times we had at spelling-schools and bussing bees. 
Young people enjo\-ed themsehes much better than they do 
in the ball-room to-da\', and were I \-oung again. I could think 



k 



748 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

of no happier place on this earth than to be placed again far 
in the wilderness, with a few generous souls to keep me com- 
pany, surrounded by everything again as I was in my youth, 
with nothing left out but profanity and whiskey. 



HKXiKAI'lllCAL SKK'I'CIIKS. 749 



CHAPTER XX. 

FAMILY HISTORIES OF THE TOWN OF NORTH 

COLLINS. 

The town of Shirlc)-, now North Collins, was erected b)- the 
Hoard of Supervisors, No\^ 24, 1852. The first town meeting 
was held at the house of Henry \V. Curtis, March I, 1853. 
Lyman Clark, Edwin W. (lodfrey and Charles C. Kirb)- were 
appointed to preside at this meeting. The next year the name 
of Shirley u^as changed to North Collins. 

Nicholas Boardway. 

Mr. Boardwa}' was born in South Buffalo, Eeb. 13, 1835, and 
came to North Collins when five years old, where he has since 
resided. He now owns and cultivates a farm of two hundred 
and three acres. 

He was orderly sergeant of company G, — th Regiment, 
National Home Guards, and was a member at the time the 
regiment was disbanded. Mr. B. was married in 1858 to Kate 
Landman, who was born August 27, 1838. The\- ha\'e eight 
children, viz: 

George N., born May 13. 1839. Michael H., born h\'b. 15. 
1 861. Mary V., born Eeb. 14, 1863. Joseph, born May 13, 
1866. Hannah H., born Sept. 17, 1868. Albert B., born March 
17, 1 87 1. Emma ^L, born June 24 1875. Clarence E., born 
Dec. 18. 1879. 

Xioliolas IBoaver. 

Mr. Beaver was born March 3, 1824, in 1"" ranee. twent\--four 
miles from the city of Strasburg. When six years old he 
removed with his parents to Eden, Erie county N. Y. When 
twent\--three years of age he located on the Genesee Road, in 
the west part of Concord, where he li\ed until 1864, when he 



750 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

disposed of his farm and moved to his present farm in North 
CoHins. He has been twice married, first in 1844, second in 
1868. He has eleven children ; eight b}-his first wife and three 
by his second wife. 

Mr. Beaver's paternal grandfather was a soldier of Napoleon, 
and was with him through his campaigns, from the burning of 
Moscow, to his final defeat at Waterloo. He died at the age 
of one hundred years. 

George Barriuger. 

Mr. Barringer was born in the town of Wurtemburg, Ger. 
many, Jan. 24, 1831. He came from there to Buffalo, Aug. 27, 
1847, and worked at chairmaking in that cit\' about fifteen 
months. He then removed to Shirh", in the tovvn of North 
Collins and engaged in wagon making, which he followed at 
that place for twent}-six years, when he moved to North Col- 
lins village, where he still follows the same business. 

He was married in 1854, to Emih' A. Randall. They have 
had three children, viz : 

Henrietta died in 1S73. Ella E. died in 1868. Jennie, born 
June 5, 1872. 

Mr. Barringer has a good war record. He enlisted Sept. 10. 
1862, Compan}' eight, first Regiment, New York State Sharp 
Shooters ; went into camp for the Winter at Washington and 
Arlington Heights. In the Spring of 1863, he took part in the 
siege of Suffolk under General Peck. In July of the same 
year he joined the Army of the Potomac at Waterford, Va., 
and during the following year he took part in the battle of the 
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, C. H., Laurel Hill, mine explosion 
at Petersburg and capture of Welden R. R., where he was taken 
prisoner, Aug. 19, 1864, and taken to Libby and Belie Isle 
prisons, but was paroled at the expiration of forty-nine days. 
He was then transferred to the hospital at Annapolis, Md., 
where he was discharged in June, 1865. 
LiOAvis S. Clark. 

Lewis S. Clark was born in Hamburg, Erie count}-. N. Y.^ 
Jan. 2, 1823, has resided in North Collins since 1836 and is a 
farmer. He was married July 4, 1848, to Louisa A. White, and 
has ten children : 



]!I()(;kai'hical skkiciiks. 751 

Gcortre A., Frank L., Mary. Charles, Albert. Henry. Harri- 
son, Emma. Ella and William Henry. 

Mr. Clark's i;reat grandfather, Henry Clark, came from 
Danb\'. Vt., in 1806, his grandfather, Nathan Clark, accompany- 
ing him. Each purchased of the Holland Company two hun- 
dred acres of land for which the\' j^aid $2.25 per acre. The 
r^rie county fair grounds now occupy a portion of their pur- 
chase. They built three log cabins and returned to Vermont. 
In March, 1807, the}- came back wilh their families. Elisha 
Clark, another member of the family came with them. Henry 
Clark had a family of ten children. Nathan also had ten, one 
of whom, Samuel, the father of Lewis, was born in Danby, 
Vt., June 4, 1796, and died in North Collins 1870. He served 
in the war of 1812. He married Sylvia Foote, a native of 
Connecticut and a cousin of Henry Ward Beecher's mother. 
She was born in 1780 and died in 1852. She had three chil- 
dren : 

Eliza Ann married Ansel \\\ Stickney. Lewis S. and L^ri. 

David Conger. 

David Conger, son of Ruth and Enoch Conger, was born in 
Danby, Vt. He came to North Collins in June, 1817, where 
he died in 1823. He married Rachel Wilbur. Their children 
are as follows : 

Marion, born in 1801, married James Ray and died in Min. 
nesota in 1880. Noel, born June 30th, 1802, and has been 
twice married ; first, to Betsey Sherman, second, to Susan 
Ogden, and resides in North Collins. Sally, born in 1804, mar. 
ried Stephen White and lives in California. Moses, born in 
1806 and died when twelve years of age. Ann, born in 1.808, 
married Ansil Ford and reside in Michigan. George, born in 
1810, married Eliza Hoag and lives in Michigan. Abram,born 
in 1812, married Anna Hunt and resides in North Collins. 
Stephen, born in 1813, married Adelia Eaton and died in North 
Collins in 1S75. 

Stoplit'ii "\V. Connor. 

Mr. Conger was born in North Collins, March 12. 1847. His 
father's name was Stephen Conger. His mother's maiden name 
was Fidelia Eaton. He was marneci in 1866 to Marv E. 



752 i;i()GRAPHRAL SKETCHES. 

Landon, daughter of Luther Landon. Mr. Coni^^er has always 
resided in North CoHins, is a successful farmer, an occupation 
which he has always followed. 

Stephen Conger. 

Mr. Conger was a son of David Conger. He was born in 
Tinmouth, Vt., Jan. 28, 18 14, and came to North Collins with 
his father's family when fi\'e \'ears old. When fifteen years 
old he went into the unbroken forest on lot eighteen, and 
carved out for himself a farm, experiencing during the time 
those incidents and hardships connected with early pioneer 
life. His brother, George, aged nineteen, and Abram, aged 
seventeen, took land adjoining at the same time. Mr. Conger 
lived upon the farm he transformed from the wilderness in his 
youth, until his death Jan. 25, 1877. He was married in 1834 
to Fidelia Eaton, who was born Feb. 25, 181 3, in Springville. 

They had three children: Rachael, born June 24, 1838; 
Stephen W., mentioned elsewhere; Portia, born Sept. 8, 1850. 

Dennis Dillingham. 

Mr. Dillingham was born in North Collins Oct. 6, 1852. His 
father's name was James Dillingham and his mother's maiden 
name was Beulah Willet. Mr. Dillingham has always resided 
in North Collins and vicinity, except about six years spent in 
Michigan. He is a farmer by occupation and was married in 
1871 to Ella Philbrick. He has two brothers, William a tobac- 
conist, living in Buffalo, and Gurney O., the present School 
Commissioner of the third district of Erie county. 

Abram Foster. 

Mr. Foster's grandfather, William Foster, came over from 
England during the Revolution as a captain in Burgoyne's 
army, and was taken prisoner at Saratoga. Mr. Foster was 
born in Jefferson county, N. Y., Sept 3, 1816, and came from 
thereto what is now North Collins in November, 1824, with his 
father, Warren Foster, who drove an ox team the entire dis- 
tance. Mr. Forter has always resided in North Collins and pur- 
sued the vocation of farming. He was married in 1839 to 
Amanda Sisson. Mr. Foster served in the capacity of coroner 



BIOGKAPHlCAT, SKETCHES. 753 

■one term and from 1S41 to '45, he held a commission from 
Governor Seward as captain of a rifle company, attached to the 
96th Regiment of the state militia. He was also enrollinc^ 
officer for the Town of North Collins during; the draft in time 
of the Rebellion. 

Hen jam in iiortlory. 

Benjamin (iodfery was born at W'estport, Conn., m 1782. In 
about 1 8 14, he came to Taylor Hollow, formerly called Angola 
and kept a grist mill for five years, after which he removed to a 
farm known as the Smith Sherman farm, where he was engaged 
in farming up to the time of his death, which took place in 
1828. His widow survived him many years dying in 1869, at 
the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His children are as 
follows: George R., born in 1804, married Lydia Hudson and 
died in North Collins in 1843. CHiarles, born in 1806, married 
Polly Wells and resides in Nebraska. Mary Ann, born in 1808, 
married James Kerr and died in North Collins in 1833. Eleanor, 
born in 181 1, married P^lijah Kerr and died in 1833. She raised 
one daughter, who married Dr. John D. Arnold. Esther, born in 
1813 and died young. Leander, born in 181 5 and died in 1839. 
Edwin, born in 18-0, married a Stratton and lives in North 
Collins. 

Ertwin AV. Oortfery. 

Edwin W. (iodfery was born in Angola. Erie county, N. V. 
in 1820. When tw'elve years of age he entered the employ of 
Abner and John Sherman, with whom he remained until he 
was eighteen, receiving for his services $100 and a new suit of 
clothes. In 1842 he entered into partnership with John Sher- 
man, with whom he continued until 1 865, after which he car- 
ried on business with otliLM' parties until 1872, when he was 
appointed Postmaster of North Collins, which office he now 
holds. 

Mr. Godfery has for nian\- years been one of the most useful 
and active men of North Collins, taking a deep interest in 
everything promotive of the welfare of the community. He 
has largely enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-citizens, having 
been called to represent his district in the Legislature in 1864, 



754 BIOCRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

and we also find his name associated with many of the town 
offices of North Collins, he bjing Supervisor for six years and 
also filling various other town offices, all of which he filled with 
honor to himself and credit to his constituents. The names of 
his children are : 

Theron, born Dec. lO, 1845, '^'id resides in North Collins- 
George, March 23d, 1856, and died Sept. 16, 1S56. 

Eiios S. Hibbard. 

Enos S. Hibbard was born in North Collins, April 24, 1841,. 
where he has ever since claimed residence. His father, Thomas. 
S. Hibbard, was an old resident of North Collins, and died in 
1881. His mother, Clarinda South wick, was a daughter of 
Enos Southwick, Esq., of Gowanda. 

Mr. Hibbard was married in 1867 to H. Josephine Hall, of 
Rochester, N. Y., who was born Aug. 14, 1846. They have six 
children, as follows: 

Hoyt R., born March 30, 1871. Howard G., born March 19. 
1873. Irene, born April 4, 1875. Clarinda, born July 3, 1876. 
Fred L., born Oct. 21, 1878. Edgar H., born Sept. 11, 1880, 

Mr. Hibbard did his country good service during the Rebel- 
lion. He enlisted Sept. 24, 1861, in Company D, Tenth New 
York cavalry. He lay in camp at Gettysburg during the Win- 
ter of 1861-62. The first engagement he took part in was at 
Brandy's Station, June 9, 1863. He participated in the battles 
of Upperville, Gettysburg, Sheridan's raid (May 9th to 25th), 
Cold Harbor, Sheridan's raid to Travillion Station, June 7th to 
28th, 1864, Lee's Mills, Roynton Plank Road, Spotts)'Ivania 
Court House, mine explosion at Petersburg, and the final sur- 
render at Appomattox Court House. He was mustered out of 
service at Washington Jul}' 1, 1865. He was Commissary Ser- 
geant of his company. 

Mr. Hibbard is and has been for three years past Secretary 
of the Republican County Committee. His residence at North 
Collins is undoubted!}' the finest in his town. 

Michael Hunter. 

Michael Hunter, a native'^^of France, was born in 1831, and 
came to North Collins in 1836, where he now resides. In 



KIOGRArillCAL SKKTCUKS. 755 

June, 1852. he married Lyclia Potter, daui^rhter of Henry Pot- 
ter, who was born in Now Bedford, Mass. and died in North 
ColHns in 1845. ^^^'- 1 1 uiiter is engai^ed in farniini;- and hotel 
keeping, being proprietor of the North Colhns House. 

Mr. Hunter has possessed the confidence of his townsmen, 
and has from time to time been honored with various offices of 
trust and responsibility. He was elected to the Board of 
Supervisors in 1S72-73-74. and officiated as Justice of the 
peace for eight consecutive years, and also as Town Clerk for 
three \'ears. 

He attended school at Marshfield, where the school was 
taught by Dr. William A. Sibley, he being the only scholar of 
foreign birth in attendance at that time. His children are as 
follows ; 

Emmons, born Vch. 28, 1853; married in 1873 to Libbie 
Hussey. Millard, born Sept. 4, 1854; married in 1875 to Cora 
Rogers. Henry, born Aug. 19. 1856, and died April 8, 1859. 
William, born Oct. 25, 1858 Alice, born Nov. 26, i860. Em- 
ma, born June 3, 1863. Harvey, born Aug. 2, 1872. 

Henry Josliii. 

Three brothers named Joslin came from England about two 
hundred years ago ; two of them settled in Boston, Mass., and 
the other, who was Mr. Joslin's ancestor, in Newport, R. I. 
He had seven sons and two daughters, and those seven sons 
each had seven sons and two daughters ; each generation was 
named after the one preceding, so there were forty-nine sons 
and fourteen daughters having only nine names. One of those 
seven sons, named Henry, great-grandfather of Mr. Joslin, 
married and lived to be ninety years of age, .md his wife 104, 
His seven sons were: 

John, Henry and Thomas, wlio wore ministers ; Thomas was 
also a lawyer, and was sent from East Cireenwich, R. 1., to the 
Legislature three times. Treeborn, a doctor. Benjamin, a 
farmer, who owned 1,150 acres of land in White Creek, N. \. 
Potter, also a farmer, and Clark. 

Henry, grandfather of Mr. Joslin, was born at Flxeter, R. I., 
in 1757, and died at Broadalbin, now Inilton county, X. V., 



756 BIOtiRArHICAI. SKETCHES. 

ill 181 3. He married Mary Tift, of Rhode Island, who died 
about 1834. They had three sons and two daughters, viz.: 

J. T., a minister. Dutee and Henr\', farmers, and Patt\' and 
Betsy. 

Henry, father of Mr. JosHn, was bo -n Jan. 28, 1788. in Hop- 
kinton, R. I. He came from what is now P\ilton county, N. 
^^, to what is now North ColHns, in the Summer of 18 1 7, and 
purchased two hundred and fift)' acres of hmd on lot thirty, 
township seven, range eight. He moved his family the subse- 
quent Spring. He had a good education for those days and 
kept school. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1823, and 
held the office until his death, Dec. 23, 1827; he was also 
elected Supervisor in 1827. He married Ruth Jennings in 
1810, who died in 1866, aged seventy-two years. They had five 
children : 

Mar\' married Thomas Hendr}- ; resides in Canadea, N. Y. 
Cornelia married James Paxson ; resides at Richmond, Ill- 
Nancy married Whiting Howland, and died in 1843 i^i Wiscon- 
sin. Jane married James H. White ; resides at Port Allegany, 
Pa.; and 

Henry, the subject of this sketch, who was born Nov. 
25, 1 8 19, in what is now North Collins, where he has resided 
most of the time since. He helped build the mills at Clarks- 
burg in 1839, ''^^1^ subsequentl}' followed the occupation of car- 
penter fourteen years : now a farmer ; he has been Assessor of 
his town eleven years, and Justice of the Peace two terms ; he 
was married in 1846 to Emeline Clark. The}' have had si.x 
children, viz.: 

Helen, born March 20, 185 i ; died July 13, 1852. Hortense 
Josephine, born June 20. 1854; married in 1874 to William L. 
Elderkin. George Henry, born Aug. 28, 1856. Ruth Geannie, 
born Dec. 31, 1858; married in 1881 to W'illiam Golm. Eugene 
Monroe, born Dec. 8, i860; died Sept. 3, 1862. Mary Eme- 
line, born Aug. 10, 1866. 

Charles C. Kirby. 

Charles C. Kirby, of Shirley, North Collins, N. Y., was bont 
in the Town of Scipio, Cayuga county, N. Y., May 29, 1823 
His parents were from Dartmouth, Mass.; his father, Silas. 



r.ioGRAi'iiuAi, sKi:rcin:s. 757 

Kirby, who died in 1861 at the a^^e of scvcnty-ninc years, was 
of Scotch descent, and his mother, Deborah Crapo Kirby, wli<> 
died in the year 1866 a^^cd eighty years, was of Kn^rlish descent . 
In 1S2S, the family moved to Erie county, and settled m the 
Town of Collins (now North Collins), on lot forty-two, town- 
ship seven, ran^-e eight, and, in 1835, moved to the village now 
called Shirley, and engaged in the business of store and tavern- 

keei:)ing. 

In 1843, the subject of this sketch commenced for himself 
in the mercantile business at Shirley; in 1845, was a partner 
with Lemuel M. White. 

In 1846, he was married to Patience G. Sisson, daughter ot 
Joseph Sisson . Have had four children : Alice Rebecca who 
died in 1855 ; Charles Wentworth, Alice Jane and Carrie May. 
In 1847, was a partner with Paul H.White, and continued with 
him in the mercantilebusiness until 1855. In i845,was appointed 
and commissioned by Governor Wright, as Quartermaster of 
the One Hundred and Ninety-eighth regiment, N. Y. S. militia, 
and served in that capacity for four years. In 1849, was elected 
Justice of the Peace, held the office twenty-four years ; was 
elected Supervisor of North Collins in 1858, '59 and '60, and 
'75 and '-JT^ has -erved as Town Clerk, Overseer of the Poor 
and Collector, and as School District Clerk for thirty-four years 
in succession, and now holds the office of Notary Public. _ In 
1867, was appointed Postmaster at Shirley, and held the office 
for thirteen years. 

In 1858, Mr. Kirby moved onto his farm and commenced 
farming, and has ever since continued in that business. In 
1867, he built a cheese factory at Shirley, and engaged in the 
manufacture of cheese, after which he owned and occupied a 
number of factories in North Collins, Brant and Eden, and still 
continues the dairy and cheese-making business. 

.Tames Leu«x. 

Mr. Lenox's father, (ieorge Lenox, came to Collins from the 
North of Ireland, between 1825 and '30. He died in 1871. 

Mr. Lenox was born in Collins, April 16, 1834; has always 
lived in Collins and North Collins; is a farmer and has been 



758 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Assessor in North Collins six years. He lost two brothers in 
the late War : 

William, a member of the Tenth New York Cavalry, com- 
pany D, was shot at Bristow Station, and George, who entered 
the service with an infantry regiment from Ohio, and was 
wounded and taken prisoner in Sherman's march to the sea; 
died of starvation in Libby prison. 

Mr. Lenox was married, in 1S54, to Ruth Washburne. They 
have three children : 

Sarah, born Dec. 8, 1858; married Sumner Taylor; resides 
in North Collins. Elwin, born Oct. 14, 1862. Francis, born 
Oct. 16, 1866. 

E. H. Lawtoii. 

Mr. Lawton was born in what is now North Collins, Jan. 31, 
1829 : has alwa}'s been a resident of the town and engaged in 
farming, and for the past four or five years has been a mer- 
chant. He is also Postmaster and Station Agent at Lawton's 
Station. He is a son of John Lawton, an early pioneer of 
Collins, referred to in another part of tl-is work. 

Mr. Lawton was married in 1850 to Lydia M. Sisson, daugh- 
ter of W. M. Sisson. They have three children living, viz.: 

Clarence F., born Sept. 9, 1853 ; married in 1881 to S. Ella 
Sperry. Edwin G., born Aug. 29, 1857; died Juh- 17, 1864. 
Willie S., born May 29, i860. Florence, born Jan. 3, 1866. 

NiolioUjs LaAVinam. 

Nicholas Lawman, son of Baltz and Margaret Lawman, a 
native of Prussia, was born .Sept. 23, 1843, '^''"^' came to America 
in 1850. Li 1 87 1, he married Frances Dengel, who was born 
in PufTalo, Nov. 26, 1854. After marriage he followed farm- 
ing for several years, but now runs a meat uiarket at North 
Collins. Mr. Lawman is an acti\'e, industrious man, com- 
manding the respect of those with whom he associates. In 
1872, he was elected Justice of the Peace, which ot^ce he held 
for eight years. His opportunities for an early education were 
very limited, but by applying" himself diligently to study, he 
acquired a good practical education. When twent}'-fi\'e \-ears 
of age he attended school at Collins Center and Gowanda, after 



lUOCRAIMIICAI. SKKTCIIKS. 759 

which he taught school. He enlisted Dec. 26, 1863, under 
Captain John H. Eaton, in the Twenty-sexeiith New York Regi- 
ment, and was discharged June 22, 1865. He participated in 
the battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor and the siege of 
Petersburg. His grandfather was a soldier under Napoleon, 
and witnessed the burning of Moscow. The}- ha\'e four chil- 
dren, viz.: 

William G., born Oct. 4, 1873. Loui.sa, born No\-. 18. 1876. 
Mary J., born Oct. 14, 1878. Fred G., born July 9, 1880. 

Xelsoii Paliuor. 

Mr. Palmer's grandfather was from England. His father, 
William Palmer, came from Danby, Vt., and located on lot ten, 
range eight, North Collins, in the Spring of 1815, where he 
lived until his death in 1859. He took at first an ar:icle for one 
hundred acres, and afterward addeci to it by purchase. 

Nelson Palmer was an infant when his father came to Col- 
lins. He has lixed in the town most of the time since and has 
always been a farmer. He was married in i846to Emily Raid- 
win, daughter of Jeremiah Baldwin, one of the first settlers of 
I'Vedonia, N. Y. They ha\-e two children, viz.: 

Alanson, born April 30, 1848. Julia, born March 5, 1851. 

Siuith B. Pratt. 

Mr. Pratt's father, John G. Pratt, was born Aug. 2, 1813, in 
Macedon, N. Y., and came to Collins when twelve years of age 
where he had always resided until his death in March 20, 1869 
He was one of Collins hardy and respected pioneers. He was 
married in 1835 to Mar)- Bartlett, daughter of Smith Bartlett. 

.Smith B. Pratt was born in North Collins, June 6, 1844, 
where he has always resided. Is a farmer. He was married in 
1868, to Mary Foster. The}' ha\e one child, viz.: 

Jesse, born Dec. 19, 1874. 

Gilbert Pratt. 

Gilbert Pratt, son of Asa and Sarah Pratt, was born May 15, 
1834. In 1868 he married Mary Orr, daughter of Leander and 
Alvira Orr. He ncnv owns and occupies the farm formerly 
owned b\- his father. He had a famil\- of five children, of 



760 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

whom two died in infancy, the names of the remaining three 
are: W'ilhe, born August I, 1869; Lucy, born Aug. 18, 1874; 
George, born July i, 1877. 

Samuel W. Pratt. 

The Pratt famil\- were among the very earliest settlers' of 
Buffalo. Capt. Samuel Pratt and his family having come from 
Vermont and settled at Buffalo, then called New Amsterdam, 
in 1804. W'hen they arrived in Buffalo, Main street was not 
even fenced in. It was filled with stumps and only here and 
there on the present site of Buffalo were patches of clearing. 
Altogether there was not a dozen houses, and only a few of 
these were framed. There was mereh' a path or wagon track 
down the river to Black Rock. The terrace was an open spot 
covered with green turf, and was a favorite sporting place and 
play ground of the Indians. On this spot soon after coming, 
he built his log cabin. Captain Pratt and several of his sons 
became conversant with the Indian language. The Indians 
considered them their true friends and it is said Red Jacket 
frequently came to counsel with Pascal P. Pratt, a son of Cap- 
tain Pratt. After coming to Buffalo the Pratts became at once 
prominently identified with the interests of zhc place and ha\-e 
continued so up to the present time; having occupied various 
positions of public trust. Hiram Pratt, son of Captain Pratt? 
was mayor at one time and Samuel F. Pratt, a grandson of Cap- 
tain Pratt, was the first president of the Female Acadeni)'. Ben- 
jamin Wells Pratt, son of Captain Pratt, and father of Samuel 
\V. Pratt, was born Oct. 8, 1796. in Vermont, and was conse- 
quenth' eight }'ears of age when his father with his famih' 
mo\-ed to Buffalo. At tlie time Buffalo was burned, he was 
at Brattleboro, \'l., pursuing a couse of studies preparatory to 
entering college. The embarrassment which the burning of 
the embryo city brought upon the Pratt family, obliged him to 
give up his cherished plan of self-improvement. He returned 
to Buffalo where he married Fann\' Metcher in 1824, the \-ear 
following he took up his residence on a farm in Collins, where 
he lived till his death, aged se\-ent}--one \-ears. He had five 
children \iz. : .Samuel W., married Eunice K. Lord; Fied. 



bi()(;rapiiical sketches. 761 

married Eliza Stratton, resides at Titusvillc, Pa. ; Esther, mar- 
ried George Sherman, resides at Marietta, C). ; Jcrusha, married 
Wallace French aiul is now dead; h'ann)-, married Nathan 
Sisson, resides at Marietta, O. They were all born in Collins 
except Samuel W., the eldest, who was born in Buffalo, Oct. 8 
1826, he was married Jan. 5, 1858, and has always been a resi- 
dent of Collins. He enlisted in October, 1861, in Co. A. 64th 
N. V. v., and served three years. He was wounded May 10, 
1864, at the battle of the Wilderness by a shot in the right 
thigh, rendering him unfit for further service during the war. 
He had six children, viz. : John W., born Nov. 4, 1858, is a 
teacher; Frederick L., born April 10, i860, died Feb. 3, 1862; 
Robert M., born Dec. 5, 1865; Ettie L., born Feb. 4. 1868; 
George E., born Feb. 22, 1871 ; Fannie, born June 30, 1874, dead. 

Fillmore Rogers. 

Mr. Roger's grandfather, Richard Rogers, came from Ver- 
mont about 1825 and located on lot thirty-one. North Collins, 
where he resided until his death, about 1850. His son and 
father of Fillmore Rogers, Hon. Wilson Rogers, was born in 
Vermont in 1813, and came to Collins with the family. He 
received a common school education and taught school twenty- 
six terms, fourteen of which were in one district, No. 22, North 
Collins, known as the Roger school-house. He was supervisor 
of his town during the year, and Member of Assembly from 
the 5th district during the year 1859. He was also assessor of 
internal revenue at the time of his death. Mr. Rogers 
was a strong advocate of temperance and took an active part 
in movements of that kind. He was married in 1833 to Sally 
Ann Avery. They had four sons and one daughter, viz.: 
Thomas, who enlisted from Iowa and died near Vicksburg from 
exposure; William, was the first one to enlist from North Col- 
lins. He enlisted in the 44th N. Y., Ellsworth zouaves, now 
resides near Bradford, Pa. ; Avery, died when a child ; Clara, 
married Millard Hunter, resides in North Collins. Fillmore 
Rogers was born Nov. 22, 1834, on the farm he now owns in 
North Collins. Mr. Rogers was engaged in farming thirteen 
years in his native town and then entered the mercantile busi- 
ness at North Collins in 1869, and has continued it ever since, at 



762 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

that place and Shirly — now at Shirly. He was married in 
1855 to PLunice Pratt, daughter of Groten Pratt. They have 
four children, viz. : Emily A., born Aug. I, 1856, married Charles 
Stewart; M)'ron, born Jan. 22, 1858; Jennie AI., born Dec. 2, 
1864; Nellie M., born April 2, 1868. . ' 

Abel P. Sweet. 

Abel P. Sweet, son of Samuel C. and Hannah Sweet, was 
born Sept. 20, 1833, in North Collins, where he has ever since 
resided, now owning and occup}'ing a farm situated two miles 
north of New Oregon. In P'eb., 1854, he manied Mary J. 
Jefferson, daughter of Hiram and Matilda Jefferson, of Con- 
cord. He has a family of five children, viz.: 

Ella M., born May 20, 1856; married Jerome Partridge and 
resides in Boston, N. Y. Cora A., born Feb. 1 1, 1858 ; married 
Pearl Partridge and resides in North Collins. Hattie M., born 
Oct. 8, 1863. Arthur VV.. born Dec. 28, 1871. Blanch J., born 
I-^eb. II, 1875. Three childred died young. 

His father Samuel C. Sweet came from Otsego county, N. Y., 
to North Collins in 18 17, where he resided until his death, May 
20, 1863. His mother died May 2, 1871. The grandfather of 
Abel was Rufus Sweet. His great grandfather, Job Sweet 
lived in Rhode Island, where he acquired the reputation of 
being the best bone setter of the state. Mr. Sweet was one of 
a family of ten children, as follows: 

Gilbert C, born March 15, 1818 ; married Abigail H. Presson. 
Sylvester D., born March, 1820; married Julia P^iirbanks and 
died in 1876 in Humphrey, Cattaraugus county. Susan, 
born 1822 ; married William H. Crandall and died in 1843. 
Mary A., born June 8, 1824; unmarried and resides with her 
brother Abel. Rufus, born 1826; died young. Eliza M., 
born 1830; married P'ranklin Holton and resides in Evans. 
James J., born Aug. 22, 1835 ; married Mary E. Horton and 
resides in Boston, N, Y. 

R. J. Stewart, M. D. 

Dr. Stewart was born in Dundee, Scotland, Jan. 23, 1821. 
His father was Scotch and a soldier having served fifty }'ears 
in the British ami)'. He held the position of Brevet Major. 



inoCKAl'IIICAI. ski: TCI IKS. 763 

His mother was of English descent. From Dundee, the Stew- 
art family moved to the town of Portsmt)uth, Hampshire, 
England, where at sixteen years of age \H:)ung Stewart com- 
commenced the study of medicine, with a pri\-ate practitioner. 
After studying two and a half years he entered the medical 
school of the London hosi)ital, where he remained two and a 
half years, taking two full courses of lectures and graduating 
in 1844. In Sept., 1845, he landed in the United States and 
came to North Collins, then Collins, and located as a practicing 
physician of the regular school. He has ever since resided in 
North Collins and practiced his profession and is consequently 
one of the oldest resident physicians of the town. 

Dr. Stewart was married in Collins in 1849 ^o Diana Eggle. 
ston. They have two children living, viz.: 

Charles, born Sept. 16, 1850; married Emily A. Rogers, 
daughter of Filmore Rogers ; is a farmer residing in North 
Collins. Emily, born Feb. 22, 1852 ; married Egbert Foster 
and resides in North Collins. 

Reuben C. Sherman. 

Mr. Sherman was born in Taylor's Hollow, town of Collins, 
April 24, 1826. Has resided in North Collins most of the time. 
Has resided in Evans and Hamburg. Ls a thrifty farmer, and 
had previously followed the occupation of carpenter and 
joiner. His father, Job Sherman, born in 1793, came from 
New Bedford, Mass., in 1831, and located on lot forty-one or 
thirty-three, Collins. He died in Michigan in 1867. Mr. Sher- 
man was married in March 15, 1854, to Phoebe J. Tucker, born 
March 15, 1833; daughter of Elijah Tucker, who was born in 
Queensbury, N. Y., in 1807, and came to Collins with his 
father, Moses Tucker, in 18 13, and located on lot forty-nine. 
Mr. Tucker is one of the oldest living pioneers of Collins. He 
was for four years Captain of militia. He had six children, 
four of whom are now living, viz.: 

Moses Tucker, resides in North Collins. Chloe M. married 
George Van Every, and resides in Grand Rapids, Mich. Elijah 
P. resides in Grand Rapids, Mich. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sherman have six children, all born in North 
Collins, viz.: 



764 IJIOfJRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Luc}-. born Sept. 26, 1856. Leroy, born March 21. i860. 
Elihu, born Sept. 17, 1865. Arthur born April 22, 1868, and 
died Dec. 28, 1878. May, born Dec. 25, 1870. AlHe, born 
Jan. 20. 1875. 

3Irs. Kachol H. Sinitli. 

Mrs. Rachel H. Smith, daughter of Daniel and Susanna 
Healy, was born Dec. 24, 1815. Her father, Daniel Healy, was 
born in 1777 in Connecticut ; lived some time in Rhode Island, 
came to Danby, Vt., where he married Lucy Kell}' ; they had 
four children : 

Joseph, Lydia, Anna and Samuel, of whom only Samuel is 
now li\'ing. 

After the death of his first wife he married Susanna Spauld- 
ing, and soon removed to Eastern New York. They had four 
children : Lucy, Rachel, Hannah and Mary, with whom they 
came to Collins, then Concord, in the Winter of 1819-20, and 
he engaged in tanning, currying and shoemaking, in connection 
with farming on sixty acres of wild land. His family, in com- 
mon with all new settlers, endured man\' pri\'ations, among 
which was scarcit}' of school privileges. Mrs. Smith sa\'s : I 
\vas four years of age when we moved into our unfinished 
i8.\24 log house; we could look up through the opening left 
in the slab roof for the escape of smoke, and see the tree tops, 
and for some years mother would not allow us to go out of 
sight of the house for fear of bears, which infested the woods 
and sometimes destroyed sheep, &c. Of course improvements 
were made; the floor, which had lain loose, was fastened down 
with wooden pins; a chimney built of stone as far as the first 
story, and from that up c^f split hemlock sticks, and plastered 
inside with clay ; in time the slab roof was replaced by shin- 
gles, and the woods gave way to cleared fields. 

The forests also abounded with deer, and the Lidians used to 
come and build their rude camps near us, to hunt, and they 
often came to ask for salt or some trifle which the\' did not 
have. Sometimes they brought whole families, and the Indian 
box's would slide down hill in our fields on sleds made o( a 
.stri[) of basswood bark turned smooth side down, tapered at 
one entl, to which a striuLi' of the bark was attached and held 



lUOCRAl'IlK Al, SKi:'l( IIKS. 765 

by the bo)- stanclint;- on liis primitix'c sled to form n cur\e. 
On these tliey would glide o\'er and throiiL;h the snow till 
their track became too slipper}', when they woidd make a new 
I'oad. 

Daniel and Susanna }{eai\- both died in the earh* i)art of 
KS44; he was about sixt)--three and she sixty-two years of age. 
(^f the four daughters, Lucy and Hannah died unmarried. 

William Smith, husband of Mrs. Rachel H. Smith, and son 
of David and I'hebe Smith, was bcirn in Macedon, \\'a\'ne 
count}-, X. v., Oct. 31, 1807; he came to North Collins; then 
Collins. In 1838 he married Mary Healy, who died in 1841, 
leax'ing a son, Robert, who died in 1842. 

In March, 1842, he married Rachel Healy; they began 
housekeeping in a log house and had a log barn. The}- had 
seven children : 

Chester, M}-ra, Albert L., Herbert, Chloe, Annie and Susie. 

Chester enlisted in Septemb&r, 1862, in Compan}- A , Forty- 
fourth New York volunteers, and was killed in the battle of 
Gettysburg, Jul}- 2, 1863, and was buried in the National cem- 
etery at Gettysburg. Albert L. died in October, 1864. Her- 
bert married Rosie Clark; has one son, is a farmer. Myra 
married S. Clay Torrance, a farmer; has four children. Chloe 
married E. Ellis Twining, a farmer and teacher. Annie mar- 
ried Charles J. Ellis, a dentist; has three children. Susie mar- 
ried J. Ouinc}- Tucker, a farmer; she died in Januar}-, 1883, 
leaving one child. The daughters had all been teachers before 
marriage. 

William Smith died in March, 1870. He was a farmer, and 
his widow, Rachel H. Smith, still occupies the homestead, a 
fine farm of about 165 acres. 

fToIin Stalicn. 

His father, Adam Staffen, emigrated from Sarrlouis, Prussia, 
about 1840. He sailed with his family from Havre, France, 
and w-as fifty-three days on the vo}'age to New York. He was 
among the fir.st Germans to locate in North Collins, and was 
-among the foremost to erect the first church at Langford, in 
1841. He always lived in North Collins until his death in 
.November, 1869. aged sixty-five years. His wife, whose maiden 



768 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



elected Supervisor of his town. He was married in 1869 to- 
Lorania Goodel, daughter of John Goodel, an early settler of 
North Collins, who came in 1820. Mr. Wood has two 
daughters : 

Mabel, born Oct. 9, 1871 ; W. Lorania, born March 13, 1880^ 



1 1 IS TORY (M-" SARDINIA. 769 



CHAPTER XXI. 

SARDINIA— GENERAL HISTORY, ETC. 

Among the names prominently identified with the early his- 
tory of this town are thoie of George Richmond and Ezra 
Nott. The former with a family consisting of a wife and six 
children, settled on lots twenty-nine and thirty, near the Cat- 
taraugus Creek, in the south-west corner of the present Town 
of Sardinia, sometime in the Spring or Summer of 1809, and 
the old homctead is to-day still in the possession of a grand- 
daughter. While abDut the same time Ezra Nott, a young, 
unmarried man took of the Holland Company the east part of 
lot eighteen and the west part of lot ten, upon which he com- 
menced work that Summer. The following year (18 10) Giles 
Briggs and Elihu Rice came from Rhode Island and the former 
settled on lot three, the latter on lot two. Briggs was a mar- 
ried man and Rice was single. So following our subject up to 
the Spring of 18 14, we find in addition to the four settlers and 
their families above mentioned, the following settlers located 
in the town : 

On the east and north, near the Railroad Junction, were Jacob 
Wilson. Benjamin W^ilson and Daniel Hall. On the Genesee 
road, beside Nott, were Sumner Warren, Henry Godfrey, Mr. 
Merriam and Mr. Cartright. And where Sardinia Village is 
Abel Abbey had located. On lot thirty-four, or what is now 
known as the " Olin place," lived the Wilcox famil)-. On lot 
thirty-five or the " Carney place," lived a man by the name of 
Woolsey, while at the foot of the hill, on the creek road that 
leads from Sardinia to Springville, lived Ezekiel Smith, and 
farther down John Johnson, while still farther down on lot 
sixty-four were John and Jeremiah Wilcox, two young un. 
married men ; next on the same lot Morton Crosby. Then 
came " Comodore" Rogers, John Godding, Charles Wells 
and Richmonds. West from the latter, on same road, 
Dennis Riley and Bethuel Bishop. On lot fifty-seven, about 



768 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



elected Supervisor of his to\\n. He was married in 1869 to- 
Lorania Goodel, daughter of John Goodel, an early settler of 
North Collins, who came in 1820. Mr. Wood has two 
daughters : 

Mabel, born Oct. 9, 1871 ; W. Lorania, born March 13, 1880^ 



HISTORY OF SARDINIA. 769 



CHAPTER XXI. 

SARDINIA-GENERAL HISTORY, ETC. 

Among the names prominently identified with the early his- 
tory of this town are thoie of George Richmond and Ezra 
Nott. The former with a family consisting of a wife and six 
children, settled on lots t\venty-nin2 and thirty, near the Cat- 
taraugus Creek, in the south-west corner of the present Town 
of Sardinia, sometime in the Spring or Summer of 1809, '^'^^-^ 
the old homctead is to-day still in the possession of a grand- 
daughter. Wnile abnit the same time Ezra Nott, a young, 
unmarried man took of the Holland Company the east part of 
lot eighteen and the west part of lot ten, upon which he com- 
menced work that Summer. The following year (18 10) Giles 
Briggs and Elihu Rice came from Rhode Island and the former 
settled on lot three, the latter on lot two. Briggs was a mar- 
ried man and Rice was single. So following our subject up to 
the Spring of 18 14, we find in addition to the four settlers and 
their families above mentioned, the following settlers located 
in the town : 

On the east and north, near the Railroad J unction, were Jacob 
Wilson, Benjamin Wilson and Daniel Hall. On the Genesee 
road, beside Nott, were Sumner Warren, Henry Godfrey, Mr. 
Merriam and Mr. Cartright. And where Sardinia Village is 
Abel Abbey had located. On lot thirty-four, or what is now 
known as the " Olin place," lived the Wilcox family. On lot 
thirty-five or the " Carney place," lived a man b}' the name of 
Woolse)\ while at the foot of the hill, on the creek road that 
leads from Sardinia to Springville, lived Ezekiel Smith, and 
farther down John Johnson, while still farther down on lot 
sixty-four were John and Jeremiah Wilcox, two young un- 
married men ; ne.xt on the same lot Morton Crosby. Then 
came " Comodore" Rogers, John Godding, Charles Wells 
and Richmonds. West from the latter, on same road, 
Dennis Riley and Bethuel Bishop. On lot fifty-seven, about 



770 FIRST SETTLERS OF SAKDIXLV. 

half a mile north of the " Hake's Bridge," hved the Sears 
family and Horace Rider, and on lot forty-t .vo lived Ezekiel 
Hardy. There might have bsen others that had settled in the 
more remote parts of the town, but the names given are all that 
the author has been able to ascertain. 



IVAME OF ONE OR MORE OF THE FIRS I SETTLERS ON EACH 
OF THE SEVERAL HJTS IN SARDINIA : 

T(^WNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE FIVE, 

Lot 2, Elihu Rice and Joseph Rice ; lot 3, Giles Briggs and 
David Calkins; lot 4, Benjamin Wilson; lot 5, Daniel Hall; 
lot 6, Erastus Graves and Hezekiah Colb}' ; lot 7, Varney 
Childs ; ; lot 10, Ezra Nott ; lot 11, H. God- 
frey, J. Wilson; lot 12, Henry Bovven ; lot 13, Elihu Graves; 
lot 14, George Brown; lot 15, Jamjs Bond, Benjamin SI}-; lot 
17, Sumner Warren; lot 18, Giles Briggs and others; lot 19, 
Merriam and Cartright ; lot 22, Ezekiel Ballard ; lot 23, John 
Dake ; lot 25, Sumner Warren; lot 26, Reuben Long; lot 27, 
Henry Godfrey ; lot 28, Ephraim Briggs & Sons: lot 29, Ste- 
phen Pratt; lot 38. L. B. Keth, E. Graves; lot 31. Thomas 
Ryan ; lot 33, Richard Smith, A. Carpenter, S. Carpenter; lot 
34, Oliver Wilcox; lot 35, Mr. Woolsey; lot 36, Pollard Stone, 
James Goodrich ; lot 37, Mann & Freeman ; lot 38, Andrew 
Shedd, Warren Fay, Joseph Gillson ; lot 39, A. Briggs, R. Goff ; 
lot 40, Samuel Russell; lot 41, Warren Wilcox ; lot 42, Ezekiel 
Hardy; lot 43, Samuel Butler, Josiah Goodrich; lot 44, Flint 
T. Keth, Mr. Tuttle ; lot 45, Almon Jewett ; lot 46, A. C. 
Tiffany; lot 47, David Bigelow ; lot 48, Obadiah Mathewson ; 
lot 49, Isiac Smith ; lot 50, P. Chamberlin, P. Snyder; lot 51, 
Samuel Sheppard ; lot 52, Jonathan Thomas, Thomas Ward 
Josiah Tiioaipson ; lot 53, Edward Scott ; lot 54, J. Thompson 

Martindale ; lot 55, Thomas McGuire, William Loree, R. 

Rutledge; lot 59, John Weller, Alvah Wilson: lot 57, Horace 
Rider; lot 58. Reuben Rider; lot 59, Richard Sheppard, Thos. 
N. Hopkins ; lot 62, E. Scott, lot 63, Roswell Frisbee ; lot 64, 
John Wilcox. 



EARLY SETTLERS ()F SARDINIA. 



78 r 



TOWXSHII' SEVEN, RANCiE SL\. 
Lot I, Harry Scars; lot 2, Robert Hopkins, J. Wiiks ; lot 5^ 
P.Pierce; lot 7, J. H. Vosburg, F.Osborne; lot 8, Stephen 
Wright; lot 9. Henry Thomas, Daniel Pierce; lot 10, Norman 
Bond; lot 11, Nathaniel Brown and brothers; lot 12, Edward 
Cram and Mr. Rosebrook^ ; lot 15, John Van Dusen ; lot 17. 
Jonas Perhann ; lot 18, Abram Stark's, " Jack " Vaw ; lot 17, 
W. P. Smith ; lot 20, James Flemmini;s, Major Wells; lot 22, 
Stephen Pratt. 

roWXSIIIl' SIX. RAXGE SIX. 
Lots 26 and 27. Bethuel Bishop; 28, Dennis Riley; lots 29 
and 30, George Richmond ; lot 31, Charles Wells ; lot 32, John 
Godding ; lot 34, Nemiah Rogers. 

TOWXSHIP SIX, RAXCE IIVE. 
Lot 64, Morton Crosby, John Wilcox ; bt 56, John Johnson ; 
lot 48, Mr. Bishop; lot 40, R. Smith. 

THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO PURCHASED LAND BV COxXTRACT 
OF THE HOLLAND COMPANY IN THE TOWN OF SARDINIA— 
THE DATE OF PURCHASE, ETC. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE FIVE. 



Name. 



Sumner Warren 

William S. Warren.. 
William S. Warren . . 
William and Sumner 

Warren 

Sumner Warren 

William and Sumner 

Warren 

William and Sumner 

Warren 

Ira Paine 

Ebenezer Warren. . . . 
Ezra Nott 



Porter Wright.. , 
Timothy Paine. , 
Sumner Warren , 



Daie. 



1809, Aug. 
1809, Aug. 
1809, Aug. 

1809, Aug. 
1809, Aug. 

1809, Aug. 

1809, Aug. 

18 10, Aug. 
1809, Aug. 
1809, Aug. 

1809, Aug. 
1809, Aug. 
1809, Aug. 



Land. 



Acr's 



14. 
14. 

14. 



w }4 \ is. 

s pt 1 25 . 
Is 4 & I 2 . 



14. 1 17 



14. 
14. 



14 
•4. 



13 

1 2 



Price. 



1 80 $360 OQ 

325' 568 75 
7261 1270 50 



441 
369 



771 75 
738 00 



15 

s j/^ lot 47.. 
14. w pt 1 19. . . 
14. !e pt 1 18 & 
w pt 1 10. 
14. e % I27... 
14. jm pt 1 19. . . 
19. |e pt 1 19. . . 



5561I 1 12 00 

35ij ^14 25 
166I 373 50 
176 00 

259 519 00 
216 432 00 
189' 378 00 
100 200 00 



NAMES OK l'i:;^S<)XS HUVINC; LAND 
TOWN-SHIP SEVF.X, RANGE FIVE— C< ';///«//.•</. 



Name. 



Dah:. 



Land. Acu's Price 



Sumner Warren. .... 1809 

Timothy Paine 1809 

Sumner Warren 1809 

Sumner Warren 1809 

Francis Dorchester.. 18 11 

Henr)- Godfrey 1 8 11 

F'rancis Dorchester.. 181 1 
Francis Dorchester. . i ■^ 1 1 

Gilbert Waldron 18 11 

Michael Angus 1 8 1 i 

Gilbert Waldron 181 1 

Horace Rider 181 1 

Benjamin Pearson. . . 181 1 
Benjamin Pearson ... [811 

Morton Crosby 181 ! 

+John Wilcox 181 1 

Dennis Riley 181 1 

Ik'thuel Bishop i8i i 

John Johnson 181 1 

Richard Smith 1 1 8 1 3 

"Giles Briggs ! ' 813 

Richard Smith '18 13 

1 8 14 
1814 
181 5 

181 5 
1815 
1815 
1815 
1815 
1815 
1815 



Alba Carpenter 

Cornelius Sn)-dcr . . . . 
Simon Carpenter. . . . 

John Wilcox, Jr 

Elias Bond 

Lyman W'aikins 

Ezekiel Hardy 

Leonard Brillard .... 
Phineas Chamberlain . 
Jeremiah Wilcox ... 

Reuben Rider ^ ^ ' 5 

Pollard Stone 1 8 16 

Hiram Wilcox 18 16 

Thomas Carney 18 16 

Daniel Hall 1816 

Daniel Hall 18 16 

Ezekiel Ballard 1816 



16 

14 
29 

30. 

.5- • 

3- • 



6. 



, Aug. 14 
, Aug. I 
. Aug. 
, Aug. 
, Apr. 
, Apr. 
, May 
, Mav 
, Nov. 
, Nov 
, Nov. 
, Now 
, Nov. 
, Nov. 22 
, Mar. 28 
, Mar. 28. 
, July 8... 
, April 3. . 
, April 20, 
, Dec. 22, . 
, Sept. 23 . 
, Oct. 30. . 
, Aug. 30. 
, Aug. 2 . . 
, Jan. 23. . 
, Mar. 10. 
, Apr. 1 1 . 
. Apr. 10 . 
, June 12 . 
, Dec. 6 . . 
. Oct. 17.. 
, Nov. 9. . 
, Oct. 17. . 
, Ma\- 7 . . 
, Ma>- 7 . . 
. Apr. 9 . . 
, May 28 . 
, May 28 . 
, June 6. . 



. i half 1 28. . 
. n pt 1 25 . . . 
. [ 26 . 
, \v pt 1 II... 
. e half 1 10. . 
, e pt 1 II... 
, vv pt 1 9 . . . . 

-pt I9 

MJt 1 6 . . . . 

w pt 1 I ■; . . . 

^ pt 1 13.... 

\v pt 1 S7- ■ 

\v pt 1 27. . . 

n pt 1 28. . . 

1 64 

: pt 1 64. . . . 

3t 1 56 

Jt 1 48 . . . . 

J pt 1 -:,6. . . 
n-e pt 1 40. . 
pt 1 18..... 
s-w pt 1 33 . 

pt I33 

optl yy... 

n-wpt 1 33. 

e pt 1 34 . . . 

n pt 1 13. . . . 

e pt 1 ^y. . . 

s pt 1 42 . . . 

s pt 1 29. . . 

w pt 1 50. . . ' 

w pt 1 34. . . 

eptl 58.... 

w pt 1 36. . . 

w pt 1 41. . . 

e pt 1 3 3 . . . 

s pt 1 20 . . . 

pt 1 20 

\v pt 1 56, e 
pt 52 &pt 
1 20 



167 
198 

317 
50 
•13 
319 
177 
184 
100 
100 
100 
140 
108 
167 
217 
108 
66 
89 

TOO 

^4 

5C 
IOC 

100 
?o6 
674 
100 
170 

TOO 
TOO 

i6g 

ICXD 
169 

looi 

100 
150 
100 
100 
100; 



292 00 
346 00 

634 oo 

100 CO 

310 00 

S77 00 

531 

55^ 
275 

^7S 
-V5 
420 00 
297 00 

459 00 
596 00 
286 00 
264 00 
267 00 
300 00 



00 
00 
00 
00 
00 



i>2 

^7S 
325 



00 
50 
00 
00 
50 
50 



669 
202 
300 00 
5 10 00 
300 00 
325 00 
600 00 
375 00 
^33 75 
375 00 
400 00 
600 00 
400 00 
400 00 

400 CO 



f Bought of Mr. Crosby. 



Deed. 



35011400 00 



OF rilK IK )1.I..\.M> (OMI'AW. 
TOWNSHIP SrVEN, RANGE ¥lVE—Conthnie,f. 



m 



N'ami; 



Datk. 



Land. 



Acu's; Pkke. 



Ezekicl Ballard. . . . 

Kzckicl Ballard \ 

Samuel Shepherd.. . . 

Henr_\- SiU'der 

Philip Cram 

Suell Butler 

John Butler 

John W. (ioodrich... 
Tcrrence IMcGuire. . . 
Terrence McCniire. . . 
Josiah Thompson.. . . 
Josiah Thomp.son.. . . 
Stephen & John Pratt 

James Bond 

John W'eller 

Obediah Matteson. . . 
Benjamin Saunders.. 
Robert Rut ledge. . . . 

James Bradshaw 

Uavid Bigelow 

David Bigelow 

Abner Colby 

Clark C. Carpenter. . . 
Da\id }. Conkling. . . 
Roswell G off.. .... .. 

Flint T. Keith. 

Josiah Goodrich 

Alv-ah Wilson 

Samuel P'risbee 



1829, 
1829, 



18 

18 

18 

18 

iS 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18; 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

|!« 

I18 
118 
:i8 

!i8.8. 



Jan. 6. . . 
Aug. 26. 
Nov. iS. 
Nov. I I . 
Sept. 5. . 
Oct. 5.. . 
Oct. 5. . . 
Aug. 8 . . 
Ma)^ 1 . . . 

Mays... 
Mar. 20. 
Oct. 24.. 

Apr. 2S. 
Mar. 5.. 
Mav 12. . 
May 14 . 
June 20. 
June 16. 
Aug. 25. 
Nov. 12. 
Jan 31.. 
Nov. t . . . 
Oct. 27. . 
Nov. 14. 
Nov, 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Apr. 
Ma\- 



24. 

'7 • 
1 1 . 
8 .. 
1 . . 



Isaac Smith 1818. Ma\- 15 , 

William Loree 1818, Apr. 16 , 

Andrew W. Shedd. . . 11818, June 6.. 

Warren Fay |i8i8, June 6. 

Thomas Ward I1818, Aug. 25 

William Howe {1818, Aug. 25 

Avery C. Tiffany 181 8, Oct. 3. . 

Edward Scott , 1818, Nov. 4. 

Stephen Pratt 18 18, Nov. 4. 

Benoni Tuttle 18 18, Oct. 19. 

Job Thomas, Jr i8r8, Oct. 19. 

Thomas Mann ,1818, July 25. 



s-e pt 1 2 1.. 
pt 1 22 . . . . 
e pt I 31... 
n-\\- pt I 42 . 
n-e pt 1 42 . 

pt I 4.1 

w pt I 43.. . 

pt 1 36 

s pt 1 56 ■ 

n pt 1 55. . . 
s pt 1 54. . . . 

pt 1 5^ 

n pt 1 29. . . 
pts 1 15. ... 

pt 1 56 • 

pt 1 48 

pts 1 3 3 . • • • 

pt I 55 

s jjt 1 30. . . 
n pt 1 47 . . . 
n-w pt 1 39 . 

pt 16 

pt 1 6 

pt 1 5 1 

s pL 1 39.. . 

pt 1 44 

e pt 1 43 • • • : 
n pt 1 56. . . 
n-e & n-w pt 

1 (^3 

s ptl 49. .. 
spt 1 55... 
n pt 1 38 . . . 
spt 1 3«.. 

pt 1 52 

s pt 1 53. .. 
Ipts 1 46. . . . 

Ipts 1 62 

wpt I35... 
e pt 1 44. . . 

pt I44 

ptl 37.... 



40 
lOOj 

I23I 
123 

100, 

lOOi 
1 001 
120^ 
120! 
125 

o - 

166 

200 
100 
100 

250 
100 
100 

166 

147 
;6 
60: 

100 

160 

30 

■35i 
146 

200; 
100' 
146; 
140, 
1 18; 
100. 

'1/1 
200 
200 
100 
119 
60 
100 



160 00 
200 00 
425 00 
522 75 
492 00 
425 00 
425 00 
400 00 
570 00 
570 00 
531 25 
100 00 
747 00 
830 00 
475 00 
00 



o 



475 
'17 . 
475 00 
475 CO 



788 
698 25 
380 00 
300 00 
475 00 
760 00 
250 00 
643 63 
693 50 

950 00 
475 00 
693 50 
630 00 
531 00 
475 00 
555 75 

950 CO 

950 00 
475 00 
5''^5 25 
300 00 
475 00 



774 



NAMES OF PERSONS BUYING LAND 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE Yl\Y.— Contit!Ufd. 



Name. 



Amasa Freeman. . . . 

Peter Snyder 

Amos Gould 

Amos Dan 

Job Thomas. Jr. . . . 
James Sherwood . . . 
Giles Briggs 

Francis Eaton 

Daniel Ashley 

Andrew Crocker. . . 

Almon Jewett 

Elijah Smith 

Reuben Hudson . . . 
Jonathan Headley. . 

Aquilla Pingry 

Andrew Crocker. . . 

Horace Rider 

Richard Sheppard. . 

Peter Hauver 

Benjamin Wilson. . . 

Allen Briggs 

Josiah Goodrich . . . . 
Nathaniel Simons. . 
Jonathan Thomas. . 
Thomas N. Hopkins 
David Stickney. . . . 

Jonathan Cook 

Philemon Pierce . . . 

James Marston 

George Snyder 

Esek Briggs 

Esek Briggs 

Alanson Rogers. . . . 

Charles Sears 

Leland Crocker. . . . 
Andrew Crocker... 
Benoni Hudson .... 

Elihu Rice 

Pollard Stone 

Benjamin Odell. . . . 



Date 



Land. 



8i8 
819 
819 
819 
819 
819 
819 

819 
820 
820 
821 
825 
825 
827 
828 
828 
828 
828 
828 
829 
829 
829 
829 
829 
829 
829 
829 
829 
830 
830 
830 
832 
830 
830 
830 
831 
831 
831 
831 
831 



July 25., 
Jan. 3.. , 
Oct. 15. . 
June 12 
June I . . 
April 21 . 
Aug. 16. 

May 4.. . 
Oct. 19. . 
Oct. 14.. 
Oct. 29. . 
July;... 
Dec. 23.. 
Jan. 24. . 
March 6. 
Aug. 26. 
Aug. 26. 
Sept. 16. 
Oct. 29. . 
Jan. 6.. . 
Jan. 15.. 
Feb. 9. . . 
Feb. 25.. 
Mar. 10 . 
April 8.. 
June 2 . . 
Aug. 20. 
Oct. 22. . 
Jan 27.. 
Jan 27. . 
Nov. 22. 
July 3... 
Dec. 7.. 
Dec. 28.. 
Dec. 28.. 
Feb. 26.. 
May 3.. 
June 17. 
Sept. 10. 
Sept. 20. 



49 



pts 1 37. 
e pt 1 59 
s pt 1 14 

pt 154-. 
ptl 51.. 

Ptl35-- 
n-w pt 1 lo 
& n-e pt 1 1 8 
s-w pt 1 9 
w pt 1 59 
e pt 1 36. 
n pt 1-45. 
pt I49. 
n-e pt 1 
n pt 1 6 
n-w pt 1 
ptl 25 
ptl 25 
ptl 59 
s-e pt 1 
pt 1 21 
n-e pt 
pt 1 20 
pt 1 20 
w pt 1 
pt I59 
ptl 38 
n pt 1 22 
pt 1 58 
s-e pt 1 

ptl 33 
pt 1 47 
n pt 1 20. 
pt 1 50 
s-e pt 1 
pt 1 38 

ptl 35 
s-e pt 1 20 

pt I9 

s w pt 1 45 
n-e & n-w pts 
1 21 



Acr's 



39 



51 



33 



42 



Price. 



21 I 1002 
100 



100 

100 

60 

75 

109 
119 
100 
192 

75 
50 

100 
50 
90 

100 
48 

145 
25 

TOO 

100 

50 

40 

47 

131 

80 

TOO 

100 
78 
78 
50 
81 

100 
50 

100 
67 
50 
69 

150 

171 



2S 

475 00 

475 OQ 

475 oa 

285 00 

35 



6 00 



453 00 
509 00 

475 
768 

ZZ7 00 
212 00 
627 00 



oa 
00 



22 ^ 
S82 



00 
00 



402 oa 
192 oa 
542 oa 
100 oa 
400 oa 
400 oa 
200 oa 
160 oa 
188 oa 
526 oa 
320 oa 

375 00 
400 oo 

331 GO 

331 oa 
200 oa 
326 00 
400 oo 
208 oo 
416 oo 
270 oo 
200 oa 
296 oa 
525 oa 

684 oa 



FROM llll': in HI. AM) (OMI'ANV. 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE FIVE— Co>i/i,iuc</. 



775 



DA I K. 



Josepli Gilson 

Jonathan Cook 

Rufus I lawks 

Klias Rogers 

Joshua Sl\- 

Kbenezer l-arrington . 

Moses Wheeler 

Moses Wheeler 

Perry Hard)- 

l)a\id Murra}' 

Thomas N. Hopkins. 

Stowell Collins 

Josiah Andrews 

Levinus Cornwell . . . 

Horace Clark 

Stukeh' Hudson .... 

Philip 'Mericle 

Robert Hopkins.... 

Joseph Long 

"■'Andrews & Cornwell 
Chauncey Hastings. . 

Harry Sears 

Nathaniel Brown . . . . 

Beriah Brown 

Simeon Bishop 

Henry Thomas 

Daniel Pierce 

Edward Cram 

Jonas Perham ...... 

Jabez Weeden 

George Brown 

Stephen Pratt 

Robert Hopkins. . . . 

Plenry Thomas 

Reuben Wright 

John M. Bull 



Anna Van Dusen... 
John M. Bull 



i<S3i 
Hi' 
«3> 
B31 
832 

>^33 
H35 
«35 
«35 
835 
830 

^37 
^39 
«35 
830 
8^0 
832 

^37 
^33 
^35 
^3S 
811 

8is 
815 
810 
816 
816 
816 
817 
819 
818 
820, 

824 
82G) 
828^ 
830 

830 
830 



Oct. 5.. . 
Nov. II. 
Nov. 23 . 
Dec. I 5 . 
March 5 . 
Aug. 29. 
Feb. 27. . 
Feb 27. . 
June 15. 
Sept. 5.. 
June 29. 
March 13 
Jan. 26. . 
Now 10. 
Dec 6... 
Sept. 22. 
P"eb. 22.. 
Dec. 8. . 
Mar. II.. 
Nov. 27. 
Oct. 28.. 
Nov. 6. . 
April 9. . 
April 9. . 
April 9. . 
June c) . . 
Aug. i 2 . 
Aug. 21 . 
June 23. 
Jan. 6 . . 
Aug. 24. 
Oct. lO. . 

June 29. 
Sept. 9. . 
Aug. 30. 
Jan. 25. . 

P'eb 4. . 
Feb 3.. 



Land. 



s-e pt 1 45 

!s pt 1 23 . 
Ipt 1 2V ■ . 
ipt I23. .. 

'S-W pt 1 i: 
in pt 1 2^. 
pt I23. .. 
Ipt 1 23. . . 

ept I57.. 
\\n 1 48 . . . 
'pt 1 60. . . 
pt 1 41 ... 

'pt 143- • ■ 
pt I36... 
IS pt 1 54.. 
n-w pt 1 29 
j)t 1 56 



w pt 1 58. 
pt I44. . . 
s-e pt 1 2 1 
pt I35... 
e pt 1 1 . . 
e pt 1 II. 

w J)t 1 II. 

s pt 1 17.. 
n pt 1 9 . . 
pt I9 



e pt 1 12 

pt 1 17. . 
e i)t 1 9 . 
pt 1 I I . . 
Is 14 15 22 

2:^.. .'.. . 

e pt 1 2. . 
pt 1 18. . . 
s-w pt 1 I. 
pt Is 14 15 



Ipt 1 15 
Ipt 123 



'Ack's 

ii6i 

5c! 
50: 

5C! 

100: 
50' 
50 
50: 
5o| 

ICO 
lOOi 

501 

100 

50 

100 
56 

59 
401 
67- 

160! 

looi 

IOC 

150, 

IOO| 
lOO; 
IOC 

7C 

0.1 



Price. 



466 CO 
2CO 00 
2CO 00 
2C/0 00 
400 00 
225 00 
150 CO 
2CO 00 
200 00 
4CO 00 
400 00 
200 00 
607 
22 ^ 
269 00 
260 CO 



CO 
CO 



5-/ 



00 



224 00 

278 00 

204 00 

243 CO 

480 CO 

375 00 
375 00 
600 00 

600 CO 

400 00 
400 00 

500 CO 

350 00 

3 M CO 



1 22c 3929 00 

IOC 400 00 

50 200 00 

5c 200 CO 

303} 1 288 00 
50' 200 00 

IOC 425 CO- 



*Deed. 



'J']^ DEEDS^GIVEX BY THE HOLLAND COMIWSX . 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE YW^E— Continued. 



Name. 


Date. 


Land. 


Acr's 


Price. 


John Vosburg 


1830, Jan. 


26.. 


pt I23 


2 12 oa 


Jonas Perham 


1 83 1, July 


I . . 


pt 1 17 


116 


464 OQ 


Joseph Wilkes 


1 83 1, June 


7-- 


pt 1 2 


SO 


200 00 


Norman Bond 


1 83 1, Apri 


I26. 


e pt 1 10. . . 


200 


800 00 


Joseph Thurber 


1 83 1, Apri 


I26. 


e pt 1 18... 


so 


200 00 


John Van Pelt 


1833, Feb. 


26. 


1 21 


374 


1589 OQ 


William Smith 


1834, Dec. 


18. 


n-wpt 1 23.. 


68 


270 ca 


Mahties Kelsie 


1835, July 


10.. 


pt 1 15 


SO 


200 00 


Martin Keller 


1835, Oct. 


s... 


pt 1 16 


120 


480 OQ 


Philemon Pierce 


1837, Oct. 


8.. 


e pt 1 5 . . . . 


8S 


300 OQ 


John M. Bull 


1837, May 





s-w pt 1 19.. 


100 


400 OQ 


James Flemings 


1837, Nov. 


i.v 


pt 1 20 


44 


178 00 


Major Wells 


1837, Nov. 


13 • 


n-e pt 1 20. . 


44 


178 00 


William Park 


1837. Feb. 


2L. 


n pt I 14 & s 












pt 1 15.... 


200 


105 I OQ 


Asa Carv 


1838, Sept. 

1839, Feb. 


18 


n pt 1 24. . . 
pt 1 15 & n 


100 


405 00 


Nathan Follett 


2S. 










pt 1 22 . . . . 


100 


600 00 


Elijah Wheelock .... 


1839, Jan 8... 


pt I 12 


100 


400 00 


Truman Starks 


1839, Jan. 2. .. 


w pt' 1 10. . . 


SO 


200 00 


Lewis Reed 


1 84 1, Nov. 


I . . 


pt 1 20 


25 


125 oa 



NAMES OF PERSONS WHO HAVE TAKEN DEEDS OF THE HOL_ 
L.^ND COMPANY IN SARDINIA, DATE OF PURCHASE, ETC. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE SIX. 



Lot. 


Acres. 


4 


319 ' 


s 


85 


5 


64 { 


6 


319 


7 


324 


8 


321 


9 


170 


9 


70 


9 


75 


9 


75 1 


10 


200 


10 


129 



Name. 



July 18, 1839 . 

e pt Dec. 8, 1837 . . 

m pt ! 

July 18, 1839, 

July 18, 1839. 

July 18, 1839, 

s-e pt June 16, 1845 ■ 

n-e pt.... July 18, 1839, 
s-w pt . . . . Mar. i, 1839. • 
n-w pt . . . . Feb. i, 1839 • ■ 

e pt April i, 1839 .. 

w pt July 18, 1839.. 



P. C. Sherman. 
Philemon Pierce. 
James Edington. 
P. C. Sherman. 
P. C. Sherman. 
P. C. Sherman. 
George N. Williams. 
P. C. Sherman. 
Charles Wilder. 
Phineas Scott. 
William P. Powers. 
P. C. Sherman. 



DHKDS (IIVF.N I'.V Till". HOLLAND (OMl'ANV. nJ 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE %\^—Conlinued. 



Lot. Acrks. Suhdivision. Date ok Di:f.I). 



Name. 



1 1 
1 1 
12 
12 
12 
13 

H 

15 

15 

15 

15 

i6 

i6 

17 

17 

17 

i8 

i8 

i8 

i8 

i8 

19 

19 

20 

20 

20 

21 

22 

22 

23 

23 

23 

24 

24 

26 

27 
27 
^7 
28 
:>8 



120 e pt I July 18, 1839.. 

266 w pt Feb. 28, 1837.. 

150 cpt Jan. 8. 1839. . . 

100 m pt Jan. 7, i8^o .. . 

127 \v pt luly iS, 1839. . 

381 Alio-. 23, 1838. 

^50 s-w pt. . . . June 2. 1S38. . 

215 m.\;s-ept. Mar. 31, 1843. 

200 s pt Feb. 21. 1831 . 

50 s m pt. . . April i, 1839. . 

50 m pt Feb. 4. 1830 . . 

50 n m pt. . . Mar. 31, 1843 • 

155 s pt July 18, 1839.. 

50 11 pt July 18, 1839.. 

150 s pt Oct. I, 1838... 

116 m pt April i, 1839. . 

100 n pt Jan. 18, 1837.. 

50 e pt Vpril I, 1837. . 

54 e m pt . . . July 18, 1839. . 

-j-j m pt Oct. I. 1838. . . 

100 w m pt. . . Feb. 21, 1838 . 

100 w pt. ... July !, 1838.. . 

268 n & s-e pt . J uly 1 8, 1 839. . 

100 s-w pt Dec 29, 1840 . 

44 n-e pt April 2, 1838.. 

44 n pt ! April 2, 1838. 

267 n-w & s pt.s J uly 1 8, 1 839. . 

314 April 1, 1839.. 

25 1 s pt April I, 1839.. 

100 npt Mar. 31. 1843 . 

150 e pt April 1. 1839.. 

136 .s-w pt July 18, 1839.. 

68 n-w pt Oct. 20, 1 843 . . 

279 s pt July 18. 1839.. 

100 npt Sept. 18, 1838. 

129 w 1 Feb. 18. 1 814.. 

87 si Oct. 20, 1843.. 

20 n-e 1 Nov. 12, 1836. 

SO n-w 1 Dec. 2 1, 1833 

)■] el )une 20, >837. 

-j-j w 1 Oct. I, 1838... 



P. C. Sherman. 
S. S. Fllsworth. 
Klijah Wheelock. 
Flijah Wheelock. 
P. C. Sherman. 
Chauncey B. Dunbar, 
John Van Pelt. 
H. J. Redfield. 
William Park. 
D. H. Chandler. 
Anna Vandusen. 
H. J. Redfield. 
P. C. Sherman. 
P. C. Sherman. 
Simeon Cummin<j;s. 
William P. Powers. 

Ira Reynolds. 
William P. Powers. 

P. C. Sherman. 

Simeon Cummings. 

Abraham Starks. 

Abraham Van Tuyl. 

P. C. Sherman. 

William Smith. 

Major W^ells. 

James Flemming. 

P. C. Sherman. 

D. H. (handler. 

D. H. Chandler. 

H. J. Redfield. 

William P. Powers. 

P. C. Sherman. 

Jacob LeRoy. 

P. C. Sherman. 

Asa Bary. 

Almon Fuller. 

Jacob LeRoy. 

Orin Lewis. 

Marinda Bowen. 

Fred Richmond. 

Simeon Cummings. 



778 DEEDS CIVEN BY THE HOLLAND COMPANY 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE SIX— Contitiuai. 



Lot 


ACKKS. 


29 


I26L 


30 


1 1 


31 


84 


32 


79 


33 


75 


34 


62 


34 


39 


I 


i62 




60 




67 




50 




80 


2 


100 


2 


171 


2 


100 



w 1 

w 1. 

w 1, 

^\' 1 

w 1 

\v 1 



w 1 . . 
e pt . . 
n-e pt 
m pt . 
s-w pt 
n-w pt 
e pt . . 
m pt . 
w pt. 



Name 



May 

May 

Nov. 

June 

July 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Oct. 

Dec. 

July 

April 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Feb. 

July 



26, 1819.. 
26, 1819. . 

i7» 1837. 

1 6, 1 845 . 

18, 1839. • 

1, 1838. . , 

2, 1855.. 
I, 1838.. , 
16, 1854., 
18, 1839., 

1 I, 1839.. 
22, 1836 , 

25- 1835 
14, 1839., 
18, 1839., 



Simeon Cummings. 
George Richmond. 
Chauncey Pond, 
(jcorge N. Williams 
P. C. Sherman. 
Simeon Cummings. 
Mabel Smith. 
Simeon Cummings. 
James Hopkins. 
P. C. Sherman. 
W. P. Powers. • 
Reuben Wright. 
Robert Hopkins. 
Joseph Wilkes. 
P. C. Sherman. 



TOWNSHH^ SIX, RANGE FIVE. 



40 


24 


48 


18 


48 


39 


48 


48 


.S6 


100 


^6 


35 


S6 


35 


S6 


66 


64 


217 


64 


1 1 1 



I Oct. 3, 1826.. 

e pt 1 Feb. 4, 1839. 

m pt I F"eb. 4, 1839. 

w pt j Jan. 18, 1836. 

e pt j Dec. 1, 1836 . 

e m pt .. . . ! Dec. 22, 1841. 
w m pt. . .1 Dec. 22, 1841. 

w pt ! Oct. I, 1838.. 

e pt I Oct. I, 1838.. 

w pt Dec. 13, 1 85 1. 



Archibald Randall. 

Parley Crosby. 
George Bigelow. 
Samuel S. Ellsworth. 
John Howard. 
Richard C. Johnson. 
Joanna Davis. 
Simeon Cummings. 
Simeon Cummings. 
George Richmond. 



TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANCiE FIVE. 



2 


556 


3 


100 


3 


119 


3 


150 


A 


356 


5 


351 


6 


100 


6 


60 


6 


7^ 


6 


64 




Flihu Rice. 
Benjamin Parson. 
Samuel Hawkins. 
David Calkins. 
Benjamin Wilson . 
Daniel Hall. 
Jonathan Cooke. 
Benjamin W'ilson. 
Jonathan Cooke. 
Pardon C . Sherman 



DKKDS CINKN IJV IIIK HOLLAND COMPANY. 779 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE ¥lVE—Cofiiiniu-J. 



Lot. I AcKEs 



6 I 50 

7 

9 

9 

9 

9 

o 

o 

I ' 319 

1 I 50 

2 370 



357 

184 

69 

50 

5<^ 

113 

IM 



50 

50 

96 

100 

70 

50 

50 

50 

170 

86 

100 

100 

100 

200 

100 

50 

81 

100 
46 
30 
80 

100 



Subdivision. 



•9 


25 


'9 


75 


•9 


94 


19 


94 


19 


88 i 


20 


50 


20 


50 


20 


40 



n pt 



Datk o\- Dei:i). 



Namk 



e pt. . . 
-s m pt . 
s-w pt . 
n-\v pt 
e pt .. 
w pt . . 
e pt. . . 
w pt . . 



s-e pt . 
s-w pt . 
m pt . . 
n pt. . . 
n m pt 
s-e pt. . 
s-w pt . 
s m pt . 
n pt. . . 
s-e pt. . 
s-w pt . 
m pt . . 
n i)t . . . 
O ]Jt . . . 
m pt . . 
w m pt 
w pt . . 



.s-e pt . 
s-w pt . 
m pt . . 
s-w pt . 
n-w pt . 
s-e pt . 
s pt . . . 
e in pt. 
w m pt 
w pt. . . 
.s-e pt. . 
s-w pt . 
s-c m . . 



A\n\\ 20, 1839 
July 18, 1839. 
Mar. 17, 1 8 19 
]unc 16, 1835 
Sept. 10, 1832 
Miir. 6, JS35.. 
April 30, 1825 
Nov. 9, 1835 . 
Mar. 3, 1817. . 
April 11, I ,-^I4 
Aug. 14, 1819 
Jaif. 15, 1839. 
Jan. 13. 1834. 
Dec. 2^', 1836 
Aug. 10, 1832 
Jan. 13, 1834 
Jan. I, 1842. 
Jan. I, 1842. 
Oct. 20, 1843 
Jul\' 18, 1839 
July 18, 1839. 
April 20, 1839. 
Oct. 15, 1838. . 
Jan. 7, 1839... 
Aug. 16, 1 8 19, 
April 2],, 1824, 
April 23, 1824 
Ma\- 18, 1824 . 



July 

Nov. 

Sept. 

Aug. 

J u n e 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Dec. 

Aug. 

Jan 

April 

Mar. 

Apr. 



5, 1820.. . 
10, 1835-, 
23. 1813. 
16. 1825, 
29, 1825. 
21, 1833. 
21, 1832. 
1, 1836.. 
8, 1837... 
15. 1023.. 
20, 1839. 
16. 1839. 
10, 1839 • 



William V. Powers. 
Pardon C. Sherman. 
Caleb Nichols. 
Joseph Rice. 
Horace Clark. 
Nelson Hyde. 
John Colb}-. 
Ezra Nott. 
Jacob Wilson. 
Jacob W'ilson. 
Benjamin Wilson. 
Jonathan Cook. 
Ezekiel Ballard. 
Elias Rogers. 
■Lewis Farrington. 
Joseph Ballard. 
George Bigelow. 
Jonathan Cook. 
Jacob H.Schermerhorn 
Pardon C. Sherman. 
Pardon C. Sherman. 
William P. Powers. 
S. Cummings. 
Horace U. Soper. 
Allen Green. 
Daniel Clarke, Jr. 
Horace D, Clark. 
Willis W. and Willard 

W. Cornwell. 
Ezra Nott. 
Ezra Nott. 
Giles Briggs. 
Chancey Hastings. 
Daniel Need ham. 
Peter Hauver. 
Thomas Hopkins. 
John B. Hosmer, 
Bela H Colegrove. 
B. H. Colegrove. 
William P Powers. 
Bela H. Colegrove. 
N. Simons. 



78o I)Kp:i)s (;ivex hv iiik hoi. i. and comtaxv. 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE YWE— Continued. 



Lot. Acres Suhdivision. Date ok Deed. 



20 
20 

20 
20 
21 

21 

21 
21 

22 

7-7 



-J 
23 
23 
23 
23 
23 
25 
25 
25 
25 

-D 
2D 
26 

27 
27 
28 
28 
28 
29 
29 
29 
29 

29 
30 
30 
31 

33 



60 
50 
50 
100 
40 

100 

63 
1 1 I 
106 
100 



175 

150 

46 

43 

50 

50 

50 

162 

162 

48 

100 

49 
158 
158 
216 
108 
83 
«3 
167 

100 
50 
50 
50 
66 

ICO 

239 

350 

78 

50 



s-w pt . . , 
n-c m pt 
n-w m . . 
n pt . . . . 
s-e pt . . 

s m pt . . , 
s-\v pt . . 
n [)t . . . . 
s pt. . . . 
m pt ... 



n j)t. . . . 
s pt, . . . 
m pt . . . 
n m pt . 
e m pt. . 

W 111 pt . 
n pt. . . . 
-s-e pt . . 
s-\v pt . . 
e m pt. . 
n-w m . . 
n pt . . . . 
e pt . . . . 
w pt . . . 
e pt . . . . 
w" pt . . . 
s pt . . . . 
m pt . . . 
n pt . . . . 
m pt . . , 

•'^cPt 

n-c pt . 
n m pt , 
n-w pt 



Oct. 27, 1831 . . 
Sept. 5, 1835.. 
Aui^. 22, 1831 . 
July 3. 1832.. . 
Nov. 27, 1835. 

Jan 7, 1834.. . 
July 18, 1839.. 
April 20, 1839, 
Jan. 23. 1839. . 
Oct. 22, 18^8. , 



Name. 



Dec. 30. 1836. . 

April 20, 1839 

July 1, 1855 .. 

July 1,1855 ... 

Feb. 27, 1835. . 

Dec. 28, 1838 . 

Dec. 28, 1838 . 

Oct. 4, 1827. . . 

Oct. 5, 1830... 

Dec. 16, 1825 . 

June 25, 1836. 

Aug. 22, 1834. 

Feb. 4, 1825 . . 

June 5, 1822. . 

Oct. 5, 0819 . ! 

June 14, 1824^ 

Dec. 18, 1829 

May 21, 1835 . 

Jan. 1 I, 1825. _ 

June 26, i835] 

April 16, 1839! 

Feb. 21, 1837 . 

April 20, 1839. 

May 28, I834-. 

s pt Jan. 12, 1839. . 

n pt July 18, 1839. • 

July 18, 1839. ■ 
s-e pt . . . . ; Feb. 6, 1838 . . 
n-e pt. . . .1 Jan. 2-, 1836. . 



Daniel Hall, 2d. 

Josiah Goodrich. 

Solomon Burbank. 

E. Briggs 

W. \V. Cornwell and 
Josiah Andrews. 

Benjamin Wilson. 

Pardon C. Sherman. 

William P. Powers. 

Orson D. Simonds. 

St. Clement's Church 
of Wethersfield, Gen- 
esee. 

Seth Kingsley. 

W. P. Powers. 

Henry Child, Jr. 

O. F. Crocker. 

M. R Wheeler. 

M. R. Wheeler. 

Nelson Richards. 

Horace Rider. 

Charles Sears. 

Horace Rider. 

Andrew Crocker. 
VVillard W CornwelL 

Benjamin Pearson. 

Thomas Tillinghast. 

Benjamin Pearson. 

Albey Briggs. 
David Briggs. 
Ephraim Briggs, 

David Sticknc}', Jr. 

E. Briggs. 

W. P.>owers. 
Stukeley Hudson. 

F. B. Marvin 
P. C. Sherman. 
P. C Sherman. 
Jesse Randall. 
Charles Sears. 



DKKDS CIVKN 1!\' JIIK ilollAXD CnMV.WW 781 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN. RANGE Fl\'E—Coii/ijiucc/. 



Loi. 


ACKKS. 


SUHIJIVISION. 


Date ok DiiEU. 


1 

Name. 


33 


30 


n-e ni pt . . 


Jan. 28, 1836. . 


Chancey Hastings. 


33 


48 


n m pt . . . 


June 30, 1841 . 


Hiram Hutting. 


33 


100 


s-m pt .... 


Alar. 30, 1842 . 


Alba Carpenter. 


33 


50 


\v m pt . . . 


Oct 24, 1829. . 


Isaac Smith. 


33 


50 


s-w i)t .... 


Oct. I, 1838.. . 


Simeon Cummings. 


33 


33 


n-w m pt . 


Feb. 16, 1839. • 


B. Hudson 


33 


33 


n-\v pt . ... 


Feb. 16, 1839 • 


J. \V. Fegles. 


34 


100 


^' pt 


Sept. 25, 1832. 


M R. 01 in 


34 


30 


m pt 


Oct. 4, 1837... 


M. R. Olin 


34 


139 


\v pt 


Oct. 4, 1837.. . 


Barnabas Carney. 


35 


100 


^' pt 


Feb. 14, 1839.. 


Thomas Carney. 


35 


67 


s m pt. . . . 


Oct. 28, 1835. . 


Chancey Hastings. 


35 


50 


n m pt. . . 


Mar. 20, 1823. 


First Baptist Society 
of Sardinia. 


35 


75 


m pt 


Oct. 27, 1834.. 


Chancey Hastings. 


35 


100 


w pt 


Aug 9, 1834.. 


George Bunn. 


36 


32 


s-e pt 


Mar. 14, 1839 . 


Flisha Hudson. 


36 


60 


.s-e m pt . . . 


Mar. 14, 1839 • 


Silvenus W. Hudsc^n. 


36 


50 


n-e pt . . . . 


Sept. 24,1 835. 


Stephen Wait. 


36 


50 


e m pt . . . 


Jan. 9, 1837. . . 


Daniel P. Shedd. 


36 


50 


w m pt . . . 


Jan 22, 1831 . . 


William Putman. 


36 


50 


\v m pt . . . 


Nov. 10, 1835 . 


Levinus Cornwell. 


35 


80 


\v pt 


April 26, 1849. 


Ashwell and H. D. 
Cornwell. 


36 


20 


s-\\- pt . . . . 


Mar. 29, 1856.. 


H. D. Cornwell. 


37 


75 


s-e pt 


Dec. 22, 1830. 


Stephen Wait. 


37 


25 


n-e pr . . . . 


Nov. 30, 1836 . 


A. and Ira Briggs. 


37 


100 


e m pt. . . . 


Oct. 5, 1820 . . 


Dut}' Briggs. 


37 


21 1 


\\" pt 


Oct I, 1S38 . . 


Simeon Cummings 


38 


120 


M^t 


April 20, 1839. 


William P. Powers. 


38 


.So 


w m pt . . . 


Oct. I, 1844.. . 


Julius R. Fuller. 


38 


60 


e m pt. . . . 


Aug. 31, 1832. 


A . W. Shedd . 


38 


100 


n m pt . . . 


Aug. 31, 1842. 


Joseph Ballard. 


38 


40 


n pt 


Apr. 20, 1839. 


\\'illiam P. Powers. 


39 


100 


s pt 


Dec. 23, 1854 . 


William Hyde. 


39 


100 


n-e pt . . . . 


Apr. 20, 1839. 


William P. Powers. 


39 


147 


n-w m pt . . 


July 18,1845.. 


A. VanGuilder. 


40 


416 




July 18, 18^9.. 


P. C. Sherman. 


41 


. 50 


s-e pt 


July 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman. 


41 


50 


s m pt. . . . 1 


Aug. 4. 1852. . 


J. H. Ladoit. 


41 


55 


n-e pt . . . . 


Jul)- I, 1842. . . 


George Bigelow. 


41 


47 


n m i)t . . . : 


Nov. 14, 1843 ■ 


B. Carney. 



782 



DEEDS CIVEX BY THE HOLLAND COMPANY, 
TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE YIVE— Continued. 



Lot. 


Acres. 


Subdivision. 


Date of Deed. 


Name. 


41 


150 


w pt 


Jan. 18, 1836. . 


Samuel S. Ellsworth. 


42 


50 


s-e pt 


Jan. 24, 1837.. 


George Snyder. 


42 


123 


n-e pt . . . . 


Aug. 29, 1833. 


Hor. Rider. 


42 


50 


s-w pt . . . . 


Dec. 22, 1836. . 


Ezekiel Hard}^ 


4^ 


123 


n-w pt . . . . 


Jan. 24,1835.. 


Hor. Rider. 


43 


135 


e pt 


Oct. I, 1838. . . 


Simeon Cummings. 


43 


100 


m pt 


Jan. 26, 1837.. 


Josiah Andrews. 


43 


100 


w pt 


Jan. 18, 1838. . 


John Butler. 


44 


119 


ept 


Dec. 20, 1837. 


Joseph Long. 


44 


60 


m pt 


Dec. 28. 1838. 


Charles Long. 


44 


150 


w pt 


Aug. 20, 1829. 


Sewell Butler. 


45 


116 


s-e pt 


Sept. 6, 1855. . 


Josiah Andrews. 


45 


75 


n pt 


Mar. 15, 1839. 


Almon F. Jewett . 


45 


150 


s-w pt .... 


July 18, 1838. . 


Pollard Stone. 


46 


71 


s-e pt 


July 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman. 


46 


60 


s-w pt . . . . 


Oct. 14, 1837.. 


Luther Putman. 


46 


200 


n pt 


Jan. 12, 1839. • 


F . B. Marvin. 


46 


100 


m pt 


Oct. 2, 1856.. . 


Sewell Butler. 


47 


100 


s pt 


April 20, 1839. 


William P. Powers. 


47 


'^3 


n-e pt . . . . 


Aug. 6, 1840. . 


George Bigelow. 


47 


83 


n-w pt ... 


June 19, 1849. 


Stephen Carney. 


48 


100 


s pt 


Nov. 22, 1833. 


Obadiah Matteson . 


48 


100 


m pt 


¥th. 5, 1849.. . 


G. N. Cutler. 


48 


129 


n pt 


July 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman. 


49 


100 


s pt 


Jan. 14, 1842. . 


George Marsh, Jr. 


49 


50 


s m pt . . . 


Oct. I, 1838. . . 


Simeon Cummings. 


49 


118 


n-e pt . . . . 


July 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman. 


49 


40 


w m pt . . . 


Feb. 19, 1839 • 


Jonathan Pingrey. 


49 


50 


n-w pt . . . . 


Feb. 19, 1839 • 


William Pingre}'. 


50 


100 


e pt 


Oct. 4, 1838. . . 


Simeon Cummings. 


50 


50 


s m pt. . . . 


Nov. 12, 1835 • 


Noah Johnson. 


50 


100 


e m pt . . . 


April 20. 1839. 


VV. P. Powers. 


50 


58 


s-w m pt . . 


July 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman . 


50 


40 


w m pt . . . 


Feb. 19, 1839.. 


William Lafferty. 


50 


60 


w pt 


Feb. 19. 1839.. 


Jacob M. Marston. 


51 


lOO 


e pt 


Feb. 14, 1834.. 


Samuel Sheppard. 


51 


100 


e m pt . . . 


Oct. I, 1838. . .1 


Simeon Cummings. 


51 


60 


w m i)t . . . 


April 28. 1855. 


Fred West . 


51 


50 


w m pt . . . 


Nov. 22, 1823. 


First Congregational 
Society of Sardinia. 


51 


47 


w pt 


Aug. 29. 1S36. 


William Willson. 


52 


250 


e pt 


Aug. 24, 1838. 


Bela H . Colcgrove. 



DKKDS (ilVKX U\ TI IK lloLLAND (OMl'AXY. 783 

TOWNSHIP SEVEN, RANGE VIVE— Con/inucii. 



Lot. 


AcKKS, 

5« 


SiMsnivisioN 
W [Jt 


Daik ok Dkko. 


Namk. 


S2 


Sept. 27, 1834. 


Josiah Ihompson . 


S2 


25 


w pt 


Sept. 28, 1837. 


Josiah Thompson . 


53 


267 


M)t 


Au<:^. 23, 1838. 


C. B. Dunbar. 


5^ 


25 


n m })t . . . 


Mar. 15, 1839. 


John B. Ho.smer. 


^^ 


75 


n pt 


Nov. 30, 1835. 


Edward Scott . 


S4 


65 


M^t 


Oct. 27, 1835.. 


Horace Clark. 


S4 


160 


m pt 


Jan. 26, 1839. • 


Josiah Andrews. 


S4 


131 


n pt 


July 18, 1839.. 


P . C. Sherman . 


ss 


146 


^Pt 


Aug. 23. 1838. 


C. B. Dunbar. 


^^ 


220 


11 pt 


Oct. I, 1838... 


Simeon Cummings. 


S6 


120 


s pt 


June 16, 1845 . 


George N. Williams. 


S6 


100 


m pt 


Mar. 21, 1837. 


Caleb Butler, Jr. 


=;6 


146 


n pt 


Aug. 23, 1838. 


C. B. Dunbar. 


57 


16s 


m pt 


Julv 18, 18^9.. 


B.C. Sherman . 


57 


140 


w i)t 


Dec. 28, 1837 • 


Jonathan Pingrey. 


5cS 


100 


t-- pt 


Oct. 7, 1833... 


Reuben Rider. 


58 


60 


c m pt . . . 


Jan 8, 1834. . . 


William Pingrey. 


58 


'50 


m pt 


Dec. 28, 1837 . 


Dudley Hopkins. 


58 


^6 


w pt 


Dec. 8, 1837 . . 


Robert Hopkins. 


5Q 


50 


e pt 


Sept. 16, 1828. 


Richmond Sheppard. 


SQ 


95 


c m pt . . . 


Mar. 7. 1834 . . 


Richmond Sheppard . 


5q 


80 


s m pt . . . 


Mar. 12, 1835 . 


D. & J. M. Hopkins. 


59 


51 


n 111 pt . . . 


Mar. 12, 1835. 


T. N. Hopkins. 


5Q 


100 


w pt 


Oct. I. 1838.. . 


Simeon Cummings. 


60 


100 


e pt 


June 20, 1837. 


William Thomas. 


60 


100 


m pt 


Dec 28, 1837. . 


Nehemiah Hopkins. 


60 


172 


w pt 


July 18, 1839.. 


P. C. Sherman. 


61 


394 




Sept. 15, 1842. 


Lansing Tooker. 


62 


100 


c pt 


Oct. I, 1838 .. 


Simeon Cummings. 


62 


lOS 


Ill pt 


Jan. 12, 1839.. 


F. B. Marvin. 


62 


184 


w pt 


July 18, 1839.. 


P . C . Sherman . 


63 


209 


■M^t 


July 18, 1839.. 


P . C . Sherman . 


6^. 


2uO 


n pt 


fan. 12, 1839. • 


Fred. B. Marvin. 


64 


412 


e pt 


luly 18, 1839.. 


P . C . Sherman . 


64 


50 


\v pt 


June 27, 1857. 


Michael Shea. 



7^4 RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDINIA. 

EARLY REMINLSCEXCES OF SARDINIA, AS RELATED BV THE 
LATE GENERAL NOTT, AND GIVEX THE COMPILER BV 
MR. S. H. NOTT, A S)N, TOGETHER WITH HIS OWX RE- 
COLLECTIONS OF THOSE TIMES. 

n the Spring of 1809, the Holland Land company engaged 
Uncle Sumner Warren to open a wagon road from the Eastern 
limits of the town, beginning on lot three and extending six 
miles west, to lot sixty. The survey had been previously made 
and marked by blazing the trees along the route. This road 
was afterward called "The old Genesee Road," and Uncle's 
duty was to cut the timber and clear it off wide enough to 
allow a wagon to safely pass along without hindrance from 
these obstacles, and no grading was done. 

Early in June, 1809, Uncle began his work with a part}- of 
four to assist him . The party consisted of Sumner Warren, 
Jabez Warren, Asa Warren and myself. Our headquarters 
were at Aurora, and Monday morning we left that little ham- 
let armed with axes, handspikes and sufificient provisions to 
sustain us two weeks. Our tools and commissary were stowed 
into a cart improvised out of the forward wheels of a wagon. 
Bread and baked pork and beans were to be chiefly our daily 
rations, while our shelter was to be improvised wherever night 
overtook us. 

All being in readiness, Uncle's oxen were hitched to the 
cart and we took our way southward ; after the first two miles 
we were compelled to cut our way through an unbroken wil- 
derness. Uncle would act as pilot ; two of us would handle 
the axes, while the other would fetch up the rear with the o.xen 
and cart . This would appear to man\- now-a-da)s as almost 
an impossibilit}', to undertake to cut their wa\' through the 
forests, yet we did and made nearly twelve miles the first day, 
camping out that night on lot forty-seven, in the Town of Sar- 
dinia, now owned by J. D. Carney, better known as the Cap- 
tain Bigelow place. We pitched our tents, the blue heavens 
o'er us, and built our camp-fire right where the orchard now 
stands, and this was nearly three-quarters of a century ago. 
We made our beds upon the ground and passed a very comfort- 
able night, for our exertions that day had given us all a keen 



RECOI.LKCTIONS oF SARDINIA. 785 

relish for rest. The iie.xt morning-, all were up with the sun, 
and after a hearty breakfast of bread, pork and beans, we broke 
camp and proceeded on our way. About eleven o'clock that 
day, we struck the line survey one mile west of Cole^rove's cor- 
ners ; there we remained that day, doing our first work. The 
ne.xt morning, we supplied ourselves with two days' rations, 
and set out for the east end of the line, with the intent of work- 
ing westward . 

At that day and time of year, we found camp life very agree- 
able. The woods abounded in game and the little streams 
were filled with the most delicious of all the finn\- tribe — the 
speckled trout. The game law was unknown, and wc were 
not always compelled to confine ourselves to prepared rations. 
We progressed nicely with our work, and the following Sab- 
bath was ob.served as a day of rest ; although that night one 
of the boys caught a splendid string of trout out of the little 
brook that runs across lot three, and we enjoyed them for din- 
ner. 

On the second Saturday out we all returned to Aurora, to re- 
plenish our stock of provisions, which was getting rather low. 
The following Monday, all returned with the exception of my- 
self. I was taken down with the mumps and tarried at home 
until the next Saturday, when I started back for the camp 
with fifty pounds of provisions across one shoulder and a six- 
teen-pound rifle across the other. I had no difificult}' to find 
the camp of the party, but it was unoccupied, and where the 
boys had gone I did not know. In looking around 1 found a 
piece of birch bark, that had this written across the smooth 
surface with a sharpened stick : " Stay here until we return." 
I had made up my mind to do as bidden, for I was somewhat 
tired, having' traveled nearly twenty miles. 

In stepping to the cart my eyes fell upon another piece of 
bark with this legend written upon it : " Follow the trail west 
until you overtake us." I heeded this and came upon them 
just as they had got ready for supper. After doing this meal 
ample justice, and being informed that there was a "deer-lick" 
on the little brook just west of us, I again shouldered my rifle 
and set out for it; I found that the Indians had constructed a 
" bough house " or blind, where the hunter could watch the 
31 



786 RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDINIA. 

" lick " and himself not be seen. I took possession, but my 
vigil was short and richly rewarded, for just as the sun was 
sinking beneath the western horizon I shot the largest buck I 
ever saw. It was but a short distance from the camp, and the 
report of my rifle brought the rest of my companions to the 
rescue, and we had that " monarch of the forest " dressed and 
in camp. The next day (Sunday) was spent in "jerking" the 
venison, which, happily for us all, would be a change from salt 
pork. That day we had a venison pot-pie for dinner. At that 
day this kind of game was so abundant and tame in the forests- 
that often they would come and feed with our oxen when 
turned loose for rest and food at noon time. 

Our camp cooking utensils consisted of one bake kettle, one 
tea kettle that was used for a two-fold purpose, that of boiling 
water and then brewing the tea, and a skillet or frying pan. 
Each one was supplied \\'ith a tin cup and plate and knife 
and fork. There was no washing dishes, for each one took 
care of his own. The following day (Monday) we finished the 
job, and then we turned back to where we had made our claims. 
On the 27th day of June, 1809, at about 11 o'clock A. M., on 
lot nineteen, near the road just south of the house of Newell 
Hosmer, I made my first brush heap, and on the same day 
Uncle Sumner and the boys, after partaking of dinner, went 
east to Rice's Corners, near the brook, and went to chopping 
on his claim. 

INCIDENTS IN THE WAR OF l8l2. 
Father was often called to the " lines," as he termed it. '\ith- 
out a moment's' warning. Like Cincinnatus of old, he would 
leave the plow standing in the furrow, or the crops of hay and 
grain would be left suffering for the Avant of a gleaner. Just 
east of the barn there grew six acres of winter wheat, ripe for 
the sickle. Upon three successive Saturdays had father come 
home to care for those who looked to him for protection, and 
to secure the crop tiiat was to bread them through the long, 
bleak winter, and as many Sabbaths had he been called back to 
the field of duty. Even in those early days the Sabbaths were 
observed with Puritan strictness. Religious meetings were held 
in the log school house, or, weather permitting, in the woods 



RECOLLECTIONS OF SARI)IXL\. 787 

just below where the Baptist church now stands. Two ser- 
mons each Sabbath were customary, one in the morning and 
the other in the afternoon Upon one occasion mother says, 
" after the morning sermon she saw all the people wending their 
way homeward, and she concluded that the preacher was sick. 
Awhile after she, having occasion to go to the door, was greatly 
surprised to see the meeting folks reaping the wheat. Soon 
one of the reapers visited the house for water, and she re- 
quested him to return after performing his intended mission. 
In the meantime she secured the fatling of the flock, and when 
he presented himself she enjoined secresy and bade him dress 
it. This was quickly done, and by the time he had the lamb 
prepared she had the old stone o\'en ready to give it a warm 
reception. About the time the reapers were gathering the last 
sheaves mother visited the field 10 thank the men for their 
kindness, and she also requested them to come to the house 
as she had a little work to do that required united strength. 
This they cheerfully promised. After assembling at the house 
mother came to the door and requested them to step just back 
of the house. Some seized hand-spikes, while others levied 
upon the wood pile for instruments for assistance, and then 
went bounding around the corner of the old log house. Imag- 
ine their surprise, for instead of some ugly knotted log, mother 
had fixed a table beneath some trees, and had as bountiful a 
spread of goodies as the land afforded, with the fat lamb in the 
center done beautifull}* brown. The cheers from those honest- 
hearted men fairly made the dishes on the table tremble as they 
gathered around the board. This little incident in after )-ears 
Avas the connecting link in procuring my venerable mother her 
pension." 

On page two hundred and eighty one, of Mr. Johnson's 
history, will be found a reference to the battle of Conjockety 
Creek. As I have often heard my father relate the scenes 
there, I will give them as he related them one night, while we 
were boiling sap or making sugar. " In the afternoon we dis- 
covered the British coming over to Squaw Island. We antici- 
pated their movements, and that afternoon we took up all the 
planks (we suppose meaning planks of bridge) and brought 
them on this side, cut oak timber and hewed it on two sides, 



788 RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDINIA. 

then built breast works in front of the string pieces (meaning, 
we presume, that the fort was built in front of the bridge, that 
they had stripped of planks, and that the fortifications were to 
prevent the British from crossing the creek, which the}- had to 
do to lay siege to the village — Ed.) higher than our heads. 
Turned a wing on each side of the bank of the creek about 
breast high. Loop holes were cut that would just admit the 
muzzle of a gun, ranging with the stringers, and we could also 
bring a cross fire from the wings. After dark our spies dis- 
covered the British landing down the ri\'er. Morgan's men 
were stationed at the breast works ; I, with my men, about one 
hundred — fifty or sixty rods below — guarding the road, we w^ere 
in the woods just back from the road. About lo o'clock firing 
commenced : could hear the British officer say : ' rush on my 
brave boys ; ' could hear one after another tumble into the 
water. They imagined they were firing too low, order was 
given to elevate their guns. Soon the bullets went whizzing 
through the limbs over our heads, they would cut off quite 
large limbs. At about ii o'clock. Green, the Yorktown hero, 
as he was called, stood by my side with his drum. A stray 
buckshot struck me here (pointing to the place where he was 
wounded) father carried that shot to his grave, at the same 
time another struck the lower hoop of Green's drum, cutting 
it nearly in two, and badly shattering the shell. Green was a 
volunteer, although he had been in the regular service during 
the Revolution, and played upon this drum at the surrender of 
Cornvvallis at Yorktown. (This drum came into my possession 
nearly fifty years ago, and I have it now just as it came out of 
that battle). About 3 o'clock I- received orders to go to Mor- 
gan's relief, soon after we got in position the firing ceased. No 
negroes were ever blacker than Morgan's men, with the burnt 
powder, as we discovered when daylight came. The famous 
drummers, the Streeter brothers, John, Tom and Elia?, were 
with Morgan during the battle. Between Elias and Morgan 
there had been some misunderstanding. After passing that 
night Elias stepped up to Morgan, raised his hat with his left 
hand as he grasped Morgan with his right, giving it a hearty 
shake, saying with much feeling, ' the old sore is all healed 
now.' The next morning our breast works were found to be 



RECOLLKCTIOXS OF SARDINIA. 789 

one mass of lead. The trees back of the battery were all 
seared and cut up by the balls. The night was exceedingly 
dark." 

A FOURTH OF JULY PARTY IX 1811. 

THE FIRST OXF I\ SARDINIA OR THE ORKJIXAF TOWX OF 
COXCORD, AT RICHMOND'S — GOIX(; WITH OXFX AND 
SLEDS — AXOTHER FOURTH OF JULY I'ARl'V SEVENTY 
YEARS LATER. 

The Richmond famiK- and the Richmond farm and tax'ern 
were well known to the settlers hereabouts, but many changes 
have taken place and some explanations are necessary. The 
Richmond famih' came here from Vermont in 1809, and located 
on lots twenty-nine and thirty, township six, range six, which 
lots are bounded south by the Cattaraugus creek. Their house 
was built of logs and stood down near the creek, and as there 
were no saw-mills in this region in 1809, it consequently was 
built without lumber. The roof was of bark, and the floor was 
split oat of basswood logs and hewed and fitted down. The 
old Richmond place is now in the southwest corner of the 
town of Sardinia. In 181 1 it was in the town of Willink and 
in Niagara county. At that time there were about fifteen fam- 
ilies in the present town of Sardinia, located mostly along the 
Cattaraugus creek, and on or near the Genesee road, east of 
Colgrove's Corners. At that time in the present town of Con- 
cord there were about twenty families, located mosth' along 
the Cattaraugus, on Townscnd hill, and in Springville. The 
number either on the Cattaraugus or on Townsend hill was 
greater at that time than it was in the present village corpora- 
tion. In the present town of Collins there were then about 
fifteen families and they were located mostly at or near Collins 
Center, in Zoar, Gowanda, and Taylor Hollow. 

A majority of the early settlers were young married people 
whose children were few and young, but in the Richmond 
family there were grown up sons and daughters. The father's 
name w^as George, and he was about forty-five years of age. 
The oldest child Frederick was twenty-three or twenty-four 
years old — then there was Anna, Betsey, George, Jr., Louisa 
and Sallv. 



790 RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDINIA. 

In 1811 the few roads here were cut out only wide enough 
for teams to pass through, and they generally wound hither 
and thither wherever they could get along most conveniently, 
without regard to lot lines or points of compass. All the 
settlers owned and used sleds, for they could make them, them- 
selves, and could get through the v/oods easier with them than 
with wagons. Only a few of the earliest settlers owned wagons. 
They came to this 4th of July party in 181 1, with oxen and 
sleds, some of them came at least ten miles. On the 4th of 
July, 181 1, Fiddler's Green was unknown to fame and unnamed. 
There were no fiddlers here then, and no green — that was be- 
fore the event of the boss fiddler, David Leroy. David Ben- 
sley, Truman Bensley and Mortimer Arnold had not yet ar- 
rived. Tom Jennings, the fiddling shoemaker, had not yet put 
in appearance. On the 4th of July, 1811, there was not a grist 
mill, nor a saw mill, nor a store, nor a grocery, nor a school- 
house, nor a meeting house, nor a lawyer, nor a doctor, nor a 
preacher, nor a post-of^ce, nor a mail route, nor a newspaper 
taken in the four towns whereof we write. There was only one 
paper published west of the Genesee river, and that was a small 
sheet at Batavia. 

At that 4th of July party in 181 1, there were present besides 
the Richmond family, Morton Crosby and wife, Christopher 
Douglass and wife, David Shultes and wife, Bethuel Bishop 
and wife, John Godding and wife, James Hinman, Sr., and 
wife, Elijah Parmenter and wife, Giles Briggs and wife, John 
Johnson and wife (from Arcade), Luther Thompson and wife, 
Nehemiah Rodgers and wife, Capt. Charles Wells (his family 
was not here), George Shultus, unmarried, William Shultus, 
young bachelor, Dennis Riley, young bachelor, two other mar- 
ried couples from a distance, names not remembered, John 
Wilcox, a large boy or young man, and Miss Lovina Johnson. 
The fiddler on that occasion was John Haskell, a brother of 
Jonathan Townsend's first wife. He had arrived from Massa- 
chusetts that Spring and was rusticating on Townsend Hill. 
John was patriotic and liberal, and held himself in readiness at 
all times when called upon, to " lay down the shovel and de hoe, 
and take up the fiddle and de bow," and go and play for a 4th 
of Jul)- part}' for a moderate compensation. '" '^' ''■' 



RECOLLECTIONS OF SARUINLA. 79I 

Some may feel disposed to doubt whether all the persons 
named above would attend a 4th of July dance, but the fact 
that they were there is obtained from an eye witness, and 
while it is not claimed that they all danced, yet under the cir- 
cumstances it was the most natural and reasonable thint^ in the 
world for them to wish to assemble together on tiiat national 
holiday and visit and have a good social time. Some of them 
lived miles away from any neighbors, in the lonely forest where 
for days, and perhaps weeks they saw no persons except mem- 
bers of their own household. And there were then no religious 
meetings, and no political meetings and no public gathering 
of any kind, except log raising, and no newspapers to read. 

Let us in imagination move back the hands of time just 
seventy years, and remand the countr)- and the people here,, 
back to their then condition. We are supposed to be young 
men and stopping here. The morning of the 4th of July, 181 1, 
has come. We have heard of the party down at Richmond's 
and have concluded to attend. We have no horses and we 
start on foot, through the woods, up the East Hill and on to 
where Harrison Pingry now lives ; there is the first house and 
James Hinman lives there His wife is ready and he is hitch- 
ing up his cattle to go. We pass on through the forest and the 
next house we come to is Bethuel Bishop's, located on the top 
of the "breakers" where a few apple trees still stand, halfway 
between the railroad and the wagon road, (railroads have not 
been invented yet, but all the roads hereabouts are narrow- 
gauge). Mr. Bishop and his wife are going to walk down. We 
pass down the breakers, down the hill, out onto the flats, and 
then near the banks of the " raging Cattaraugus," we arrive at 
Richmond's house and tavern. Capt. Charles Wells lives next 
east of Richmond's, John Godding on the next lot east of him, 
and Commodore Rogers on the next lot further east. They 
live near by and all walked down. John Johnson comes down 
from Arcade with his oxen ; Giles Briggs from Rice's Corners, 
in the east part of Sardinia, and another couple living further 
east came down with their steers and sled ; David Shultus and 
Christopher Douglass came up from near the Shultus bridge 
(that is to be); Elijah Parmenter comes up seven miles from 



792 RFXOLLECTIONS OF SARDINIA. 

down towards Frye's ; Morton Crosby comes down from his 
place a mile or two above. Some of them were acquainted with 
each other " down east " and they meet each other with cordial 
and heart-felt greetings. 

About 4 o'clock P. M., they form on for a dance. The}' do 
not dance round dances, but form in lines and " face their 
partners." They do not dance the Spanish dance, nor the 
Maznrka, nor the Schottische, nor the Zingarilla, nor any other 
of those dances with jaw-breaking names, but they dance those 
good old-fashioned down-country figures, such as the Monnie 
Musk, Opera Reel, Crooked S, &c. They have no "calling," 
but " dance to the music." John Haskell has tuned up his 
fiddle and " rosined the bow." All is ready and the Opera Reel 
is the dance — the music strikes ?// and they strike /;/, the first 
couple pass down the outside and back again, then join hands 
and lead the center and back again, cast off next couple and 
right and left first four, first couple balance and swing partners. 
The first couple is Geo. Richmond, Sen. and wife ; he is older 
than the others but dances well. That couple that comes to 
the head is Morton Crosby and wife ; he is a strong and pow- 
erful man but dances well. Now comes to the head George 
Shultus ; he is tall and slini and not as heavy as the others, but 
dances prett\' well. Now look at that couple see how lightly 
they move, how supple they are, that is young Dennis Riley 
and his partner is Anna Richmond ; Dennis is as limber as an 
eel and Anna dances as nice as any ''school marm." Now look, 
see, that small, nervous man that comes to the front now, is 
Christopher Douglas ; watch him, he is excited, see him shave 
it down, see him put in the double-shuffle. Look at those two 
large boys, or young men over there ; see them watch the 
dancers ; see how eager they look, and how anxious to have a 
hand (or foot) in the dance. One of them is George Rich- 
mond, Jr,, (not 0//?- George, but his father), and the other one is 
John Wilcox. That small, eleven-year-old bo}- is Pearl Crosby, 
and that little nine-year-old girl is Lucy Crosb\-, and mentally 
she is taking notes, and they will be printed seventy years 
afterwards. Over yonder sits Capt. Charles Wells, Mr. Hin- 
man, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Parmenter and others, and converse of 
the past and the prospects of the future. And thus while some 



RFXOLLECTIONS OF SARDIXFA. 793 

of them dance, others converse and visit, and <^// stay and enjoy 
themselves till " daylight doth appear." All of that goodly 
company that attended that Fourth of July party that Rich- 
mond had in i8ii, have undoubtedly passed away, except the 
two children mentioned above. Most of them lived and died 
in this vicinity. Some of them were afterwards promoted to 
responsible positions. 

John Haskell, the pioneer fiddler of those parts, afterwards 
lived in Collins a few years and from there went west where he 
died. Dennis Riley was a Captain and served on the Niagara 
frontier in the war of 1812-15 ; he moved away after a few 
years. Morton Crosby served in that war, and afterwards held 
the office of Justice of the Peace and Supervisor. Frederick 
Richmond served in that war, was an officer, and was wounded, 
afterwards was a Justice of the Peace, Supervisor and Brigadier- 
General. Christopher Douglas was the first Justice of the 
Peace hereabouts, and was side Judge and sat on the bench 
when the " three Thayers" were tried for murder in Buffalo in 
1825; he moved west nearly fifty years ago; twenty-three 
years ago he was farming and keeping hotel in Wisconsin. 

Seventy years after there was another Fourth of July party 
in Sardinia. 

First. This last party was not held at the house of George 
Richmond on the Cattaraugus creek, but at the house of 
George Andrews in Sardinia village. 

Second. The first dance was in the lower and only story of a 
lo'T-house with puncheon floor and bark roof. The last dance 
was in the third story of a framed house with matched pine 
floor and Mansard roof. 

Third. They went to the first party through the forest, on 
foot or on ox sleds. They went to the last party in buggies, 
carriages and railroad cars. 

Fourth. The musicians at the first party was oncX^zw Yankee, 
sitting in the corner by the big Dutch fire-place. At the last 
party there were six Germans, both fat and lean, sitting in a 
row on the elevated platform. 

Fifth. At the first party the music was made with a single 



794 soldiers' record. 

fiddle. At the last party they had first fiddle, second fiddle, 
cornet, clarionet, trombone and bass viol. 

Sixth. At the first party only eight or ten couples could 
dance at a time, and only a dozen couples did dance at all. 
At the last party ten times that number could dance at a time, 
and more than two hundred and twenty-five c/zV/ dance in all. 

Seventh. At the first part}- the attendants were mostly 
youngerly married people. At the last part}' the}' were mostly 
young and unmarried. 

Eighth. At the first part} they danced old-fashioned dances 
only, without calling. At the last party they had calling and 
danced old-fashioned figures, quadrilles, fancy dances, etc. 

Ninth. The bill of fare at the first party has not come down 
to us, and of that we are not prepared to speak. But at the 
last party the refreshments were excellent and abundant; and 
were prepared and served in a proper and satisfactory manner. 

Tenth. Seventy years hence there will undoubtedly again be 
a Fourth of July party in Sardinia, but at whose house it will 
be, or who will make the music, or who w ill participate in the 
dance, or who will be there to report, this deponent sayeth not. 

SARDINIA SOLDIERS' RECORD. 

When disunion threatened the supremacy of the "old flag," 

'• Flag of the free hearts, hope and liome. 
By angel hands to valor given" — 

Sardinia sent out a goodly number of her sons to protect the 
welfare of the nation. She was represented in twenty-eight 
different regiments, although over one-third (33) of her soldiers 
were in Companies C, F and D, of the i i6th New York Volun- 
teers, The service which this regiment performed is perhaps 
sufficiently familiar to the reader to need no relating here. 

Many other regiments in which Sardinia was represented 
also took an active part in the Rebellion. 

The following list was compiled from a record in the Town 
Clerk's office, prepared in 1865, for the bureau of military 
record : 



soldiers' record. 795 

Note. — A star placed opposite a name indicates death in the service, and the person's name 
will be fo.nd at the ilose in a list of the dead. 

Andrews, Judson, i i6th N. Y. V., Co. C. 

Baker, Joshua, Serg't, i loth N. V. V., Co. F. 

Baker, Amander, 8th N. Y. Cav. 

Baker, RusselL 5th N. Y. V. 

Baker, David, drummer, i6oth N. Y. V. 

*Beasor, Peter, 21st N. Y. V. 

*Bond, Harrison, i i6th N. Y. V., Co. F. 

Clark, Edwin, loth N. Y. Cav. 

Case, John, 140th N. Y. V. 

Crocker, Thomas B., 44th N. Y. V., Co. H. 

Champiin, James H., Cor., 44th N. Y. V., Co. H. 

Clair, Conrad, ii6th N. Y. V., Co. C. 

*Childs, Henry, 94th N. Y. Inf. 

"Crosby, Morton, 24th N. Y. Battery. 

■"Crosby, David, ii6th N. Y. V., Co.F. 

Davis, Byron, i i6th N. Y. V., Co. F. 

Davis, LeRoy \V., ii6th N. Y. V. 

Davis, Cyrus, 9th N. Y. Cav. 

Davis, , 

Eddy, William, 14th N. Y. Heavy Artillery. 

Eddy, Veloral, Cor., 44th N. Y. V. 

Eddy, A. C, 44th N. Y. V. 

Eddengton, Charles, ii6th N. Y. V., Co. C. 

Ellis, Richard, 

Freeman, Samuel, 78th N. Y. V. 
Furman Silas, 169th Pa. Inf., Co. C. 
*Furman, Ebenezer, ii6th N. Y. V., Co. C. 
Fuller, James D., i i6th N. Y. V., Co, C. 
Goodspeed, George C. 

Gill, Wallace, Serg't., 44th N. Y. V., Co. H. 
*Gill, Carlton. 90th N. Y. Inf. 
Guyger, Ignots, ii6th N. Y. V., Co. I. 
Hopkins, Emory C, ii6th N. Y. V., Co. F. 
Hooker, Charles, i i6th N. Y. V., Co. F. 
Hover. Jonathan, i88th N. Y. V. 
James, Edwin, ii6th N. Y. V., Co. C. 
Joslyn, Frederick, ii6th N. Y. V., Co. C. 



796 soldiers" record. 

Joslyn, Willis VV.. 104th N. V. V.. Co. C. 

*Judd, George H., 4th N. V. V. 

Kingsle)-. Jacob, 78th N. Y. V. 

King, Philemon, ii6th N. Y. V., Co, F. 

King, Chauncey, icoth N. Y. V., Co. A. 

Nichols, Ira, ii6th N. Y. V., Co. F. 

*Newton, Charles E.. 105th N. Y. V. 

Nichols, Reuben, "Scott's 900th'" Cav. 

Orr, George W., musician, 44th N. Y. V., Co. H. 

Owens, David, ii6th N. Y. V., Co. C. 

Pingrey, Edwin R., Ii6th N. Y. V., Co. C. 

Pingrey, Robert H., ii6th N. Y. V., Co. F. 

Pollitt, William, ii6th N. Y. V., Co. I. 

Reynolds, Madison, Ser. ii6th N. Y. V., Co. F. 

-"Rogers, Harry, 11 6th N.Y.V.,Co.F. 

Runyan, Elbert, 11 6th N.Y.V., Co.F\ 

Stokes, James N., 185th N.Y.V., Co.H. 

Stokes, Chauncey G., 187th N.Y.V., Co.E. 

'-^Shultes, Stephen D., 54th N.Y Cav. 

Sillenay James, 1 1 6th N.Y.V., Co.C. 

Starkweather, Wallace, looth N.Y.V., Co. A. 

Thomas, C. H., 5th N.Y.V. Cav. 

*Thomas, Santford, 11 6th N.Y.V., Co. I. 

Thomas, Andrew J., i i6th N. Y. V., Co. F. 

Titus, Thomas J., 78th N. Y V., Co. G. 

Van Slyke, "William, Lieut. 11 6th N. Y. V., Co.C. 

Wilkes, Abram, 121st N. Y. V. 

Wiser, John, ii6th N. Y. V., Co. C. 

White, Dennis, i i6th N. Y. V., Co. C. 

Wilber, Ebcnezer, 72d N. Y.V. 

Wilber, Clark, looth N. Y. V. 

Weatherlow, John, 28th N.Y.V., Co. I. 

White, Theodore, looth N.Y.V., Co. A. 

Weatherlow, John F., 28th N. Y. V., Co. P\ 

Zimmer, Peter, i 15th N. Y. V., Co. C. 



SOLDIKKS KKCOKI) — ISAl'lIST ClirKCII. 797 

LIST OF 'riiosr: who \\va<k kii.i.kd or dtkd in thk skrnick 

Beasor, Peter, died in Sardinia, March 20, I S64. 

Bond Harrison, died in hospital near Port Hudson, La. 

Childs, Henr\-, killed Dec. I3tli, 1862, at l^attleof Fredericks- 
burg^. 

Crosby, Morton, died of starvation in .\nderson\ille prison, 
July 14, 1864. 

Crosby, David, died at Chicago, 111., July 10, 1864. 

Firman, Ebenezer, died at F^ortress Monroe, Va., Dec. 4, 
1862. 

Gill, Carlton, killed Oct. 19, 1864, at the Battle of Cedar 
Creek. 

Judd, Cieorge H., died in Virginia, April 9, 1865. 

Newton, Charles E., killed Aug. 30, 1862. 

Rogers, Harry, died in Sardinia. Nov. 5, 1863. 

Shultes. Stephen D., died at Macon, Ga., April 3, 1863. 

Thomas, Santford, killed at Battle of W'hite Stone Plains, 
La. 

FIRST HAI'TIST CHURCH OF SARDINIA. 

The society was organized March I, 1820, with twenty con- 
stituent members. Meetings were held at different places 
until 1829, when the present church edifice was built ; it was 
dedicated Jan. 27, 1830; Rev. Elisha Tucker preached the 
dedicatory sermon. 

Stukley Hudson and Henr}- Bowen were tlie first deacons of 
the society. 

Revs. C)'rus Andrews, Mr. Blake and Thomas Baker preaclied 
to the church until an engagement with regular pastors, as fol- 
lows : 

Whitman Metcalf, from 1825 to '33 ; Alfred Hand)- '33 to 
'36; Anson Tucker, '36 to '^y ; Whitman Metcalf, '38 to '41 ; 
Elbert W. Clarke, '41 to '45 ; Walter W. Brooks, '46 to 49; 
R. P. Lamb, '50 to '53 ; O. J. Sprague, '53 to '55 : Ebenezer J. 
Scott, '55 to 57; Walter G. Dye, '58 to '62; Clinton Colgrove, 
'62 to '65 ; Joy Huntington, '65 to '67; E. L. Bejiedict, '68 to 
'69; A. S. Kneeland, '70 to '74; D. Morse, '75 to '76; J. S. 
Everingham, '76 to 78; E. C. Piamilton, '79 to '80 ; S. M. 
Wheeler, '80 to '81 ; E. Burroughs, '81 to '83. 



798 BENEFICIARY SOCIETIES. 

BENEFICIARY ORDERS. 

Sardinia has two beneficiary secret orders, as follows : 
A. O. U. W., SARDINIA LODGE, NO. 238. 

Organized May 10, 1879, with about twenty-five charter 
members. The original officers were : 

J. A McPhee, P. M. W.; M. A. Hopkins, M. W.; E. A. 
Newton, G. F.; Clark Crosby, O.; Seward Sears, Recorder; D. 
C. Williams, Fin.; Eugene Long, Receiver; W. Prester, G.; G. 
E. Wood, I. W.; R. D. House, O. W. 

Present membership, twenty-seven. 

E. A. U., SARDINIA UNION, NO. 42. 

Instituted Jan. 20, 1880, with twenty-five charter members. 
The original officers were : 

S. D. Kingsley, President ; George W. Strong, Vice-Presi- 
dent ; M. W. Lankton, Sec: Russell Wells, Acct.; A. J. Adams^ 
Chan.; George P. Martin, Advocate; A. D. Dennison, Aux.; 
O. P. Goodspeed, Treas.. Melvin Eastland, Chap.; W. B. An- 
drews, Warden ; Samuel Lord, Sen.; Morris Goodrich, Watch- 
man ;^Thomas Andrews, Conductor; Newel Osmar, Asst. Con- 
ductor. 

Present membership, 106. 

SARDINIA. 

LIST OF PERSONS WHO HAVE HELD TOWN OFFICE FROM THE 

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN IN 1 82 1 UP 

TO THE PRESENT. 

182I. 
Supervisor — Elihu Rice. 
Town Clerk — Daniel Needham . 

Assessors — Daniel Hall, John M, Adams, Morton Crosby. 
Highway Commissioners — Giles Briggs, Benjamin Sanders, 
Horace Rider. 

Collector — Oliver Wilcox. 

1822. 

Supervisor — Benoni Tuttle. 
Town Clerk — Ezra Nott. 



'lOWN OKMCKKS. . 799 

Assessors — Morton Crosb\', Willis W. Cornwall, Benjamin 
Sanders. 

High\va\' Commissioners — J. Lock, Horace Rider, David 
Bigelow. 

Collector — Jonathan Cot)k. 

1823. 

Super\Msor — Morton Crosby. 

Town Clerk — Bela H. Coli^rovc. 

Assessors — Daniel Hall, Frederick Richmond, Josiah Good- 
rich. 

Hii^hway Commissioners — Andrew VV. Shedd, Samuel Searles, 
Benoni Hudson, Jr. 

Collector — Jonathan Cook. 

1 824. 

Supervisor — Horace Clark. 

Town Clerk — Daniel Needham. 

Assessors — Daniel Hall, Willis W. Cornwall, Thomas N. Hop- 
kins. 

Commissioners of Highways — Ezra .Smith, Reuben Rider, 
Richard Smith. 

Collector — Jonathan Cook. 

1825. 
Supervisor— Bela H. Colgrove. 
Town Clerk — Horace Clark. 

Assessors — Daniel Hall, Dudley Clark, Thomas Hopkins. 
Commissioners of Highways — Stephen Wait, David Bige- 
low, Jabez Wecden. 

Collector — Jonathan Cook. 

1826. 

Supervisor — Horace Clark. 

Town Clerk — Daniel Needham. 

Assessors — Benjamin Sanders, Frederick Richmond, Daniel 
Hall. 

Commissioners of Highways — Flint T. Keith, Stephen Waite, 
Reuben Rider. 

Collector — Jonathan Cook. 



800 TOWN OFFICERS. 

1827. 

Supervisor — Horace Clark. 
Town Clerk — Daniel Needham. 

Assessors — Daniel Hall, Lemuel Leland, Benjamin Sanders. 
Commissioners of Highways — Frederick Richmond, Flint T. 
Keith. 

Collector — Jonathan Cook. 

1828. 

Supervisor — Horace Clark. 
Town Clerk — Daniel Needham. 

Assessors — Lemuel Leland, Daniel Hall, Benjamin Saunders. 
Commissioners of Highways — Edward Cram, Reuben Rider, 
George S. Collins. 

Collector — Jonathan Cook. 

1829. 
Supervisor — Horace Clark. 
Town Clerk — Daniel Needham. 

Assessors — Daniel Hall, Lemuel Leland, Benjamin Sanders. 
Commissioners of Highways — Chauncey Pond, George Col- 
lins, Suel Butler. 

Collector — Jonathan Cook. 

1830. 

Supervisor — Horace Clark. 
Town Clerk — Daniel Needham. 
Justice of the Peace — Benjamin Sanders. 

Assessors — Benjamin Sanders, Daniel Hall, Lemuel Leland. 
Commissioners of Highways — Samuel Butler, George S. Col- 
lins, Robert Hopkins. 

Collector — Jonathan Cook. 

1831. 

Supervisor — George S. Collins. 

Town Clerk — Henry Bowen. 

Justice of the Peace — Frederick Richmond. 

Assessors — Daniel Hall, Benjamin Sanders, Lemuel Leland. 



TOWN OFIICKKS. 8oi 

Commissioners of Ilii4li\vays — Klias Rodgcrs, Alba Briggs, 
Robert Hopkins. 

Collector- Duty Hudson. 

1832. 

Super\isor — George S. Collins. 

Town Clerk — Henr)' Bowen. 

Assessors — Jonathan Cook, Benjamin B. Jewett, Fred Rich- 
mond. 

Commissioners of Highways — Stephen Wait, Alba Carpen- 
ter, Ezra Rodgers. 

Justice of the Peace — Horace Clark. 

Collector — Ezekiel Ballard. 

1833- 
Supervisor — Henry Bowen. 
Town Clerk — George S. Collins. 
Justice of the Peace — Thomas Collins. 
Assessors — Jonathan Cook, Suel Butler, Mathew R. Olin. 
Commissioners of Highways — Benoni Hudson, Reuben 
Rider, Clark Nichols. 

Collector — Ezekiel Ballard. 

1834. 

Supervisor — Henry Bowen. 
Town Clerk — George S. Collins. 
Justice of the Peace — Benjamin Sanders. 
Assessors — Jonathan Cook, Mathew R. Olin, Suel Butler. 
Commissioners of Highways — Reuben Rider, Benoni Hud- 
son, Clark Nichols. 

Collector— Ezekiel Ballard. 

1835- 
Supervisor — Henry Bowen. 
Town Clerk — George S. Collins. 

Justices of the Peace (to fill vacancy) — Daniel Stickney, Jr., 
Orrin Lewis. 

Assessors — Suel Butler, Mathew R. Olin, Philip Miricle. 



802 TOWN OFFICERS. 

Commissioners of Highwaj-s— Daniel Hall, Clark Nicho Is 
Reuben Rider. 

Collector — James Cohvell. 

1836. 

Supervisor — Mathew R. Olin. 
Town Clerk — George S. Collins. 

Justices of the Peace — David Stickney, Frederick Crary. 
Assessors — Suel Butler, Reuben Rider, Elias Rodgers. 
Commissioners of Highways — D.ivid Hall, John Wilson, 
John Howard. 

Collector — James Cohvell. 

1837. 

Supervisor — Mathew R. Olin. 
Town Clerk— -George S. Collins. 
Justice of the Peace — Thomas Collins. 
Assessors — Suel Butler, Elias Rogers, Reuben Rider. 
Commissioners of Highwa}-s — Henry Bowen, Z. VV. F"uller, 
John Howard. 

Collector — James Cohvell. 

1838. 

Supervisor — Elihu Rice. 
Town Clerk — Daniel P. Shedd. 

Assessors — Elias Rogers. Benjamin Sanders, Robert Hopkins. 
Commissioners of Highways — Horace Rider, William Pin- 
grey, George Decker. 

Collector — Alfred Briggs. 



'fc)t>' 



1839- 
Supervisor — George Bigelow. 
Town Clerk — Henry Bowen. 

Justices of the Peace — PVed Ci'ary, Elias Rogers. 
Assessors — David Hall, Andrew W. Shedd, Mathew R. Olin. 
Commissioners of Highways — John W. Forgles, John Wilson, 
George Richmond, Jr. 

Collector — Horace Bailey. 



TOWN OFFICERS. 805 

1 840. 

Supervisor — Bela H. Colgrove. 
Town Clerk — Zaccheus W. Fuller. 
Justice of the Peace — ^David Stickney. 

Assessors — Klihu Rice, Fred Richmond, Benjamin Saunders, 
Commissioners of Highways — Horace Rider, Seth Kings- 
ley, George Decker. 

Collector — Benjamin Johnson. 

1841. 
Supervisor — Bela H. Colgrove. 
Town Clerk — Z. W. Fuller. 
Justice of the Peace — Obediah J. Green. 

Assessors— Seth Pomeroy, Roswell Frisby, Fred Richmond. 
Commissioners of Highways — Horace Rider, George Decker,. 
Seth Kingsley. 

Collector — Benjamin Johnson. 

1842. 

Supervisor — Fred Richmond. 

Town Clerk — Z. W. Fuller. 

Justices of the Peace — David Stickney, Jr., to fill vacancy, 
Moses R. Wheeler. 

Assessors — Roswell Frisbee, Stephen Wait, Thomas Hopkins. 

Commissioners of Highways — Eli Long, Josiah Andrews 
Chancy C. Furman. 

Collector — Hiram Crosb)\ 

1843. 
Supervisor — George Bigelow. 
Town Clerk— Z. W. Fuller. 
Justice of the Peace — Fred Crary. 

Assessors — Daniel Hall, Mathew R. Olin, Dudley Hopkins. 
Commissioners of Highways — Joseph J. Hakes, Eli Long, 
Suel Butler. 

Collector — Hiram Crosby. 

1844. 
Supervisor — Fred Richmond. 
Town Clerk — A. C. Needham. 



804 TOWN OFFICERS. 

Justice of the Peace — A. C. Needham. 

Assessors — Roswell Frisbee, William Pingre)', Samuel 
Weatheiiow. 

Commissioners of High\\a}-s — J. J. Hakes, Charles Morse, 
Thomas Hopkins. 

Collector —Alfred Briggs. 

Town Superintendent of Common Schools —Reynolds Til- 
linghast. 

1845- 

Supervisor — -Bela H. Colgrove. 
Town Clerk — Joseph Candee. 
Justice of the Peace — O. J. Green. 

Assessors — Roswell Frisbee, Horace Rider, Robert Hopkins. 
Commissioners of Highways — Orson D. Simons, Charles 
Morse, Joseph J. Hakes. 

Collector — Nehcmiah Hopkins. 

Superintendent of Common Schools -R. Tillinghast. 

1846. 

Supervisor — B. H. Colgrove. 
Town Clerk — Joseph Candee. 
Justice of the Peace— Amasa Porter. 

Assessors — Nathan S. Parks, Robert Hopkins, Caleb Cutter. 
Commissioners of Highways— O. D. Simons, Anson D. Sib- 
ley, Joseph J. Hakes. 
Collector — Ira Briggs. 
Superintendent of Common Schools — R. Tillinghast. 

1847. 

Supervisor — Thomas Hopkins. 
Town Clerk — Joseph Candee. 

Justices of the Peace — To fill vacanc}', Alfred Briggs ; long 
term, Chauncey Pond. 

Assessors — Horace Rider, James Hopkins. 
Commissioner of Highways — Warren Andrews. 
Collector — Charles Long. 
Superintendent of Common Schools — Edwin Kingsley. 



'1()W\ OFFICKKS. 805 

1848. 

"Supervisor— Thomas Ho[)kins. 
Town Clerk— Joseph Candee. 

Justices of the Peace— H. Crosby, Benjamin Johnson. 
Assessors — N. S. Parks, James Hopkins. RHhu Rice. 
Hii^hway Commissioners — Anson 1). Sibley, Hiram Crosby, 
Stephen Carney. 

Collector — W'ilber Tillin^hast. 

1849. 
Supervisor — Joseph Candee. 
Town Clerk — Welcome Andrews. 
Justice of tile Peace —Roderick Simons. 
Assessor — -James Hopkins. 
Commissioner of Hit^hways — Hiram Crosby. 
Collector — N. Hopkins. 
Superintendent (^f Common Schools — none elected. 

1850. 

Supervisor — Henry Bowen. 
Town Clerk — Andrew J. Adams. 
Justice of the Peace — Seth Kingsley. 
Assessor — Elihu Rice (three years). 

Commissioner of Highways- -Stephen Carney (three years). 
Collector — Phineas Golden. 

Superintendent of Common Schools- -Alfred R. Bowen 
(two years). 

1851. 
Supervisor — Joseph Candee. 
Town Clerk — A. J. Adam.s. 
Justice of the Peace — O. J. Green. 
Assessor — Abram South. 

Commissioner of Highways — Philemon Pierce. 
Collector — Orson D. Simons. 
Superintendent of Common Schools — none elected. 

1852. 
Supervisor — Joseph Candee. 
Town Clerk — Clinton Col<rrove. 



8o6 TOWi\ OFFICERS. 

Justice of the Peace — Benjamin Johnson. 
Assessor — George Marsh. 
Commissioner of Highways — Hiram Crosby. 
Superintendent of Common Schools — Alfred Bovven. 
Collector — Phineas L. Golden. 

1853- 
Supervisor — Mitchel R. Loveland. 
Town Clerk — O. P. Goodspeed. 
Justice of the Peace — Roderick Simons. 
Assessor — Ira Cook. 

Commissioner of Highways — Royal Green. 
Collector — P. L. Golden. 
Superintendent of Common Schools — Cyrus Rice. 

1854. 
Supervisor — B. H. Colgrove. 
Town Clerk — Daniel K. Whitaker. 
Justice of the Peace — Amasa Porter, 
Assessor — Franklin W. Wheelock. 
Commissioner of Highways — Hazon Childs. 
Collector — Lewis Hall. 
Superintendent of Common Schools —none elected. 

1855. 

Supervisor — Seymour P. Hastings. 

Town Clerk — William W. Loveland. 

Justice — O. J. Green. 

Assessor — George Marsh. 

Commissioners of Highways — Hiram Crosby. 

Collector — O. D. Simons. 

Superintendant of Common Schools — J. F. Jackman. 

1856. 

Supervisor — M. R. Loveland. 

Town Clerk — Clinton Colgrove. 

Justice — Charles E. McCoy. 

Assessor — Alfred Briggs. 

Commissioner of Highways — A. D. Sibley. 

Collector — P. L. Golden. 



TOWN OFirCERS. 807 



1857. 

Supervisor — James Hopkins. 
Town Clerk — Reuben Andrews. 
Justice — Roderick Simons. 
Assessor — F. W. VVheelock. 
Commissioner of Highways — William Hall. 
Collector — Jonathan Cook. 

185S. 
Supervisor^James Hopkins. 
Town Clerk — Reuben Andrews. 
Justice of the Peace — Seth Kingsley. 
Assessor— B. Carne)'. 

Commissioner of Highways — Ethan Olin. 
Collector — Charles Rosier. 

1859. 

Supervisor — George Bigelow. 

Town Clerk— R. Andrews. 

Justice of the Peace — Stephen Shutts. 

Assessor — Warren Andrews. 

Commissioner of Highways — F. K. Davis. 

Collector — David Butler. 

i860. 

Supervisor — George Bigelow. 

Town Clerk — H. W. Simons. 

Justice of the Peace — Benjamin Johnson. 

Assessor — F. W'heelock. 

Commissioner of Highwa}'s — No election. 

Collector— George Andrews, 

1861. 

Supervisor — James Rider. 
Town Clerk — H. W. Simons. 
Justice of the Peace — S. Hobart. 
Assessor — WMlliam Hopkins. 
Commissioner of Highways — H. Bigelow. 
Collector — Madison Reynolds. 



8o8 TOWN OFFICERS. 

1862. 

Supervisor — James Rider. 
Town Clerk — Jacob Weatherlow. 
Justice of the Peace — Seth Kingsley. 
Assessor — W. B. Andrews. 
Commissioner of Highways — L. Briggs. 
Collector — Charles Spencer. 

1S63. 

Supervisor — Welcome Andrews. 

Town Clerk — J. H. Golden. 

Justice of the Peace — O. P. Goodspeed, 

Assessor — R. W. Vandusen. 

Commissioner of Highways — O. D. Simons. 

Collector — James B. Andrews. 

1864. 

Supervisor — W. Andrews. 
Town Clerk — J. W. Weatherlow. 
Justice of the Peace — John Reed. 
Assessor — William Hopkins. 
Commissioner of Highways — James Colwell. 
Collector — Addison Wheelock. 

1865. 
Supervisor — W. Andrews. 
Town Clerk — J. W. Weatherlow. 
Justice of the Peace — S. Hobart. 
Assessor — W. B. Andrews. 
Commissioner of Highways — E. H. Stickney. 
Collector — J. J. Colwell. 

1866. 

Supervisor — George Bigelow. • 

Town Clerk— J. W. Wetherlow. 
Justice of the Peace — S. D. Kingsley. 
Assessors — R. W. Vandusen. 
Commissioner of Highways — Alfred Rice. 
Collector — R. Cutler. 



TOWN oi"i<ri:rs. 809 

1 867. 

Supervisor — Gcoi\i;e Bigclow. 

Town Clerk — Charles; C. Proctor. 

Justice of the Peace — G. Bri<^^,s, to fill \'acanc}- ; William 11. 
Cheeseman, long term. 

Assessor — William Hopkins. 

Commissioner of Highways— Alonzo G. Reynolds. 
■ Collector — W. Graves. 

1868. 
Supervisor — W. Andrews. 
Town Clerk — C. C. Proctor. 
Justice of the Peace— G. Briggs. 
Assessor — H. W'. Phelps. 
Commissioner of Highways — N. Hosmer. 
Collector — -W. Graves. 

1869. 
Supervisor — W. Andrews. 
Town Clerk — C. C. Proctor. 
Justice of the Peace — A. D. Sibley. 
Assessor — A. Cornwell. 
Commissioner of Highways- Alfred Rice. 
Collector— H. Butler. 

1870. 

Supervisor — G. C. Martin, resigned; George Bigelow ap- 
pointed to fill vacancy. 

Town Clerk — J. Wetherlow. 

Justice of the Peace— S. D. Kingsley. 

Assessor — Jerome Rider. 

Commissioner of Highways— Alfred Rice. 

Collector — Edwin Carney. 

1871. 

Supervisor — Roderick Simons. 
Town Clerk — M. Smith. 

Justice of the Peace — James Rider to fill \acancy : G. Briggs 
Ion*: term. 



llO TOWN OFFICERS. 

Assessor — Hiram Crosby. 

Commissioner of Highways— Avery Briggs. 

Collector — George Andrews. 

1872. 

Supervisor — Roderick Simons. 

Town Clerk — J. Wetherlow. 

Justice of the Peace — L. D. Smith. 

Assessor — Asher Cornwell. 

Commissioner of Highways — Peter Zimmer. 

Collector — E. M. Sherman. 

1873- 
Supervisor — George Andrews. 
Town Clerk — Marland Smith. 
Justice of the Peace — L. D. Smith. 
Assessor — Edwin Ward. 

Commissioner of Highways — B. L. Johnson. 
Collector — Clark Rider. 

1874. 
Supervisor — George Andrews. 
Town Clerk— M. Smith. 
Justice of the Peace — William Eastman. 
Assessor — Clark Rider. 
Commissioner of Highways — Eli Stone. 
Collector--- P. Andrews. 

1875- 
Supervisor — Addison Wheelock. 
Town Clerk — O. A. Tillinghast. 
Justice of the Peace — R. Kingsley. 
Assessor —Charles Russell. 
Commissioner of Highways — D. S. Shedd. 
Collector— Elbert Holmes. 

1876. 
Supervisor — A. Wheelock. 
Town Clerk— A. W. Colgrove. 
Justice of the Peace — Sidney D. Kingsley. 



TOWN OFITCKKS. 8 1 I 



Assessor — Samuel H. Howell. 
Commissioner of Highways — Hiram Crosby. 
■Collector — Charles D. Hopkins. 

1877. 
Supervisor — Hiram D. Cornwell. 
Town Clerk — O. P. (joodspeed. 
Justice of the Peace — A. Cutler. 
Assessor — Joseph Gearfield. 
Commissioner of Highways — Charles Long. 
Collector— Albert Hall, 

1878. 
Supervisor — H. D. Cornwall. 
Town Clerk — M. F. Hopkins. 
Justice of the Peace — E. M. Sherman. 
Assessor — H. A. Russell, 
Commissioner of Highways — Luther Briggs. 
Collector — Willarci Brink. 

1879. 
Supervisor — A. Wheelock. 
Town Clerk — M, F. Hopkins. 
Justice of the Peace— E. Ward. 
Assessor — A. Hall. 

Commissioner of Highways — C. Starkweather. 
Collector— C. M. Rider. 

1880. 
Supervisor — None elected. 
Town Clerk— M. Smith. 
Justice of the Peace — S. I). Kingsley, 
Assessor — Joseph Gearfield. 
Commissioner of Highways — Alden Crosby. 
Collector— Silas Smith. 

1 88 1. 
Supervisor — Luther Briggs. 
Town Clerk — C. E. Bigelow. 
Justice of the Peace — Asher Cutler. 



8l2 



THE TAX PAVERS. 



Assessor — Aaron Carney. 

Commissioner of Highways — Alden Crosby. 

Collector — Ambrose L. Young. 



1882. 
Supervisor— Luther Briggs. 
Town Clerk — Judson Andrews. 

1883. 
Supervisor —Charles M. Rider. 

NAMES OF TAXABLE INHABITANTS. 



Names of 
Taxable Inhabitants. 



Andrews, Josiah 

Andrews, Josiah 

Andrews, Josiah 

Andrews, Josiah 

Andrews, Josiah 

Andrews, Josiah 

Andrews, Josiah 

Andrews, Robert (personal 

Amidon, Simeon 

Amidon, Simeon 

Andrews & Cornwell 

Butler, Sewel 

Butler, John 

Blakeley, David 

Blakele}', David 

Briggs, Esek 

Briggs, Esek 

Briggs, Esek 

Briggs, David 

Briggs, Gardner 

Briggs, Allen 

Briggs, Allen 

Ballard, Joseph 

Ballard, Misael 

Ballard, Misael 



27 
26 

43 
45 

20 

43 



15 
17 
44 
43 
20 
20 
28 
29 

55 
28 

37 
28 

37 

38 

12 

6 



216 
47 
65 

116 

59 

89 

100 



48 

49 
16 

205 

97 
21 

50 
81 

50 
72 
80 

TOO 
81 

25 

97 
97 
84 



$1646 

432 
285 

434 
236 
500 
560 
500 
232 
22 1 
500 

1135 

588 

89 

200 

636 

175 
313 
665 

535 
646 

; 100 

I 458 

I 752 

! 43"^ 



$17 78 

4 <S(S 

3 08 

- r- T 

2 55 

5 40 

6 08 

5 40 
2 50 

2 39 

5 40 
13 34 

6 35 
96 

2 16 



6 87 
I 8q 

3 38 

7 18 

5 71 

6 97 
I 08 

4 95 

8 12 

4 73 



TIIK TAX I'AVERS. 
TAXABLE INHABITANTS— Ct^wZ/wKe-^/. 



813 



Nami:s of 

TaXAULK iMIAlilTANTS. 



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Ballard. Misael 

Bowen, Henry 

Bo wen, Henry 

Rovven, Henry 

Bigelow, George 

Bigelow, George (personal). 

Bosworth, John 

Bosworth, R. S 

Bowen, Nathaniel 

Blakelex', Stephen 

Blakeley, David 

Ballou, Levitt 

Brewster, William 

Barns, Hannah 

Curtis, Joseph 

Cutting, Hiram 

Cornwell, Levinus 

Carney, Elisha 

Carney, Barnabas 

Carney, Barnabas 

Carney, Barnabas 

Carpenter, Alba 

Crosby, Parley 

Crosby, Hiram 

Crosby, Hiram 

Crosby, San ford 

Crosby, Charlotte 

Colwell, James 

Chamberlain, Phineas 

Crocker, Andrew 

Crary, Frederick 

Crary, Frederick 

Clark, Horace 

Clark, Horace 

Clark, H. & D 

Child, Jacob 

Child, Samuel 



14 


7 


12 


7 


13 


7 


21 
26 


7 

7 


18 


7 


19 

27 


7 
6 


9 

18 


7 
7 


17 
29 


7 
6 


49 
56 


7 
6 


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7 


25 


7 


35 


7 


34 


7 


42 


7 


41 


7 


33 
48 

33 


7 
6 


I 


7 


I 

35 


7 
6 


10 


7 


50 


7 


25 
28 


7 
6 


20 


6 


54 


7 


17 


7 


17 


7 


7 


7 


7 


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50 

97 

49 
40 
1 1 



5 


30 


5 


178 i 


6 


18 


6 


70 


6 


87 


6 


115 


6 


i 


s 


28 


5 


60 


5 


70 


5 


46 


5 


99 


5 


137 


5 


15 


5 


45 


5 


49 


5 


13 


6 


18 


6 


30 


6 


38 


6 


32 


6 


99 


D 


49 


5 


80 


6 


7* 


6 


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62 


5 


50 


D 


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30 


5 


24 



; 150 

752 

379 

175 

275! 

350! 

365 

1035 

72 

310 

436 

520 

20 

84 
410 
509 
360 
545 
775 

75 
250 
310 
150 

80 
149 
165 
170 

531 
246 

495 

405 

20 

348 
340 

40 
100 

82 



I 62 
8 12 
4 09 
I 89 

6 75 



94 
18 

78 

35 
70 
62 



91 

4 43 

5 40 
3 89 
5 88 

8 37 
81 

2 70 

3 35 
I 62 

86 

I 58 

I 78 

1 84 

5 7Z 

2 65 

5 34 

4 37 
22 

3 76 
3 67 

43 

I 08 

89 



Si4 



THE TAX PAVERS. 
TAXABLE INHABITANTS— C^w/Zm?/^./. 



Names of 
Taxable Inhabitants. 



•^ 



Colby, Winthrop ' 7 

Colby, Giles , 7 

Child, Hazen i 15 

Crocker, Oscar F 15 

Crawford, Franklin 23 

Colby, Marvin 23 

Child, Henry 23 

Child, Henry 15 

Conner, John 13 

Conner, John 21 

Carpenter, Lorenzo P 17 

Carpenter, Lorenzo P 26 

Colby, Ezekiel 23 

Cornwell, Willis VV 17 

Cornwell, Willis W 36 

Collins, Thomas 17 

Carney, Stephen 47 

Carney, Stephen 36 

Cheney, 48 

Cutler, G. N 56 

Cutler, Caleb 56 

Colgrove, Bela H 52 

Col<^rove, l-5ela H 3 

Corbin, Hiram 22 

Cotrel, John 22 

Capwell, John G 20 

Cook, Jonathan 4 

Cook, Jonathan 6 

Cook, Jonathan ' 43 

Cook Jonathan 44 

Cook, Jonathan 45 

Dustin, Moses 7 

Dake, John 23 

Dawley, Albert 13 

Dimmons, Truman 47 

Davis, Manley 12 

Davis, Jerome 57 





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7 


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90 


7 


5 


40 


7 


5 


25 


7 


5 


93 


7 


5 


35 


7 


5 


48 


7 


5 


7 


7 


r 


8 


7 


5 


4 1 


7 


5 


20 1 


7 


5 


i 


7 


5 


3 

4 


7 


5 


48 


7 


5 


57 


7 


5 


20 


7 


5 


.•5 


7 


5 


150 


7 




20 


7 


5 


98 


7 


5 


98 


7 


5 


98 


7 


5 


250 


7 


5 


3 


6 


7 


27 


6 


7 


98 


7 


5 


59 


7 


5 


98 


7 


5 


6r 


7 


4 


97 


7 


4 


50 


7 


4 


130 


7 


5 


65 


7 


5 


41 


6 


7 


74 


7 


5 


60 


6 


7 


30 


7 


5 


49 



5 285 

135 

75 

350 

140 

217 

58 

28 

16 

60 

80 

140 

217 

427 
100 

1 10 

745 
100 

309 

304 

492 

1215 

375 

1 1 1 

349 
414 

788 
370 
366 
150 
625 
225 

153 
222 
190 
90 
157 



\ 3 07 

I 45 

81 

3 78 

1 51 

2 35 
63 
30 
17 
63 
86 

1 51 

2 35 

4 67 
I 08 
I 19 
8 04 
I 08 

3 34 

3 28 

5 31 
13 12 

4 05 
I 20 

3 77 

4 47 
8 51 
4 00 

3 95 

1 62 

6 75 

2 43 

1 65 

2 40 
2 05 

97 
I 70 



THK TAX I'AVKRS. 
TAXABLE INHABITANTS— C';///;//^v/. 



815 



Names of 
Taxaiu.e Inhauitanis. 



Edington, James. . . . 
Eldridge, William . . . 
EldridL,^e, H olden. . . . 
Eldridge, H olden. . . . 

Ellis, Francis 

Ferrin. Francis 

Frisbee, Roswell.... 

Ferrin, Francis 

Ferrin, Francis 

Firman, C. C 

Firman, George 

Firman, George 

Fairchild, Horace. . . . 

Farington, S. D 

Farington, S. D 

Freeman, Amasa. . . . 

Fegies, John W 

Ganfield, Isaac 

Gibson, Parley 

Gibson, Parley 

Green & Candee . . . 
Green & Candee .... 
Green & Candee .... 
Gleason, Cyrenus. . . 
Goodspeed, Oliver. . 
Goodrich, Josiah . . . 
Goodspeed, Oliver. . 
Goodemoote, John . 
Goodemoote, Harr\' 
Goodspeed, Prince. . 

Gates, Labac 

Graves, Erastus 

Hickes, Chancey. . . . 

Hardy, Ezekiel 

Hardy, Perry E 

Hardy, Perry E 

Hopkins, Robert . . . 



=^ 



3 

47 
55 
47 
29 

13 

22 

13 
13 
14 
22 
1 1 

19 
6 

14 

37 
2 

59 
20 

21 i 

17 j 

18 ; 
26 I 

is! 
'7 ! 

20 ; 

9 1 
26 I 

28 I 

25 ' 
30 
30 
26 

42 
50 
49 



/ 

6 I 

6 i 

6 
6 
6 
6 
6 
6 

6 i 

7 I 
7 

7 

7 I 

7 I 

6 

6 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

6 

6 

7 
6 

7 
6 

7 
7 
7 
7 



/ 

5 
5 
5 
6 

7 
7 

7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
5 
5 

5 

r 

5 
7 
7 

r- 

5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
6 
6 

6 

5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
6 



^ 



50 'S 

48 

49 
49 

74 
24 
47 
229 
80 
30 

38 
80 

84 

25 

147 
6 

25 
21 

78 

8 
, 1 



17 
87 

49 

100 

96 

9 

50 
75 
30 
40 

59 

49 
106 



150 
154 
157 
'57 
100 
222 
676 
166 
687 

255 
105 
114 
240 
422 

75 
638 
150 

90 

74 
264 
22c 
275 
200 
850 
263 

454 
340 
560 

303 
100 

365 
262 

155 
256 
181 
186 
730 



I 62 
I 66 
I 70 
I 70 

1 08 

2 40 
7 30 



1 79 

7 41 

2 75 

I 13 

1 23 

2 59 
4 56 

81 
6 89 

1 62 

97 
80 

2 85 

2 43 
2 97 
2 16 
9 18 

2 86 

4 90 

3 67 

6 05 

3 27 

1 08 

3 94 

2 83 

1 67 

2 76 

1 95 

2 00 

7 88 



8i6 



THE TAX PAYERS, 
TAXABLE INU ABIT ANTS— Coniinued. 



Names of 
Taxable iNHAiiiTANTs. 























1 o 








, 


1 '-' 








o 












o 








ni 














c 






^ 


C-. 








rt 


•a 




^ 

W 


in 


> 








c« 















o 


OJ 


u 


O 


J 


H 


Di 


< 





27 

59 
6o 

59 



56 

5 
1 1 



Hopkins, Robert , 58 

Hopkins, Dudley 

Hurd, Burlin 

Hopkins, James M 

Hopkins, Nehemiah 

Hopkins, Thomas N.. . . 

Hopkins, Thomas j 19 

Hopkins, Thomas | 43 

Hill, Laura 

Hall, Daniel 

Hall. Daniel.., -. 

Hall, William 6 

Hall, William i 14 

Holmes, Thomas 10 

Hastings, Chancey 18 

Hastings, Chancey ' 35 

Hastings, Chancey | 35 

Hastings, Chancey { 17 

Hudson, William ^6 

Hudson, Silas W | ^6 

Hubbard, Frederick 26 

Hosmer, John B 19 

Hosmer, John B | 53 

Hopkins, Hannah | 26 

Hauver, Peter j 28 

Hauver, Peter I 37 

Hauver, Peter 36 

Hauver, Philip > 37 

Hudson, H euben | 29 

Hyde, William 1 38 

Hudson, Samuel 20 

Hardy, Stephen 46 

Johnson, Benjamin 55 

Jewett, Almond V 45 

Johnson, Mordecai 56 

J ohnson, Richard : 56 

Jones, Daniel C , 18 



7 


t 
5 i 


7 


■^ 


6 


6 ! 


7 


5 i 


7 


5 ! 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 i 


7 


5 


7 


5 i 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


r* 




I 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 i 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 ^ 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


/ 


^ 



56 

126 
100 

130 

172 

50 

76 

50 
116 

345 
55 
48 
48 

53 
60 

75 

i 
4 

32 

60 



94i 

59 
J. 

4 

80 

49 
50 

23 
60 
98 
50 

55 
116 

70 

36 

JO 

5 



$ 264 


$ 2 85 


600 


6 45 


613 


6 46 


600 


6 48 


676 


7 30 


290 


3 13 


475 


5 13 


220 


2 38 


464 


5 07 


2465 


27 70 


355 


3 «3 


290 


3 13 


208 


2 25 


463 


5 00 


1 105 


15 72 


465 


5 02 


340 


3 67 


50 


54 


i3« 


I 49 


280 


3 02 


40 


43 


550 


5 99 


266 


2 87 


40 


43 


610 


6 59 


270 


2 92 


220 


2 38 


107 


I 16 



370 

447 
260 
220 

514 
410 

133 
152 

75 



4 00 

4 83 
2 81 
2 38 

5 55 
4 43 
I 43 
I 64 

81 



11 li; TAX TAVKKS. 



817 



TAXABLE INHABITANTS— rV/iZ/M/^iY/. 



Namks ok 
Taxahle Inhabitants. 



Kietsby, Martin . . . . 
Kietslcy, Andrew . . 

Kinder, Jacob 

Kingsly, Fanny 

Kin^^sley, Seth 

Kietli, Luke 

Kimball, John . . . • . 
Lafferty, Daniel. . . . 

Long, Eli 

Long Eli 

Ledoit, James 

Long, Joseph 

Long, Joseph 

Long, Charles 

Long, Reuben 

Long, Reuben 

Longmaid, William. 
Morse, Charles. . . . 

Morse, Charles 

Madison, Obediah.. . 

McCoy, John 

Madison, George. . . . 
McKeen, David . . . . 
Marston, James 
Marston, James C. . . 

Mar.ston, Levi 

Marsii, George 

Marsh, George, Jr. . . 

Nott, Ezra 

Nott, Ezra 

Needham, Daniel. . . 

Nichols, Clark 

Nichols. Clark 

Nichols, Caleb 

Nichols, Caleb 

Nichols, Amos 

Norton, Ichabod . . . 
32 



15 

15 
16 

23 
22 

30 

7 

-> -» 

JO 

25 
18 
48 
26 

44 
36 
26 
^6 



23 
48 
21 
61 

17 
50 

50 
49 
49 
10 
18 
18 

:> 

9 

10 

27 
10 









c 





















cfl 




tn 






^ 




a. 






'Z 




J= 










c 


Ofi 

c 


«5 


as 


>< 





.TJ 








a 


H 


05 


< 


H 


i- 


7 


6 


49 


162 


I 75 


7 


6 


40 


120 


I 30 


7 


6 


48 


222 


2 40 


7 


5 


48 


261 


2 82 


7 


5 


170 


905 


9 77 


7 


S 


50 


175 


I 89 


7 


5 


73 


322 


3 48 


7 


5 


39 


234 


2 74 


7 


5 


1 

4 


'•5 


I ,24 


7 


5 


1 
4 


'13 


I 24 


6 


S 


86 


355 


3 83 


7 


5 


29 


260 


2 81 


7 


5 


119 


590 


6 37 


7 


5 


50 


230 


2 48 


7 


5 


60 


5>o 


5 51 


7 


5 


SO 


225 


2 43 


7 


5 


If 


60 


65 


7 


6 


98 


472 


5 10 


7 


6 


50 


150 


I 62 


7 


S 


95 


460 


4 97 


7 


6 


72 


246 


2 65 


7 


6 


50 


155 


I 67 


7 


5 


ii 

4. 


100 


1 08 


7 


5 


48 


250 


2 70 


7 


S 


1 1 


100 


1 08 


7 


5 


59 


256 


2 76 


7 


5 


36 


189 


2 04 


7 




89 


411 


4 44 


7 


3 


113 


868 


9 38 


7 


5 


46 


230 


2 48 


7 


.S 


94 


709 


7 62 


7 


5 


1 12 


876 


9 37 


7 


5 


96 


384 


4 '4 


7 


5 


180 


1255 


13 55 


7 


S 


31 


164 


I 77 


7 


5 


95 


640 


6 91 


7 


6 


49 


188 


2 03 



8i8 



THE TAX r.VVERS. 



TAXABLE INHABITANTS— Continued. 



Names of 
Taxable Inhabitants. 



«) 










o 










J 








C 

o 












o 








as 












£ 


Q, 






H 


c^ 




v 


. 


> 


tn 




so 

c 


«; 


ni 










O 


o 


Oj 


u 


O 


J 


H 


i:*^ 


< 


H 



Norton, Joseph i 

Olin, Mathew R 

Olin, Mathew R 

Pierce, Philemon 

Peckham, Audley 

Feasor, Adam 

Feasor, Adam 

Feasor, Peter 

Feasor, Christian 

Feasor, Christian 

Park, William 

Park, William 

Park, William, (personal). . . 

Fomeroy, Seth 

Plucker, Daniel 

Flucker, Levi 

Parmenter, Amos B 

Porter, Amasa 

Putnam, William 

Putnam. William 

Feavee, Israel 

Pond, Chauncey 

Pond, Chauncey 

Pingry, Eleanor 

Fingry, \\' illiam 

Pingry, Aquilla 

Parker, L. W. & S. Barton. 

Putnam, Williard 

Runion, Drucilla 

Russell, Mr 

Rogers, Elias 

Rouse, Simeon 

Rice, Joseph 

Rice, Joseph 

Rice, Elihu 

Rice, Elihu 

Russell, William 



lO 


7 


6 


34 


7 


5 


33 


7 


5 


5 


7 


6 


S 


7 


6 i 


24 


7 


6 


i6 


7 


6 


24 


7 


6 i 


24 


7 


6 


24 


7 


5 


15 


7 


6 


14 


7 


6 


13 


7 


5 


15 


7 


5 


15 


7 


5 


15 


7 


5 


15 


7 


5 


i8 


7 


5 


i6 


7 


5 


25 


7 


5 


SI 


6 


6 


9 


7 


6 


57 


7 


5 


5« 


7 


5 


49 


7 


5 


I? 


7 


6 


41 


7 


5 


48 


6 


5 


40 


7 


5 


13 


7 


5 


10 


7 


5 


2 


7 


5 


9 


/ 


5 


2 


7 


5 


42 


7 


4 


54 


7 


6 



99 
126 

32 
98 

50 
32 
74 
32 
32 
62 

99 

99 



45 
42 
44 

52 

15 
60 

50 
1 
4 

69 
70 
138 
78 
48 
50 
59 i 

180 ! 
100 
98 

4 
200 

67 
295 

20 
150 



S 416 

7998 

185 

259 
150 

II I 
222 
1 1 1 
1 1 1 
186 
566 

332 
100 

2;2 
126 
132 
176 

95 
485 
350 

60 
386 

245 
523 
538 
242 
200 

i75 
900 
300 
628 
120 

1620 
400 

1920 
100 

7CO 



iS 4 49 
j 8 62 

'• I 99 
2 88 
I 62 

1 20 

2 40 
I 20 

1 20 

2 00 
6 II 

3 58 

1 08 

2 72 
1 36 
I 42 
I 90 

1 02 
5 23 

3 78 
65 

4 16 

2 64 

5 65 

5 81 
2 61 

2 16 
I 89 
9 72 

3 24 

6 78 
I 30 

17 50 

4 32 
20 04 

I 08 

7 56 



THK TAX I'AVKKS. 
TAXABLE INHABITANTS -Contitnud. 



819 



Names of 
Taxaulk Iniiabhants. 



Reed, Lewis . 

Reed, Daniel 

Randal, James 

Rider, Reuben 

Rider, Horace 

Rider. Horace 

Rider, Horace 

Richmond, Frederick 
Richmond, George.. . 
Richmond, George.. . 
Richmond, George.. . 



Reed, William 20 

20 
20 
12 

58 
42 

25 
18 

29 
30 
27 
64 



Rogers, Philena 33 

Rogers, Alanson 5° 

Rogers, Alanson 49 

Reynolds, Ira ^7 

Randal. Jesse 33 

Randal, Lewis 40 

Rosier, Alonzo 5^ 

Rosier, Charles 57 

Sears, Charles 25 

Smith, Isaac 33 

Smith, Richard 33 

Snyder, George 4^ 

Snyder, George 42 

Snyder, Peter 5^ 

Starks, Abraham '8 

Simons, Roderick | 53 

Simons, Orson D | 3 

Simons, Jonathan 1 H 

Simons, Jonathan 23 

Scott. John 1 15 

Streeter, Elias 23 

Simons, Nathaniel i 20 

Simons, Nathaniel j 53 

Shedd, Daniel ? j 9^ 

Strong, Henry ' '7 



o 
H 

7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
6 
6 
6 
6 
6 

7 
7 
7 
7 
6 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 
/ 

7 

7 







c 













_^ 






a 






— ' 






« 






r-- 




in 

4J 


"rt 








es 


U 





Oi 


< 


^ 



6 

6 
6 
6 

5 
5 
5 
5 
6 
6 
6 

5 
6 

5 
5 
6 

5 
6 
6 
6 

5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
6 

5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 
5 



3/ v? 
25 i 

25 ; 

30 I 

99 I 

244 

232 I 

5 
123 I 
53 
58 i 
50 i 
50 
98 
29 I 
96 j 
64 
21 
70 
70 
149 
39 
28 

55 

34 ! 

59 
148 

50 
49 
50 
2^ 

50 

3 

38 

50. 

21; 



1 1 1 

75 

70 

90 

660 

1 140 

1542 

150 

695 

610 

335 
240 
150 
442 
101 
484 

383 
200 
265 

255 

lOCO 

3 CO 
175 
235 
220 

177 
742 

2 CO 

369 
175 
40 



/ ^ 



150 

250 

2CO 

50 

1600 



I 20 

Si 

76 

97 



13 


I '> 1\ 


1- 0' 


16 65 


I 62 


7 50 


6 59 


3 61 


2 59 


I 62 


4 77 


I 09 


r Ty 


:> -- 


4 13 


2 16 


2 86 


2 75 


10 80 


3 24 


I 89 


2 53 


2 38 


I 91 


8 01 


2 16 


3 99 


) 89 


43 


I 89 


I 62 


2 70 


2 16 



1 '/ 



54 
17 28 



820 



THE TAX PAVERS. 
TAXABLE I NHABITANTS— C^«//«w^^. 



Names of 
Taxable Inhabitants. 



Strong, Henry 

Strong, Henry 

Shedd, Andrew W 

Shedd, Benjamin 

Stickney, David 

Speas, Henry 

Spencer, Asaph 

Spencer, Asaph 

Stafford, Stuckley 

Scott, Ed\yard 

Scott, Edward 

Shepherd, Richard 

Shepherd, Samuel 

Stone, FrankHn 

Smith, Wilham P 

Smith, William P 

Sibley, Anson D 

Thompson, Josiah 

Thomas, William 

Thomas, William 

Tillinghast, Gideon W. . . . 

Thompson, Andrew 

Tillinghast, B. W 

Thurber, Allen 

Thurber, Seymour 

Thomas, Joseph 

Thomas, James 

Vandusen, John 

Vandusen, John 

Wilson, Benjamin. Jr 

W'ilson, Benjamin, Jr 

Wilson, Benjamin, Jr 

Wilson, Benjamin Jr 

Wilson, Benjamin, Jr., per 

sonalty 

Wilson, Benjamin, Jr 



lo 

35 
38 

39 
29 

24 



20 
24 

53 
62 

59 
51 

55 
19 

27 

H 

52 
60 

51 
47 
14 
26 

32 
17 



15 
8 

4 
12 
1 1 
1 1 







C 

























ctf 






D 












rt 






> 








bO 


<i) 


rt 




u 






u 





"" 


< 


H 



7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


6 


7 


6 


7 


6 


7 


6 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


6 


7 


6 


7 


6 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


7 


5 


6 


6 


8 


6 



19 



14 

100 
6U 

58' 
157 
30 
88 
40 
50 

75 
98 

94 

97 

148 

99 
60 

50 

76 

100 

60 

25 

48 

152 

73 

49 
16 

10 

98 
100 
250 
167 
100 

55 



44 



160 

550 
360 
213 

1075 
100 
452 
120 
150 
360 

314 
441 

453 
682 
380 

235 
185 
334 
350 
270 
1 10 
178 
1032 

315 

21 1 

130 

50 

423 

300 

1815 

1115 

430 

355 

700 
^00 



1 73 
5 94 

3 89 

2 30 
1 1 61 

I 08 

4 88 
I 30 

1 62 

3 89 

3 39 

4 76 
4 89 
7 36 
4 10 

2 53 

2 00 

3 60 
3 78 
2 92 
I 19 



1 92 

11 15 

3 40 

2 28 
I 40 

54 

4 57 

3 24 
19 60 

12 04 

4 64 
3 83 

7 56 
3 24 



Till". TAX PAVERS. 
TAXABLE INHABITANTS-C^«^/««'''^'- 



821 



Namus of 

TaXAIU.K INIIAIUTANTS. 



Wetherlow, Samuel | 1 i 

Wetherlow, S., personalty 

Wood, Monroe. . . ^ 

Wood. Benjamin G 

White William 

Wetherbow, Peter E 

Wilson, Philester | o 

West, Isaac 



5 ^11 



3« 
39 
39 



Wetherbow, Milo 

Wheeler, M. R 

W^heeler, M. R. 

Wetherbow, J. W 

Winchel, Jacob 

Wilkes, John 

Wilder, Charles 

Wright, Reuben 

Wilkes, Joseph 

Wilkes, Joseph 

Wilkes, Rufus 

Wilcox, Charles 

Worthington, Squire 

Wilson. Stephen 

Wilson, John 

Wlielock, P:iijah 

Whiting, Joseph H 

Wilson, William 

Wait, Stephen 

Zimmer, Daniel 

Zimmer, Peter 

Boyd, James and Harlow. 

Boyd, James and Harlow. 

Burbank, Fbcnezer 

Burt, R. S 

Bond, Eleanor 

C , Charlotte 



15 
23 
23 
23 
22 

10 

9 
I 



I 

56 
16 
16 
12 
1 1 
51 

51 
16 

24 
I I 
19 
3« 
20 

I 



7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 



Cornwell 3" 

Simmons. R(Klerick I7 



5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

S 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

5 

6 

6 

6 

6 

5 

5 

6 

6 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

6 

5 



60 I 
68 ! 

68 ' 
108 j 

50 ; 
10 1 

97 1 
50 I 
190 
98 
30 1 
73 
49 ' 
114 j 

2 
98 I 

55 
56 I 

119 

47 
248 
265 

; 47 
100 

• 25 
25 
73 
24 

38 
50 

27 
130 

3/8 



272 1 


14 82 


lOOj 




240 


3 59 


248 


2 68 


248 ' 


2 68 


510 


5 51 


250 


2 48 


215 


2 32 


150 


I 62 


500 i 


5 40 


230 1 


2 48 


610 


6 59 


743 j 


4 10 


150 


I 62 


362 : 


3 91 


261 


2 82 


591 


6 38 


75 


81 


334 


3 60 


307 


3 3^ 


203 


2 19 


446 


4 81 


218 


2 36 


1092 


II 80 


938 


10 13 


25H 


2 79 


465 


5 02 


75 


86 


80 


86 


628 


6 78 


108 


I 16 


177 


I 91 


300 


3 24 


25 


27 


128 


I 38 


600 


6 48 


100 


I 68 



822 



THE TAX PAYERS. 
NON-RESIDENT TAXABLE INHABITANTS. 



Non-Resident, 




North side 

South-east part. . 
South-west corner 

North side 

East middle part . 

North part 

North 

North middle part 
South-west corner, 

Lot 

North middle. . . . 

Part lot 

West part 

North middle part 

North part 

North side 

West middle part , 
West part lot ... . 

West part 

North part 

West part 

South-west part . . 

Lot 

South-west part . . 
North-east part . . . 
West middle lot . . 

Lot 

Lot 

West part lot . . . . 
Middle part lot. . , 

Lot 

Lot 

West part 

East part 

Part 

West middle part . 
South part 



14 
H 

21 
21 
29 
30 
31 

37 
38 
40 
46 
38 
52 
53 
54 
48 

59 
60 

57 
61 

62 

63 
64 

39 

39 
I 

3 
4 

5 
5 
6 

71 
81 

81 

91 
10 
1 1 



50 


$ 150 


$ I 62 


25 


75 


81 


62 


186 


2 00 


173 


519 


5 61 


50 


150 


I 62 


21 I 


633 


6 83 


350 


1850 


II 34 


59 


177 


I 91 


i3« 


414 


4 47 


316 


948 


10 24 


100 


300 


3 24 


58 


174 


I 88 


25 


75 


81 


1 12 


336 


3 62 


120 


360 


3 89 


100 


300 


3 24 


75 


22c 


2 43 


100 


300 


3 24 


170 


510 


5 40 


344 


1032 


II 15 


290 


870 


9 40 


309 


927 


19 01 


411 


1233 


13 32 


130 


310 


4 21 


100 


300 


3 24 


120 


360 


3 89 


325 


975 


10 53 


334 


1005 


10 85 


50 


150 


I 62 


70 


210 


2 27 


331 


993 


10 72 


321 


963 


10 40 


116 


348 


3 76 


116 


348 


3 76 


170 


510 


5 51 


ISO 


450 


4 86 


120 


360 


3 89 



TIIK TAX TAVKKS. 823 

NON-RESIDENT TAXABLE INHABITANTS— C^«//«m/</. 



Non-Rksident. 



South-west part 12 

South-east part 14 

South-east part 16 

Middle part j 17 

North part I 19 

South-west part ! 20 

South-west part I 23 

South-west part ■ 24 



62 1$ 186 ']$ 2 00 

80 ! 240 I 2 59 

97 1 291 3 14 

100 300 3 24 

180 540 5 83 

150 450 i 4 86 

158 I 474 i 5 12 

50 ! 150 j I 62 

114565 I157 19 



BI0(;RAPHV of dr. B. H. COLGROVE and INCIDENTS RELATING 
TO THE HISTORY OF SARDINIA, COMPILED FROM DISCON- 
NECTED EXTRACTS FROM THE DOCTOR'S DIARY. 

"According to the record preserved in my father's family 
bible, and copied into my own, I was born in Coventry. R. I., 
April 2, 1797. 

'' My parents were farmers, and after I attained a proper 
age my Summers, till I reached the age of sixteen or seven- 
teen, were occupied in the employments usual on a farm, and 
my Winters in a good district school. I remember, however, 
to have engaged to teach a Winter school at the rather early 
age of fifteen years, for which I was judged qualified by pass- 
ing that ordeal— an examination before the Trustees by the 
School Inspector. My father permitted me to use the money 
earned by teaching in the Winter to defray my expenses in the 
ensuing Fall at an academy. In addition to my common 
school education, this gave me the benefit of something like a 
year of academic study. My first efforts in school teaching 
were in a district comprising within its boundaries several of 
the best and wealthiest inhabitants of my native town. My 
wages were about twelve dollars a month — very few teachers 



824 RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDINIA. 

received more at that time. I was able to so acquit myself 
that I was engaged for the next Winter in the same place. with 
an addition of two or three dollars a month to my wages. 

At the age of fifty-fi\-e years and five months I resolve to 
keep a diary; wonder if I shall keep m\- resolution! I regret 
now that I did not begin when young to keep a record of daily 
occurrences through a period of nearly three score years, many 
of which are doubtless obliterated from the mind by time's in- 
cessant and resistless current. Methinks these would now pos- 
sess much of interest to myself if not to others. 

A few manuscript fragments left by my venerable mother 
have for me thrilling interest. How these relics of maternal 
piety, now scarcely legible, carry me back to the scenes of my 
infancy and boyhood, where she taught me to lisp my earliest 
prayer as I knelt beside her old arm chair ; and I love to in- 
dulge the thought that the spirit of my sainted mother has 
ever hovered about my pathway through life, and been God's 
agent in preserving my life in seasons of imminent peril. Am 
I to believe that maternal love, which has no parallel on earth, 
is annihilated at the spirit's transition from earth to heaven ? 
My mother's maiden name was Nancy H. Corwin ; she was the 
second wife of my father, and I her only child ; she was a most 
amiable and pious woman ; She came to the care of five moth- 
erless children of my father by his first wife, whose ages ranged 
from two to eight or nine years. I can ne\'er think without 
deep emotion of the wise counsels, the deep and intense ma- 
ternal affection and solicitude with which my most excellent 
mother assiduously sought to impress on my young mind 
moral and religious truth, and e.xcite in me noble aspirations 
for honorable distinction in the world. 

My father was a good man ; was for many }'ears Justice of 
the Peace, and my youthful impression of him was that he was 
not so decidedly pious as was my mother. My father died in 
1811, a little before I was twenty years old. 'Sly mother died 
some three years after. " " " * "^ - 

Archibald Grififith, of Concord, who has recently ver\' gener- 
ously endowed the Springville academy, by which it has 
acquired the name of Griffith Institute, was a companion of 



RKCOI.I.KCTIONS OK SARDINIA. 825 

my schc)ol-b()}' days, aiul was a nati\'c of Foster, a town adjoin- 
ing Coventi}-. 

About 1 8 16 I commenced to learn the medical profession in 
the office of Dr. Thomas Hubbard, of Pomphret, Conn. Dr. 
H. at that time was at the head of the profession in all that 
region of countr)', especiall\' as a surgeon. He was one of the 
noblest specimens of manhood, ph)\sically as well as mentally, 
that I remember ever to have seen. In the latter period of his 
life he receixed the appointment of Professor of Surgery in 
Yale college, where he died about 1840. I had a fellow-student 
in his office, George McClellan, father of the present Gen. 
George B. McClellan. and with him was a member of the med- 
ical class in the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia in 
the session of 18 18-19. ^ received tlie degree of Doctor of 
Medicine the Spring following from the College of Physicians 
and Surgeons in the Cit}' of New York : a cop\- of my diploma, 
which was in Latin, was recorded in the County Clerk's office 
in Buffalo by Jacob A. Barker, Clerk. I attended two courses 
of medical lectures, one at Philadelj^hia in 1818-19, and New 
Haven, 18 17-18. The old Universit)^ of Pennsylvania at this 
period was regarded as the fountain head of American medical 
literature. M}- fellow-student. McClellan. grew to be a \'ery 
distinguished surgeo n ; wrote a book on surgery, but died be- 
fore he finished it, leaving behind a name and fame surpassed 
b}' few in the profession. His success was the result of indom- 
itable perseverance and a most happy power to surmount and 
remove obstacles. I remember and record with pleasure many 
acts of personal kindness and courtesy from McClellan while 
we were fellow students at Philadelphia. 

I came to this town (Sardinia) Jul\' 3, 1820, at the instance 
principally of my friends, Elihu and Joseph Rice and Henry 
Bowen ; we had been neighbors in Rhode Island. Joseph Rice 
and I emigrated at the same time, and for several days we tra\-- 
eled in company on our journey hither, he with a pair of 
horses, wagon-load of goods and wife, and I with a single horse 
and buggy and no wife. The country was very new, the first 
settlement being made about 1810; the roads bad, houses 
mosth' log cabins and the prospect, as I first thought, rather 



826 RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDINL\. 

cheerless as a location for a doctor. The news that a new doc- 
tor was expected had spread somewhat extensively, and on the 
4th, Independence Day, I had a call or two. My first patient 
was a son of Ezekiel Smith ; he had fever, and was in charge 
of Dr. Varney Ingals, of Springville, then called " Fiddlers' 
Green." The doctor and myself disagreed as to the treat- 
ment. He was giving him tonics. I thought he ought to be 
bled and have a cathartic. The consequence was that the 
patient was entrusted exclusively to me; he soon recovered. 
My calls multiplied rapidly and within a few years my circle 
embraced a territory about thirty miles in diameter, with occa. 
sional trips into Northern Pennsylvania, a distance of seventy- 
five miles. It required almost herculean strength to meet with 
anything like decent promptness the incessant demands of pro- 
fessional labor, and for much of the time the use of two or 
three horses. 

I had the good fortune to buy a black horse brought from 
Otsego county by Mr. Horace Rider, called the " Captain," a 
most extraordinary animal. For speed, capacity of endurance 
and uninterrupted health and intelligence I have never seen 
his equal. He was, beside being my family horse, the compan- 
ion of my professional travels for about twenty years, and for 
his fidelity as my servant deserves a better monument than this 
hasty tribute to his memory. He died on the farm at the 
advanced age of near thirty years after serving as m)' locomotive 
for the distance in the aggregate of some 150,000 miles." * * 

I think I must have treated during the almost fifty years that 
I have practiced, some twenty-five or thirty cases of fractured 
skull ; many of them as bad as was Wetherel ; all but two or 
three of which recovered. I must have amputated as many 
arms and legs, with nearly the same success. 

By an imperfect list which I preserved for a good while I 
must have aided professionally at the birth of over three thous- 
and children. Among the number was one case of four living 
children at one birth. Neither of the infants had sufficient 
vitality to live. "'•" "^' * 

In my professional and formal intercourse with m}- medical 
brethren I ever aimed to preserve the Esprit dc corps of the 
profession. That I sometimes gave offense I fear and now 



RKrOLI.F.CTIOXS OV SARDIMA. ^^7 

regret. Some of the warmest and most enduring personal 
friendship grew up between myself and some of my medical 
brethren. A nobler man than Dr. Carlos Kmmons I never 
knew. From our respective locations we were necessarily 
rivals for patronage, yet for forty long years not a jealous or 
unkind thought ever marred an uninterrupted and fraternal ex- 
change of kind offices, and I can never, while life lasts, cease to 
remember with the deepest emotion his tntc; faithful and 
unfaltering support through evil as well as good report. 

1 bought the farm where I have since resided of Mr. Andrew 
Crockerrin 182 1. There were on it at that time two log 
buildings— one a dwelling house near where my son Clinton 
now lives, the other a joiner shop near where my office is, The 
latter was for sometime on Sundays the Baptist meeting-house, 
in which Deacon Stephen Pratt, Deacon Colby and Elder Ham- 
mond used to preach. About 1823 or 1824. I built a small one. 
and-a-half story house where the shop stood. 

I was married to Elvira Ives Oct. 26, 1825, and commenced 
house-keeping soon in that house. There my two eldest 
children, Clinton and Eliza, were born. About 1827 or '28 I 
had made the acquaintance of Doctors Marshall and Trow- 
bridge, of Buffalo, and they invited me to a partnership with 
them in the village of Buffalo. We signed the articles and I 
moved to that place and commenced business with themunder 
auspicious prospects. But after about six or eight months- 
residence there my companion with failing health and depressed 
spirits preferred to return to our country home, and the arrange, 
mentson which I had staked high hopes of distinction were 
abandoned by the mutual consent of the parties. 

About this time I was twice a candidate for the office of 
Member of Assembly and fortunately, as 1 now think, was 
defeated at both trials. My f^rst competitor was Calvin Fil- 
more, my second Reuben B. Hancock. I felt myself suffi- 
ciently complimented in receiving every vote in my own town 
and large majorities in three adjoining towns where I was best 
known.' In 1841 I was elected to that office and have served 
the town as Supervisor for some six years. And in my poor 
way filled the office of Associate Judge for several years ; yet my 
political honors and preferments furnish me little satisfaction 



828 RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDLMA. 

in review, having never felt myself at home in any station or 
employment, save the practice of my profession. Those who 
are yet alive — ^alas, how few — by whose sick couch I have stood 
or sat and watched o'ut the weary hours of painful nights in 
humble but earnest and anxious efforts to mitigate and assuage 
their sufferings, will bear testimony to my fidelity and good 
intentions, and with them I am content to leave it. "" - * 

I think my conclusion to settle in Sardinia for life was not 
fully attained for the first twenty years' residence there. I felt 
conscioi^s, whether justly or otherwise, that I stood at the head 
of my profession in a quite large district of country. I was 
aware that I was depriving myself and a rising family of the 
advantages of more refined society in a larger place. But a 
better-hearted community of plain country farmers could not 
be desired and I always felt that I shared largely, perhaps too 
largely, their confidence and respect. Many of my patrons 
were emigrants from the same town where I was born and I 
cannot refrain from recording some names here, where many will 
soon, with my own, be in oblivion: as Elihu Rice, Joseph Rice, 
Henry Bowen, Benoni Hudson and his sons Ephraim, Benoni, 
Samuel and Giles. Giles Briggs, whose eldest son now dead, 
was the first male child born in the Town of Sardinia. E. 
Briggs and his sons, David, Ezekiel, Allen, Ira and Alba ; Reu- 
ben Nichols and his sons Caleb, Amos and Clark ; Obadiah 
Madison, Thomas Tillinghast and his sons Gideon, Reynolds, 
William and Thomas; Edward Scott, Stephen Wait, Benjamin 
Wood, Benjamin Johnson, Robert and Josiah Andrews: these 
where all from Rhode Island, and though now mostly dead, 
have left descendants who make a large element of the present 
population of Sardinia. A few of these were here before I 
came and all soon after. 

Other names of my early associates and patrons crowd on 
my mind as I pass. Among them are Jacob W^ilson, Daniel 
Hall, Benjamin Wilson, John Colby, Reuben Long and Ezra 
Nott, who is said to liave struck about the first blow in this 
part of the town. Horace Rider and Reuben Rider, also Peter 
Sears, Ezekiel Smith — my first patron — Thomas Hopkins, 
Robert Hopkins, W. and S. Cornwell, Horace and Dudley 
Clark, John Hosmer, Andrew Crocker — of \\hom I bought my 



RECOLLKCTIONS OF SARDINIA. 829 

homestead — Natlianiel Simons, Capt. Samuel Shepherd, Suel 
and John Butler, with larj^e families ; Da\id Stickney, Daniel 
Needham, Jonathan Cook, Francis Katon, Roswell Goodrich 
and his son Josiah; D. Shcdd, D. Hopkins, Mathew R. Olin, 
Christopher Brown, George Brown, and others whom I might 
name. I remember them all with respectful gratitude and 
interest. 

Dr. Colgrove's wife died Sept. 20, 1852, aged fort)'-five years. 
Dr. Colgrove died March 19, 1874, aged seventy-seven years. 
. One case is so remarkable of the Doctor's skill, we publish it 
in detail. Col. Josiah Emory, father of Josiah Efriory, Esq., 
of Aurora, in descending from a hay mow in his barn, early 
one morning, came upon the handle of a hay-fork that stood 
nearly perpendicular. The Colonel was a heavy man, and his 
weight drove the fork-handle nearly a foot into his body, 
through the perineum, rupturing his bladder, and on being 
withdrawn it left in his bladder a piece of his pantaloons an 
inch and a half in diameter. The Doctor did not reach the 
patient until some twelve hours after his receiving the injury, 
and not until after the case had been abandoned by Dr. Chapin, 
of Buffalo, as hopeless. The wound of the perineum, through 
which the urine had been passed for several hours, was so 
firmly closed now by the increasing swelling of the part, as to 
be impervious to an instrument without great pain, and he 
could void no urine by the urethra. Against the remonstrances 
of Dr. Chapin, Dr. Colgrove passed a catheter into the blad- 
der, through the natural passage, which allowed over a quart 
of bloody urine to escape and gave the patient instant relief. 
This inspired the Doctor with hope, and by using this instru- 
ment, some two weeks and keeping the bladder empt)', the 
torn edges healed and in the course of a few months a perfect 
cure was accomplished. But as strange as anything connected 
with this case, was the passage of the piece of woolen cloth, 
a thread or two at a time, through the urethra while the patient 
was urinating. Colonel Emory lived near unto half a century 
after this experience. 

Stateineut of Andrew W. Shedd, of Sardinia. 

In the Spring of 18 18, in company with Warner Fay and 
Joseph Gilson, I started from Albany on foot, with packs on 



830 RECOLLECTIONS OE SARDINIA. 

our backs, for some part 'of what was then termed the " West." 
Chautauqua was the principal point we had in view. 

When we got as far as Sardinia, we stopped at the log hotel 
kept by David Calkins. While here, the settlers persuaded us 
to inspect the land in the vicinity, with a view to locating. 
Among them was Deacon Pratt, a Surveyor, who li\ed where 
E. Stickney now lives. He took us on lot thirt\--eight, where 
I now live. We there took an article of the lot. Fay taking 
the south part, one hundred and twenty acres ; Gilson the 
north part, one hundred and forty acres, and I the middle part, 
one hundred and forty acres. 

We built us a small log house, about ten by twelve feet, and 
covered it with bark and cut a hole through the west side for a 
window. We had no glass, but used a board when we wished 
to keep the storm out ; had no chimney only a " Dutch back," 
and a hole through the roof to emit the smoke ; made a 
floor of basswood plank, split out and hewed a little to level 
and smooth them. Our bedstead was the floor, which held a 
straw bed — I slept the fore side, Gilson the backside, and Fay 
in the middle. 

After completing our cabin, we began to consider where our 
provisions \\ere coming from. We finally got General Nott's 
oxen, and Mr. Calkins' cart, and I went to Aurora in search of 
provisions ; finding none, I went on to Buffalo — found but lit- 
tle there ; was directed to a man named Folsom as the only 
one likely to have any on hand. I purchased some beef and 
pork of Mr. Folsom, which I put in a barrel and bound onto 
the ex. of the cart, there being no box on it. I came home via 
the beach of the lake, Hamburg and Aurora. I stayed one 
night in Hamburg — fourth of July — and could hear the cannon 
in Buffalo ; the ne.xt night in Holland, at Mr. Humphrey's, 
father of James Humphrey, Esq., of Buffalo ; the ne.xt day I 
reached home, having been gone si.x days. I was tired and 
discouraged, and told the boys they could have all the meat 
but I was going to some other parts. 

In the Fall Fay and I went to Middlebury, in what is now 
Wyoming county, and engaged in teaching. Fay going into an 
adjoining town, and I remaining at Middlebury, where I taught 
three terms: two Winters and one Summer. Gilson remained 



BIOCRArilKAI. SKKTCHES. 83I 

at the shantN- whilst we were gone. Fay and I returned the 
next Summer after the close of our Summer terms of school. 
1 was taken sick with typhus fever at Deacon Pratfs, and was 
attended bv Drs. Prindle of Sardinia and Frank of Warsaw ; 
recoverino'late in the 1-aIl. I returned to my school at Middle- 

The next Sprim;, 1 returned to my farm in Sardinia, where I 
have since resided. Gilson went to Adrian, ^lich.; Fay settled 
at Pavilion, Genesee county, and became wealthy. 

Previous to going to Michigan, Gilson went to Genesee on 
purpose to get, and did get, a quantity of apple seeds and we 
planted a nursery-many of the orchards in the neighborhood 
were from that nursery. 

Andrew AVilkins Shedcl. 

Mr. Shedd was a son of David and Sarah Putnam Shedd. 
His father was a soldier of the Revolution, and took part at 
the Battle of Saratoga. An uncle on his mother's side— Put- 
nam— was also a soldier of the Revolution, and was at the 
Battle of Bennington, Vt. 

Mr. Shedd was born Dec. 23, 1791. i" the Town of Ballston, 
Saratoga county, N. Y., and came to Sardinia in 1818. He 
was married Dec. 11, 1820, to Lydia E. Harris, who was born 
m Trenton, N. Y., June 14, 1/99; died April 27, 1820. They 
had a family of eight children, who were all born m Sar- 
dinia : r \ -1 Q 

Warren F., born Nov. 6, 1821 ; twice married, first, April lb, 
1848, to Emily Wilcox ; second, to Mary Fuller, Sept.. 1855. 

Sarah E., born Dec. 29, 1822 ; resides in Sardinia. 

Mary E., born April 11, 1824; married Rodney S. Nichols, 
Oct. I, 1850; died at Millport, Pa., Aug. 11, 1871. 

Eunice I., born Aug. 14, 1826; married R. S. Hudson, Oct. 
14, 1850 ; lives at the West with a second husband. 

Ira P., born Feb. 19, 1829; died April i, 1846. 

Daniel I., born Dec. 20, 1831; married Octavia S. Hyde, 
Aug. 19, 1866 ; resides on the homestead . his wife died April 

I, 1872. 

Lyman H., born Oct. i, 1833 ; married Lucretia Rice, Jan. 
27, 1856; resides at Yorkshire. 



8^2 HKXiRAPllICAL SKETCHES. 

Emily A., born Sept. 30, 1838 ; married Thomas J. Titus, 
Feb. 7, 1867; died Dec, 1876; Mr. Titus died Sept. 17. 1880 

Isaac Siiiitli. 

Isaac .Smith was born in the Town of Litchfield, Herkimer 
county, N. V., March 2~, iyg6; removed with his parents, 
Ezekiel and Hannah Smith, to the Town of Concord, Erie 
county, N. Y., in the month of February, 1813. The family 
located at the foot of the hill, where the road leading" to Sar- 
dinia village branches off from the main Cattaraugus Creek 
road, in what is now the Town of Sardinia. 

Mr. Smith was married March, 182 1, to Miss Phila Palmer, 
and located on a farm one and a half miles south-west of Sar- 
dinia village, where he died Nov. II, 1876, and was buried in 
the Sardinia cemetery. Mrs. Phila Smith, his wife, was born in 
Canada, near Montreal, Jan. 20, 1803 ; resides at her home in 
Sardinia, where she has lived nearly sixty years. The family 
consists of : 

Mrs. Sarah U. Davis, born Sept. 27, 1823; married D. J. 
Davis Feb. 18, 1847 ' '"'o^^ resides at Yorkshire, Cattaraugus 
county, N. Y. She has one daughter, Mrs. L. B. Nichols, of 
Springville, N. Y. 

Maland Smith, born F"eb. 28, 1826; married May 28. 1853, 
to Miss Zilpha Loomis . now resides at Sardinia, Erie county, 
N. Y. 

Emeline Smith, born June 26, 1831 ; unmarried ; resides in 
Sardinia. 

Loren D. Smith, born July 2, 1834 ; married July 2, 1866, to 
Miss Emma L. Curtiss ; resides at the old homestead in Sar- 
dinia. 

David D. Smith born March 5, 1841 ; married June 27, 1877, 
to Miss Libbie S. Daly ; resides at Yorkshire, Cattaraugus 
county, N. Y. 

Sketch of the IJie of Mrs. Phila Smith. 

Mrs. Phila Smith, the subject of this sketch, was born Jan. 
20, 1803, near Montreal, in what is now the Province of Que- 
bec, Canada. Her father and mother, Darius and Elizabeth 
Palmer, came from Coeymans, N. Y., by the way of Albany, 



HlOCkAl'IIIC.Vr. SKKTCIIKS. 833 

where the\' li\cd sexeral \'ears. to Montreal about the year 
i(Soo. Locatin<4- on a farm near the latter place the)- li\ecl there 
till the war of 181 2 broke out. when their quiet home was ilis- 
turbed b}' the excitement, expectation, fear and sus])ense inci- 
dent thereto. The territor\- of Canada borderini^- 011 the States 
which was popuhirl\- known as the "lines," was filled with 
British soldiers, and became the scene of much individual suf- 
fering. Mr. Palmer was ])ressed into the 13ritish service, but 
being a New ^^)rker by birth, he left his post and came back 
to his famil)'. He was arrested and taken back to camp, but 
eluding the vigilance of his guard, he again reached home in 
safety, and taking his wife and famil)- he secured a canoe and 
they smuggled themselves across the river St. Lawrence. 
Phila, then a girl of nine )'ears. recollects well the trials of that 
dark, cold and cheerless night of Autumn when the famil)- 
were taken from their home, hurriedly placed in a boat and 
pushed out on the dark, rushing w-aters of the St. Law-rence. 
Getting swamped in the bull-rushes that lined the stream, the 
boat was pulled a little out of the current ; the children laid 
down in the bottom and co\-ered with a bundle of straw to 
sleep, while the watchers waited the morning light to show 
them their whereabouts. Poinding the)- had drifted in the 
darkness on one of the man)- islands that fill the ri\-er at this 
p(Mnt, the)- pushed on across the stream and landed in safet)-. 
An unbroken wilderness confronted them, but the father with 
his children to care for and a wife to protect, toiled on. Hun- 
ger .stared him in the face, but a big .stout heart supplied the 
place of provisions. At last a log house was found in which 
several families of refugees like his own had taken shelter. 
After staying in this log house a while, the famih' moved into 
a log school house in which a short time before the teacher, 
surrounded by his little flock, had been shot down by British 
bullets. P'rom this school house the family removed to Dan- 
b)', Rutland count)-, Vt. 

In the year 1817, as nearly as Mrs. Smith can recollect, Mr. 
Palmer came with his family, in company with a famil)- by the 
name of Williams, to the Tow-n of Concord, Erie county, N. 
Y. Besides his own family was the wife of Stephen Williams, 
who had, with her husband, removed to the town of Concord 



834 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

some years before, and had made the journey back to Vermont^ 
a distance of over four hundred miles, on horseback. Mr. John 
WilHams and two hired men by the names of Sillsbury and 
PhiUps, John Scott and Justus Scott, father of the Hon. 
Allen Scott, of Cattaraugus county, also came at the same 
time. Two ox teams brought the families and goods, and they 
were on the road four weeks. It was late in the Fall, the roads 
were rough and rooty, and the girls, Phila and her sister Linda, 
walked a large part of the way. A herd of cows and sheep 
were driven along at the same time. Stephen Williams had 
preceded them and settled on the Cattaraugus flats, below 
what is now the Village of Springville, in the Town of Con- 
cord, where he had erected a log-house. This place was the 
destination of the travelers, wearied with their long journey. 
Mr. Palmer worked for the Williamses one year to pay them 
for moving his family and goods. Phila Palmer, then about 
fourteen years of age, as a member of the family, endured all 
the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life, such as 
living in houses without floor or chimney, with no chairs, tables 
,or bedsteads except such as could be fashioned from logs with- 
out the aid of saw or chisel ; with no clothing except what was 
made from cloth spun, wove, colored and made ready for use 
by the aid of the rudest utensils ; with no food except such as 
might be called native to the country, and prepared in the most 
economical way and with no means of tilling the soil except 
with wooden plows and drags of the same material. 

At the age of eighteen Miss Palmer was married to Isaac 
Smith, Horace Clark ofificiating in the ceremony, he being Jus- 
tice of the Peace. Mr. Smith then lived on a farm now owned 
by George Marsh, but soon after purchased a part of what is 
now known as the Smith farm, one and one-half miles south- 
west of Sardinia village, in the Town of Sardinia, where Mrs. 
Smith now resides. Mr. Smith, her husband, died Nov. ii, 
1876, in his eighty-first year. 

The family, consisting of three boys and two girls, are all 
living, and hold the property which was purchased by their 
father, the title coming direct from the Holland Land com- 
pany, and has not since been transferred. 



15IO<iRArHUAI, SKETCUKS. 835 

Darius Palmer, whose name occurs on the original subscrip- 
tion list for buildiiii^- the Sprin^-ville Academy, and Elizabeth 
I'almer, Mrs. Smith's father and mother, lie in the Sprint^ville 
cemetery, and also a sister, Mrs. Polly Matthewson. 

A brother, Isaac Palmer, is buried in a cemetery north of 
Sprin<^\^ille. 

One older sister, Mrs. Belinda Wilcox, still survives, and is a 
resident of E\ans\ille, Wis. 

Statement of Cyrus Rice, Esq. 

Klihu Rice came to the Holland Purchase in compan\' with 
Giles Brii^tj^s. The\' were nati\-es of Coventry, Rhode Island, 
but prexious to locating- in Sardinia, then Willink, Niagara 
county, they had passed several years in Cazenovia, N. Y. 
Elihu Rice bought lot two, township seven, range five, extend- 
ing south from the old Genesee road to Cattaraugus creek, con- 
taining 556 acres. He afterwards sold 256 acres of the south 
part to his brother Joseph, upon which he erected the widely- 
known " Cherry Tavern," in that year of important events, 1825. 

Elihu Rice, prexious to the opening of Hastings' store at 
Sardinia, dealt considerably in cotton goods, black salt and 
potash. He married Elizabeth B. Nott, of Canandaigua, Dec. 
1S16, and soon began keeping-house. The journey from Can- 
andaigua was made on horseback. It would be a fatiguing 
journey for a couple now, but it was not thought much of 
then. The original house has been repaired, but not as exten- 
sively as the " old logical knife," for the cellar of 1816 still 
remains. 

Dr. Priiulle made his home there, as did Dr. Colgrove after- 
Avard. While residing at this house, the Doctor successfully 
treated those cases which gave him an enviable reputation as 
a surgeon. As the rain falls on the just and the unjust, so the 
old house has sheltered divines, honorables and scamps. 

Elihu Rice held a commission in the army in 1812, and was 
on the lines with the militia. He was in no battle, but had 
some narrow escapes. Once when on service in a row-boat, he 
had just left the oar for the relief to take his place, when a 
cannon ball from the enemy took off the relief's head. He 
Avas in command of the .scjuad at Schlosser when the sentinel 



836 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

was killed. He held the office of Brigade Inspector in the 
Fifty-fourth Brigade, and was widely known as Major Rice. 
He took an interest in public affairs, was always in the advance 
in the issues of the day, and his influence was always exerted 
in favor of justice, without regard to expediency. He was 
rigid in his views, yet his children know nothing of him of 
which to be ashamed. He died on tli>e farm where he first 
bought, and it still remains in the hands of his descendants. 
The favorite book of his wife was the Bible. Her greatest 
earthly interest was her children, and those she knew to be 
needy were never turned empty away. Mr. Rice was identified 
with several societies, notably the temperance society, joining 
the first one organised in his vicinity and remaining faithful to 
his pledge through life. He was also a pioneer in the anti- 
slavery movement, and long before the Rebellion, predicted 
that the slave-holders, by their aggressions, would bring on a 
war which would end in the overthrow of slavery. 

rice's corners. 

Giles Briggs started a tavern on the north side of the road, 
near the southwest corner of lot three. He was one of those 
jolly, genial men, fond of sport and good horses. The tavern 
was built of logs, and had two rooms below, a stone chimney 
in the middle, with a wide, open fire-place for each room, and a 
pantry or bar on one side of the chimney. In 18 14, Giles 
Briggs gave place to David Calkins, who was afterward the 
trusty miller in Bump's mill, afterward known as Hurd\'ille, 
near Arcade station. He was for several years Justice of the 
Peace in the Town of China. 

About the year 18 1 8, Samuel Hawkins and his father came 
into possession, with a small lot of goods, and engaged Capt. 
Andrew Crocker to put up the upright of the building for a 
store and tavern. It is now the farm-house of the Nichols 
estate. They did not complete the building. In 1820, Mr. 
Hawkins and wife deeded the farm to Reuben Nichols, late of 
Rhode Island, and in 1821 Nichols gave his son Clark 119 acres. 
After the transfer to Nichols, Deacon Stukely Hudson took 
possession of the tavern until he moved to his farm, opposite 
Andrew Shedd. About 1821 or 1822, he put up a cooper shop 



nK^C.KArilUAl. SKETCHES. 837 

and for several )-cars did ciuitc a business in supplying ashcries 
with potash barrels. 

After the Deacon left, the lo--house was never a-am used as 

'' Reuben Nichols was a widower; his son Clark was single. 
Geonxe Brown and family occupied the house a short tinne with 
them" and then moved on to a place about a mile south of 
Protection. David Stickney, a man of varied abilities, being a 
pettifo-crer, horse-dealer and musician; moved in with his wife 
•md tw^daughters. Mrs. Stickney kept the house untd Clark 
Nichols married Miss Howell, in 1826. A frame house was 
erected about this time and the old log-house, after being a 
tarrying-place for transient families for a time, entirely disap- 
peared. . • n D 

Reuben Nichols received a pension for services m the Revo- 
lution He enjoved relating amusing anecdotes and had a 
remarkable memory of events. He and his son Clark, by 
industry and economy, increased their landed possessions to 
about four hundred acres, most of which is still m the pos- 
session of their descendants. Clark Nichols was an intelligent 
and energetic farmer, with exact business habits. He died at 
about eighty years of age. 

Amon- the events that deserve notice at the log-tavern, was 
the birth'of Wray Briggs, in 1811, the f^rst white child born in 
the Town of Sardinia. 

There also was the birth-place of Hannah Calkins, a very 
estimable ladv, now the wife of Dr. Henry Shepard, of Iowa. 
There too, Rebecca and Mary Brown, girls then in their 
teens 'boast of taking as much comfort as if they had lived in a 
palace, in dressing up and walking out with and taking care of 
Uvo very small children that belonged over the way. There 
General Nott, when Justice of the Peace, united Jehial Backus 
and Nancy Stickney in marriage, and there the children of the 
neighborhood enjoyed themselves turning the quill-wheel and 
win'ding the bobbins for Susan Colby and Mrs. How, a couple 
of weavers on hand-looms. 

THE LOG SCHOOL-HOUSE. 
In the Spring of 1818, "Uncle Daniel Hall," the man that 
whipped to death with beech sticks the wolf he had caught in a 



838 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

trap, started out one morning with axe and square and other 
tools, to put up a school-house. He was joined by enough of 
the neighbors to cut the logs and put up the body of a log- 
house, about twenty-four by t\vent\'-six feet, the same day. 
The site selected was about one hundred and eight rods north 
of Rice's corners and near the north-west corner of the Nichols' 
farm and just south of the second pond-hole north of the cor- 
ners. The door and entry were on the south side, near the 
east end. A large stone chimney was next, fronting west, and 
in the north-east corner was a closet for the children's dinners, 
hats and over-clothes. The other sides had each a small win- 
dow and a shelf for writing and holding books and slates, and 
for scholars to lean against, and a stout hemlock slab on legs 
served for seats. Three smaller slabs near the center of the 
room nearly completed the outfit. 

On one of the lower benches were cut drawings for three- 
men-Morris, fox and geese, checkers, &c. Of course these 
games afforded amusement and disciplined the mind to con- 
centration of thought ; but the fact is undeniable that the 
children that took most interest in games took the least interest 
in books. Under the floor was a hole three or four feet square 
where unruly children were sometimes dropped by taking up a 
short board. The terrors of darkness, or internal spunk some 
times made it a difficult matter to keep the child's head below 
the floor. It once required the weight of the teacher and two 
of the largest girls to keep a girl, ElviraCook, from putting her 
head through the floor. That was an episode that relieved the 
school-room of monotony while it lasted. That girl afterwards 
made the trip across the continent without the aid of railroads 
and made crack-shots with a revolver. She became the wife of 
Capt. U. P. Munro. 

The old school-house was sometimes used as a temporary res- 
idence by families seeking homes; some one of whom doubt- 
less, dug the hole under the floor, in which to store vegetables. 

A levy was made upon the pond for amusement both in Sum- 
mer and Winter. To wade in the water and climb the trees, 
some of which still remain, to hunt for bird's nests, to stone 
frogs, and catch blood-suckers and let them suck the blood 
from the foot until they became bloated and sluggish, were 



r.IOGRArillCAL SKETCHES. 



839 



some of the sports of the Summer. Sliding- on the ,ce n 
w" ter was a favorite pastime, though not a boy n. schoo had 
'air of skates. The nearest appr<,ach to them was a hand- 
slid One-old-cat. two-old-eat, base-ball, with stumps for bases 
were favorite sports. Sometimes when the teacher was absen 
for dinner (the teacher boarded around,, the benches would be 
pJt out of the way, and some ,.rl with a good yo>ce would s.ng 
1- Monnie Musk," "Molly put the Kettle on 'Lake Ene or 
" The Girl I Left Behind Me," the sets would form and shake 
out reels, jigs and French fours, with enthusiastic if not with 
graceful mcn-ements. Anna Hall or her sister Sally, Caroline 
and Tane Eaton furnished the music. 

In the Summer season, the Indians from near Buffalo, m 
their travels to Canadea, Allegany county, would pass the 
school house in squads of from two or three to forty Of 
course they were a terror to the children, and the female teach- 
ers always seemed to breathe easier after they had passed 
Our school book, " The American Preceptor," gave account of 
Indian atrocity and the prowess of Mrs. Dustan in braining 
her captors when they were asleep, and of the man who, when 
attacked by the Indians, fought them from his house, while his 
family sought shelter elsewhere, and when they came too close 
mounted his horse with the intention of taking one of his 
children and escaping, but could make no choice so stayed 
with them and defended them. all. The Indians seldom carried 
anything except a rifle and tomahawk. The squaws often 
carried a large pack on their backs, or a papoose lashed o a 
board with all but the little fellow's head and neck covered by 
the blanket. This gave the little follow the appearance o 
standing up in his mother's blanket, with a good view of all 
that passed. Every stout, burly, copper-faced old fellow was 
believed by the children to be the old Chief, Shongo. He and 
his band used to make a halt near the site of the Cherry 1 avern, 
both before and after it was built. One of the teachers once 
told us " There goes the old white woman." She was .not as 
stout-built as the squaws, but carried a pack. Her face^ was 
well-bronzed, but had none of the Indian features. This was 
the cause of the teacher's recognizing her. After school the 
scholars had the satisfaction of learning that the teacher was 



840 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

right, as the band stopped at the Cherry Tavern, and it was 
reported as an important event that the " old white woman " 
was along. 

The old school house was used for prayer and conference 
meetings, and some of the best ministerial talent of that time 
was reverently listened to there b)- crowded congregations. 
Among the preachers were Elder Harmon, of Aurora, Elder 
Carr, of Boston, Elder Baker, Elder Andrus. Elder Pratt, Elder 
Metcalf, Eliab Going and Deacon Colb)', of the Baptist church, 
and Priest, Ingals and L}-man of the Presbyterian church. 
Methodist prayer and conference meetings were held there at 
an early day. Old Father Mann, the shouter, with his staff, 
would make it a ^\•ide-awake time ; nor would P'ather Benoni 
Hudson, Alba Briggs or Stephen W'aite allow a meeting to 
grow dull. They were men of irreproachable character, and 
exerted a salutary influence. 

Miss Betsy Doane is said to have taught the first school in 
the log school house. Miss Eunice Shedd, now Mrs. Hubbard 
of Arcade, taught several terms. She was a seamstress and 
was a very useful member of society. Miss Miranda Powell, 
now Mrs. Charles Sears, taught during one summer ; also Miss 
Charlotte Nott, sister of Gen. Ezra Nott, and Widow Case, a 
member of the Humphrey family of Humphrey Hollow, in the 
Town of Sheldon, and Miss Lucy Bigelow, now Widow Carney. 
She was the last female that taught in the log house. Elihu 
Rice was the first male teacher and taught two Winter terms. 
The next teacher was Pardon Jewell, of Franklinville, then Isaac 
Humphrey, afterward Associate Judge of Erie county. Andrew 
Shedd taught two Winters, Dr. Shedd one Winter, then Dr. 
Berymin Osgood, afterward Judge of Probate in St. Joseph 
county, Michigan. John Lancton followed. He had formerly 
attended the school several terms as pupil. He afterward 
became Elder Lancton of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Lot eleven was taken up by one of the Warrens, Henry 
Godfrey, who married a daughter of Col. Jabez W'arren, built a 
log house near the south- .vest corner of the lot, just west of 
the burying-ground, and north of the tansy bed in the road. 
By the way, it may be safely said that every tansy bed marks 
the place of a pioneer's cabin. Tans\' bitters was the early 



lilOCRAl'lIirAL SKKTCIIKS. H^ 

settler's panacea, but the temperance reform drove from the 
cabin the essential ingredient, and "patent medicine" f^ndmg 
it vacant has taken possession to stay. It was in the log house 
put up by Cxodfrc)- that Major Rice and (iiles Hriggs spent 
their first night on their arrival in town in 1810. 

In 181 1, Jacob Wilson, who was familiarly known as Uncle 
Jacob, bought the claim on lot eleven and built the inevitable 
log hut of Uiat dav by the road near the pine tree that now 
stands in front of John Weatherlow's house. The log house 
gave way to the red frame house about 1823. 

Mr. VVilson possessed those characteristics so essential to a 
successful farmer. He died on his farm in 1832 

To show the scarcity of money in those days, I will relate an 
incident. Mr. Wilson one year raised four hundred bushels of 
grain of various kinds, for which he received but thirty cents in 
money, and that was from a traveler who stopped, took dinner, 
fed hi's horse, and paid thirty cents for a bag of oats to take 

with him. 

(3ne of the first enterprises undertaken on " Hardpan or 
West hill, was to bargain with Uncle Jacob for the forward 
wheels of a wagon, to be converted into the rolling stock of a 
cart, which afterwards became famous as the nine partner cart. 
Flint Keith, Sewell Butler, John Butler, Allan Stevens, Samuel 
Shepard, Jonathan Thomas, Joseph Thomas, Thomas Ward 
and David Conklin agreed to cut the timber on an acre of land 
ready for logging for the wheels, which they did, and returned 
home five miles the same day. When one of the stockholders 
had used the cart, he left it in the road for any other one to 

hitch to. 

In the year 1824, Mr. Wilson executed a deed to the mhabi- 
tants of the Town of Sardinia of two acres of land as a com- 
mon place to inter the dead, which is the present burying- 

ground. 

Lewis Wilson sold the farm to Samuel Weatherlow in 1834, 
and it has since been known as the Weatherlow farm. Lewis 
Wilson also sold to Weatherlow fifty acres of the north part of 
lot three, which is now in the possession of his daughter, the 
widow Simons. 

It was about 1824, that Leacon John Colby shot the two 



^42 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

year-old bear that John Houvee, who worked for Wilson, chased 
from the ground now occupied by Newton's hop yard, up a 
tree north of Newton's house. John had never seen a bear, 
and made considerable sport by telling the Deacon he had run 
a wolf up a tree. It took three balls from the Deacon's rifle to 
induce his bearship to leave the tree. A portion of the meat 
was given to the neighbors. It was sweet and acceptable, but 
what was smoked in the Deacon's log house stone chimney 
was delicious. 

Francis Eaton came in possession of the east 1 13 acres of lot 
ten in 181 1. Eaton was stalwart in form and had great muscu- 
lar power, and was very energetic. He was a carpenter and put 
up many of the farm houses and barns that were built in the 
east part of the town previous to 1824. He took pride in hav- 
ing every part of the frame work an exact fit, and the hand 
that did not work to the line would hear the gruff voice of the 
"General" (a nick-name) without delay. Ponderous rocks at 
the corners and points of greatest pressure, formed the under- 
pining. Walls for underpining were hardly thought of in 
those days, but timbers ten b}^ twelve, or twelve by twelve, or 
twelve by fourteen, were not unusual, as the fram.es still stand- 
ing attest. The sills were usually put in place in the forenoon 
or the day before the raising. Men were invited for miles 
around, for the heavy timbers used required a corresponding 
amount of bone and muscle, and all responded to the call, for 
each in turn might require help. When the timbers for the 
bents were put in place, the " General " called for the pikes to 
be put in place ; next for two sturdy, careful hands, with iron 
bars or levers, to hold the foot of the posts. " Now men to 
your places." Hold! Hold I some called out, bring <mi that 
bottle. The bottle or its partner, the jug. full of vim and snap, 
passes from hand to hand and lip to lip. New determination 
lights each eye and telegraphs each muscle to be read}-, and 
the " General " inquires, " Are you all ready?" Then comes 
the caution, " There are not men enough at that corner." 
When the men are fairh- distributed, the word is given, " All 
lift together. Yo, heave I Yo, heave I " What animation 
thrills each nerve when those tones peal forth from an old com- 
mander. Yo, heave I If helj) is plent\- the bent rises at the 



liiocKAi'iFicAi. ski: rciFKS. 843 

words, Vo, hccue I " Man youv pikes I"' It moves up and 
soon is heard the command, " Set her up I " and, " Pikes on the 
other side!" The bent is soon in its jilace and stay-kithed. 
Now the ^irts are placed for the next bent, the next bent is 
put up, and the le\-el-headed young men climb the posts, mount 
the beams, enter the girts, dri\-(.' the pins, and the body is soon 
put together. Next putting up the phites require attention. 
Coolness and daring command a premium. While some can 
walk a stick eight inches square, high in the air, other's heads 
will swim at the same height, on a platform four feet wide. 
The latter are of use below in getting rafters, braces, pins and 
plank read}- to go uj) when needed. When the rafters are on 
and the raising done, then the building had to be named. The 
bottle went up to those above, who ranged themselves on a 
plate, if there was a ridge-pole, and there was one with nerve 
enough to stand on that, the frame was named from it ; if not, 
it was named from the plate. When each had tried the bottle, 
the namer would repeat (or something like it), " Harry's 
delight I framed in two weeks and raised before night." Then 
a general " Hurrah " would follow while the bottle was hurled 
high in the air, and all retired to luncheon, which co isisted of 
bread or white biscuit and butter, cheese, doughnuts and sev- 
eral varieties of sweet cake, pies and baked beans, all seasoned 
with as man}' jokes as the compan}- could supply, and washed 
down with water, tea, or home-made beer. After lunch, if 
there was time, the \-ounger and more athletic would pla\' base- 
ball, while the older men would discuss crop prospects, logging 
bees and the news of the da)'. 

When Buffalo was burned, Eaton has the credit of running 
home in three hcnirs, and alarming the settlers along the,route, 
with the cry that the Indians were coming and they must 
leave. Arriving at home he hastened to Captain Nott's. The 
Captain had gone to Rushford. Eaton took the Captain's ox- 
team and sled, the Captain's wife, his own wife and three or 
four small children, and started toward Rushford. Others fol- 
lowed. When near Rowleys mills, Arcade, they met Captain 
Nott on his return, who inquired what it all meant. Eaton 
related his story but the Captain was incredulous as to the 
danger. " Well," said Eaton. " What are \-ou uoino- to do?'» 



844 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

*' I shall take my family and go home, you can do what you 
like with yours." About, face, was the order, and the first 
night of the fugitives was spent at home. For a day or two 
families from beyond Holland, came hurrying to escape, but 
soon the alarm passed away and they returned to their homes. 

Eaton, the stalwart carpenter, turned his place over to Dea- 
con John Colby, in 1815 or !8i6, and moved on to Hemlock 
Hill, one mile east of Sardinia village. His grown-up children 
are: Jehial, Elihu, Curtis, John P., Roswell, Jane, Emily and 
Harriet. 

Deacon Colby was a strong-built man, a good marksman and 
skillful hunter. 

He once shot a buck on Nichols' flats, not a half mile from 
the corners ; the deer fell, the Deacon ran up to cut his throat 
when the deer rose and put in a remonstrance with hoofs and 
horns, and tore ever}' vestige of clothing from the Deacon before 
he could cut the deer's throat. After that encounter he always 
re-loaded his rifle before approaching a fallen deer. 

NOTES. 

Major Rice and Giles Briggs were the first settlers on the 
corners. The Major said repeatedly that there were but three 
families in what is now Sardinia, when he and Briggs arrived, 
viz: The Richmond famil)-, Sumner Warren's and Henry 
Godfrey's. Eaton, in company with Benjamin Wilson and 
Daniel Hall, came into town in 18 10, before purchasing. 

In the Fall of 1832 or 1833, Jacob Wilson, the son of Lewis 
Wilson, a boy about ten years of age, had his skull broken in 
and his brains kicked out by a horse that he had just taken the 
halter "from and was picked up for dead. Dr. Colgrove took 
out several pieces of skull from the brain and worked out the 
loose brain, and healed up the wound. The boy lived to be a 
man and moved west. This occurred on the farm now owned 
by John Weatherlovv. Elisha Pomeroy was the victim of a 
similar accident and the doctor was equally successful in his 
treatment of the case. 



msiNKSS AM) MANUl-ACl irRIXd INTKRKSTS. 845 

RELATING TO TIIK BUSINESS AND MANUFAC- 
TURING PLACES OF SARDINIA. 

The first place opened for public patronage in the Town of 
Sardinia was the tavern of George Richmond, Sr., on the Cat- 
taraugus creek in 1809. Giles Hriggs opened a tavern the next 
year at Rice's Corners, antl in i<S2i he kept a tavern near Col- 
grove's Corners. It was at this tavern that the first town meet- 
ing in Sardinia was held, in 1821. John and Jeremiah Wilcox 
kept tavern in 1815. on the Cattaraugus creek, three quarters 
of a mile east of '' Hakes' bridge " Joseph Rice kept tavern 
at an early day near Rice's Corners." It was widely known as 
the " Cherry tavern," on account of numerous cherry trees 
growing near by. Norman Bond also kept a tavern at an early 
day on lot ten on the middle road. Parley Crosby kept a 
tavern on the Cattaraugus Creek road, some two miles and a 
half west and south-west of Sardinia \illage, called the "Sar- 
dinia Valley house ;" for that time, it was quite imposing, be- 
ing a frame building, two stories high, and finished with a coat 
of white paint ; the old building still stands, a silent memento 
of departed days. 

.Vt quite an early da)' a second tavern was opened on the old 
Richmond homestead iarm at the foot of the hill, and it was 
occupied by different ones and run for se\'eral years. The 
original log tavern built by George Richmond, did not 
stand on the site of the hotel that is still standing; that was 
built by his son George, but its location was near the banks of 
the creek, on the old State road leading from Buffalo to Olean. 

Some of the most interesting reminiscences of early days in 
Sardinia might be related in connection with these primitive 
log taverns. 

In 1824 a hotel was built on the present site of Andrews' 
hotel, by Chauncey Hastings. P^-om that time and for many 
years the little Hamlet was known as " Hastings." He con- 
ducted it for a time and then was succeeded by his son, C. J. 
Hastings, and then it was rented to Stephen Holmes, to be 
succeeded by Royal Green. Then the property was transferred 
by sale to Roderick Simons, who for a time rented it to George 
Goodspeed : then Nelson Twist became the owner. The next 



846 GRIST MITJ^S AND SAW MILLS. 

proprietor was Delias Childs, who sold it to George Andrews^ 
the present proprietor in 1869. In 1881 Mr. Andrews enlarged 
and remodeled it, and made it one of the finest hostelries out- 
side of Buffalo. 

(JRIST MILLS. 

For many years after the first settlement of this town, Sar- 
dinia was without a grist mill, and the pioneers had to trans- 
port their grists either to Yorkshire or Arcade. The first grist 

mill was built by the Cornwell brothers about . It was 

sold to Charles Long about 1858. Long conducted it some 
eleven years and then sold out to Nicholas Bolander, who ran 
it about the same length of time and then transferred it to two 
of his sons. 

Another mill was built in the town ; its location was on the 
little brook that runs through the old Richmond farm on the 
Cattaraugus flats. 

SAW MILLS. 

The first saw mill in the town was built by Sumner Warren,, 
about 1812. It stood a little above the present site, now occu- 
pied b\' Simons' mill. In 181 3 this mill was transferred to 
Abel Abbey. 

Another mill was built about 1828 on the same stream, about 
half a mile above by a man by the name of Bo^worth. 

Another mill was built at a very early day in the western 
portion of the town by Elder Stephen Pratt. Its location was 
on the head waters of the Cazenovia creek, a short distance 
above Charles Spencer's steam mill on the same stream. 

A saw mill was also run in connection with the grist mill on 
the Richmond place. 

Horace Rider built a mill on the same stream on which the 
pioneer mill stood. Its location was near the residence of 
James Hopkins. 

Dr. Colgrove and Josiah Andrews built a mill just north of 
Colgrove Corners, near the road leading north. 

Two mills were located on the " Reynolds brook " at cpiite 
an early day; one stood just abo\'e and the other, some dis- 
tan ce below the present road \\ here it crosses the stream. 



Mi:iv( IIAXrs AND TKADRRS. 847 

mi:k(Iiants and traders. 

A few of the early pioneers brou<rht some dry goods to the 
settlement, such as cloth, etc., from the east that were sold out 
to their nciijhbors, thousj^h they did not make a business as 
•dealers. Horace and Dudley Clark came in tlic fall of i(Si6; 
sold goods some about 1 81 7. Built a distillery and an ashery, 
and in a year or two the}' failed in business. Chancy Hast- 
ings was the first regular merchant. He came from Aurora, 
bringing a small stock of goods, in 1822. He was a single 
man and commenced business in the dwelling house of Willis 
Cornwell, where he boarded. 

In 1824, he built a tavern and store, which he run in connec- 
tion for several years. 

The store now occupied b}- M. \\\ Lancton was built by 
Horace Bailey in 1845. The store now occupied by George 
W. Cook was built by Chancy Hastings in 1852, 

At Colgrove's Corners, Dr. B. H. Colgrove opened the first 
store. He was succeeded in the following order, viz : Monroe 
& Jackson, Steats & Monroe, Needham & Cook, Ray Briggs, 
M. R. Loveland, H. Bailey, S. Holmes, J. Andrews, S. Holmes 
and J. Andrews. 

The tannery was first built by Willis W. Cornwell. 

About fifty years ago James Colwell carried on a foundry 
for a short time. 

The woolen factory was built about 1840 by Nelson Nourse ; 
he sold out soon after to Gleason & Loveland, who enlarged it 
as it now is. About 1867, they sold to Messrs. William Pollet, 
James Rider & George Andrews. They were succeeded by 
William Pollett, followed by John O. Riley, the present pro- 
prietor. 

The carriage shop at the " Upper Corners "' was built b}' A. 
J. Adams in 1843. 

BUSINESS DIRECTORY OK SARDINIA EOR 1883. 

HOTELS. 
George Andrews, at Sardinia Village ; John Russell, at Pro- 
tection; H. C. Tanner, at Protection ; Hiram Savage, at Chafee. 



84H MERCHANTS AND TRADERS. 

PHYSICIANS. 
M. Pitcher, D. Severeign, J. Schwab. 

MERCHANTS. 

George W. Cook, dry goods and groceries; M. W . Lankton, 
dry goods and groceries ; W. B. Andrews, groceries ; O. P. 
Goodspeed, groceries; George Mills, drugs and groceries; 
Judson Andrews, groceries; Arnold Emerson, hardware ; E. M. 
Sherman, general store at Chafee ; Hinks & W'oodworth, gen- 
eral store at Protection; M. \V. Lankton, furniture. 

MILLINERS. 
Miss E. Xorris, Miss Cynthia Olin. 

MANUFAC'IORIES AND MILLS. 

John O. Riley, woolen factory; George P. Martin, tanner}- : 
J ulian Simons, saw-mill and bending works; S. D. Kingsly> 
carding works and tub factory ; A. J. Adams, carriage factoiy ; 
George Strong, carriage factory ; S. R. Smith &Co., six cheese 
factories; Julian Simons, cheese factory ; B. Ferrington, can- 
ning factory at Protection ; N. Bolander, grist mill ; Charles 

Spencer, steam saw-miil ; Bement, steam saw-mill ; John 

Goodemote, saw-milk 

BLACKSMITHS. 

A. J. McArthur, Henry Stokes, W. Robinson, James Mulvey,. 
at Chaffee, Fitzpatrick Brothers, Prattham. 

SALOONS. 
Hopkins & Holmes, billiard saloon ; E. Goodrich, saloon. 



In reviewing the old town book of Sardinia of an earh' date, 
we find a few records that may be of interest to the present 
generation. In 1822, the town voted to pay a bounty of $5 
on ever)- full-grown wolf and one dollar and fifty cents on 
every whelp caught and killed within the bounds of the town ; 
and it was then resolved that yoked hogs should be free com- 
moners, and the same year it was voted to pay Giles Briggs for 



RECOLLECTIONS OF SARDINIA. 849 

four gallons of whisky, for the use of said town. Now this 
paragraph needs explanations for we would not have the reader 
suppose that the Town of Sardinia was addicted to its cups in 
its youth. It was the custom when a new road was to be 
opened to make a " road bee," and invite them far and near, 
and the whisky was handed around as a tonic to the road build- 
ers. In 1828, the bounty on wolves was raised to $10 for every 
full-grown wolf caught and killed within the bounds of said 
town, provided the wolf killed " was brought bodily, hide and 
hair, before the Supervisor of said town." 

For the first few years after the town Avas organized the town 
meetings were held at the house of Giles Briggs. Said house 
was located on the Welcome Andrews place, just west of Col- 
grov^e's Corners. In 1828, it was voted that the next annual 
town meeting should be held at the house of Chancy Hast- 
ings. In 1839 ^'""^^ 1840, the place of holding said meetings 
was changed to the house of Joseph Rice. In 1841 and 1842 
it was again changed to the house of Norman Bond on the 
middle road. Then in 1843 to the house of Erastus Wright ; 
1844, ^t the house of Rufus Wilkes; 1845, at the old Sardinia 
Valley House, on the creek kept by Pearly Crosby. Since that 
time, or for nearly fort}' years, the place of holding the town 
meetine has been at Sardinia village. 








Tlie Aiulrews Family. 



EIOGRArillCAL SKETCIIKS. 85 I 



CHAPTER XXII. 
FAMILY HISTORIES OF THE TOWN OF SARDINIA. 

Josiah AiidrcAVS. 

Josiah .'Vndrcws was boni in Coventry, R. I., July (S, 1 7<S'6. He 
was a son of George and Ruth Vaughn Andrews. In 1824, he 
came to the town of Sardinia, which was ever afterwards his 
home. He was a man of energy and perseverance, and at one 
time one of the largest land owners and heaviest tax-pa}'ers in 
the town. He reared a family of eleven children, nine sons 
and two daughters — all living and all respected for their sterling 
qualities. The nine sons are all residents of Sardinia. Mr. 
Andrews lived to span over ninety years, dying Nov. 21, 1876. 
His venerable widow reached nearly the same age, dying May 
17, 1883, aged ninety years. The names of their children are : 

Charlotte, Welcome, Warren B., Pardon, Reuben, Rebecca, 
Alfred, Thomas, George, Judson and James B. Rebecca mar- 
ried A. Bunce, and lives in Versailles. Charlotte married and 
lives in Illinois. 

Welcome Aiidrow.s. 

Welcome Andrews, son of Josiah Andrews \\ as born April 
I, 1 8 16, in Coventry, R. I., and came to Sardinia ^\•ith his 
parents in 1824. He has been twice married : First to Esther 
Hopkins, who was born April 8, 1822, and died June 21, 1843. 
His second wife was Patience Weber, who was born Jan. 12, 
1826. Mr. Andrew\s was elected Supervisor of Sardinia for 
the years 1863, '64, '65, 68 antl '69. He also served as Captain 
of a militia compan\' in the old training tlays. B}- occupation 
he is a farmer. 

FAMILY KKCORl). 

May. born Ma)' 26, 1845. Ruth, born Nov. 5, 185 1; died 
Jan. 30, 1876. Esther A. born Aj)ril 17, 1854: died Jul\' 16, 



852 



BIOGRAPlIICAl- SKETCHES. 



1875. Amy H., born Dec. 9, 1856. Olney W., born Dec. 21, 
1857 ; married Libbie Steele in 1881 ; lives in Sardinia and is a 
farmer. Charles B., born Nov. 9, 1S61. Joshua, born Aug. 26, 
1863. Robert R., April 10, 1865. Welcome, Jr., Nov. 13, 1867. 

Warren B. Andrews. 

Warren B.Andrews was born in Coventry, R. I., June 19. 
1 8 19, came to Sardinia in 1824. His occupation is that of 
farmer and merchant. When a young man, he taught school 
several terms. He was married, March 19, 1848, to Louise 
Nichols, who was born in Sardinia, Dec. 2^, 1823. They have 
had three children : 

Harriet E., born June 13, 1849; married Frank P.Churchill, 
June 7, 1868; died in Buffalo, Sept. 23, 1872. Laura Ann, 
born Aug. 6, 1852 ; died Nov. 17, 1866. Lottie, born March 
28, 1862. 

Reuben Andrews. 

Mr. Andrews was born in Coventry, Kent county, R. L, 
March 12, 1824. The same year, his father, Josiah Andrews, 
moved with his family to Sardinia. Mr. Andrews has always 
been a resident of Sardinia. Ls a farmer. Was married in 
1855, to Julia Olin. They have no children. 

Pardon Andrews. 

Pardon Andrews, son of Josiah and Amy Andrews, was born 
in Rhode Island. October, 1822. When two years old, his 
parents removed to the Town of Sardinia, where he has since 
resided, being engaged in farming. May 27, 1849, he married 
Eliza Wilkes, daughter of John and Abigail Wilkes, of Sar- 
dinia. Their children are as follows : 

Florence A., born July 15, 1853, and died May 31, 1873. 
James,, born April 13, 1855 ; married Gertrude Conant, and re- 
sides in Holland, Erie county, N. Y. Minnie E., born (3ct. 14, 
1862, and married May 31, 1882, to Henry Bolender, and lives 
in Yorkshire, N. Y. 

Alfred Andrew^s. 

Alfred Andrews was born at Sardinia, March 9, 1827. Oct. 
19, 185 I, he married Octavia Briggs, who was born in Sardinia, 
Jan. 25, 1830. They have three children: 



V.IOC.RAI'HICAL SKETCIIKS. 853 

Alice O., born July 10, 1854. Ida A., born Nov. 27, 1862, 
died Dec. i, 1862. Judson W., born Feb. 5, 1863. 

Mr. Andrews is a prosperous farmer, and lives in the Town 
of Sardinia. 

Thomas Andrews. 

Mr. Andrews was born Aug. i. 1828, in Sardinia, where he 
has always resided ; occupation, farming. He was married in 
1852 to Emma Olin. daughter of Matthew R. Olin. Mrs. An- 
drews died Aug. 4, 1869, aged forty years. Mr. Andrews has 
no children. 

George Andrews. 

George Andrews was born in Sardinia, Dec. 4, 1829. His 
occupation has been that of farmer and hotel keeper ; he also 
formerly dealt in stock considerably for a number of years ; 
he took possession of the old Hastings hotel at Sardinia vil- 
lage June 23, 1869. He kept it till 1881, when he rebuilt and 
greatly enlarged and beautified and changed the appearance of 
the old hotel. He has several times held town offices and rep- 
resented the town of Sardinia on the Board of Supervisors in 
1873 and 1874. 

Mr. Andrews was married June 22, 1851, to Electa Rider, 
who was born March 8, 1832. They have two sons : 

Robert J., born in Sardinia April 25, 1853; married in 1878 
to Ella Briggs, and resides at Audubon, Minn. Edmond, born 
Feb. 24, 1862 ; married Clara Briggs. 

Judson Andrews 

Mr. Andrews, son of Josiah Andrews, was born in Sardinia, 
where he has always been a resident, His occupation has been 
farming and mercantile pursuits ; he is at present engaged in 
trade at the " Upper Corners," Sardinia. 

Mr. Andrews served three years in the late Rebellion. He 
enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, in the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
New York volunteers. By general orders from the war depart- 
ment he was transferred in September. 1863. to the Veteran 
Reserve Corps, where he was Corporal. He received his dis- 
charge at Fortress Monroe Sept. 2, 1865. 



854 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

James 15. Andrews. 

James B. Andrews was born in Sardinia, N. Y. He has al 
ways been a farmer and a resident of his native town. He 
purchased his present farm, known as the Colgrove place, May 
3, 1879. He was married May 19, 1861. to Cordeha Casey, 
who was born Feb. 6, 1841, in Sheldon, N. Y. They have one 
child : 

Maud, born Nov. 23, 1866 ; lives in Sardinia. 

Since the above was written Mrs. Andrews has died ; her 
death occurred Feb. 27, 1883 ; her age was forty-two years. 

Robert Andrews. 

Robert Andrews, brother of Josiah Andrews, was born Nov. 
26, 1782, in Rhode Island ; came to Sardinia in 1824. In about 
three years he returned to Rhode Island. Married Eunice 
Weber and returned to Sardinia where he lived until his death 
at seventy-five years of age. His wife died Oct. 30, 1867, 
aged sixty-nine years. 

Mr. Andrews was a farmer and owned the farm now owned 
by his nephew, Welcome Andrews. They had no children. 

Robert J. Andrews. 

Robert J. Andrews, son of George Andrews, was born in 
Sardinia, April 24, 1852. He attended school at Arcade and 
Aurora and in 1869 he went to Audubon, Minn., where he en- 
gaged in farming and teaching. He was married in Decem er 
1878 to Ella Briggs. They have one son. 

David Bigelow. 

An old and respected pioneer who died in Sardinia August, 
1839. ^^^^s born in the ever-to-be-rcmcmbered year " 1776," on 
June 6th. At an early day he came to the Town of Avon, Liv- 
ingston county, N. Y., and in 18 17 he removed with his family 
to the Town of Sardinia where the remainder of his life was 
passed in clearing up and helping to make the Town of Sar- 
dinia what it is to-day. He settled on lot forty-seven and 
improved a large farm which to-day is in possession of a 
daughter, Mrs. Lucy Carne}'. Mr. Bigelow was a soldier on 
the lines in the war of 18 12 and 181 5, participated in many of 



r.iodKAriiicAL SKETCHES, 855 

the eventful aiul thrilling scenes and was an e)'e-\vitness to the 
burning of Buffalo. Soon after attaining the years of manhood 
he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Cone, born in Con- 
necticut in 1781, who bore him nine children, viz: 

Sally, born in 1799, died, 1801 ; George, born Sept. 30, iBoi ; 
Eliza, born March, 1804, married Isaac Calkins in 1820 and 
died in Aurora in 1870. Maria, born June 30, 1806 and lives 
in Mayville. Lucy, born Feb. 10, 1809, married in 1 840 to 
Stephen Carney, who was killed by the falling of a tree, April 
29, 1866. Mrs. Carney lives with a son on the old home- 
stead first taken by her father of the Holland Compan}'. Electa, 
born Nov. 14, 181 1, married Morgan Jillson and died in Ma- 
chias in i860. Saxton, born Jan. 3, 1814, married Mary Pratt, 
who died in 1867 ; second, to a lady in Chicago. Mr. Bigelow 
died in 1871. For many years he followed the lakes and rose 
to the command of a vessel. At the time of his death he was 
connected with the Chicago Water Works. Helon, born May 
6, 1817, married Harriet Woods and died in Sardinia in 1865- 
Reynolds, born May 5, 1822, married Harriet Darling and lives 
in Nebraska. Mr. Bigelow\ the father, died in Sardinia Aug, 
18, 1839. Mrs. Bigelow survived him many years, dying May 
2, 1857. 

George Bigelow, 

Son of David, was born in Connecticut Sept. 30, 1801, and was 
married to Miss Martha Titus Aug. 13, 1826. She was born 
March 16, 1809, in Vermont and is still living in Sardinia, Mr. 
Bigelow was a man of marked indixidual character: he was 
prominent in all town affairs ; took an active interest in agri- 
culture and was a very successful business man, devoting a 
great portion of his life to mercantile pursuits. For se\"eral 
years he represented his town upon the Board of Superxisors. 
Family record: Maria A., born Feb. 21, 1827; married Ira 
A. Cook and lives in Sardinia. Elvira, born Sept. 20, 1828; 
married in 1850 to Clinton Colgrove ; died at Fredonia in 1881. 
Helen C, born Dec. 16, 1834; married Alfred Gill; died Oct. 
25, 1854. Anna Mar\-, born May 24, 1837; married A. Blake 
and lives in Olean. David Martin, born March 7, 1840; died 
June 6, 1842. Elizabeth Olive, born Nov. 22, 1843; married 
Henry C. Shed ; diedd April 26, 1873. Charles Clifford, born 



856 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Oct. 28, 1847. Alice A., born Sept. 17, 1850; married Julian 
Simons. Mr. George Bigelow died April 28, 1875. 

Baker Family. 

Samuel Baker, grandfather of David M. Baker, was born 
May 16, 1730, in the Town of North Yarmouth, Cumberland 
county, Me. He was married Dec. 8, 1756, to Eleanor Blan- 
chard, who was born Jan. 16, 1737. They had nine children. 

Col. Samuel Baker, Jr., father of David M., was a soldier of 
the Revolution, and received for his services a pension and 
seventy-fiv^e acres of land in Yarmouth, Me., his native place. 
He added to this by purchasing adjoining land : enough to 
make a farm of two hundred acres, which he occupied till his 
death, Aug. 13, 1826. He was married July 30, 1789, to Mary 
Mason, who was born Aug. 23, 1769, and died June 26, 1857. 
Colonel Baker's brother Amasa was also a soldier of the Revo- 
lution, being a captain of a light infantry company. Colonel 
Baker had a family of thirteen children. 

David M. Baker, son of Colonel Samuel Baker, was born at 
Yarmouth, Me. Married in 1820, to Miranda N. Dupy, of 
Greenwich, Washington county, N. Y. He moved his family 
to Cattaraugus county in 1843, to Springville in 1846, and to 
Sardinia in 1859; 'i"* 1863, he settled on the west part of lot 
eleven, township seven, range six, a farm of two hundred acres, 
which he now occupies. 

Mr. Baker and three of his sons served three years in the 
Union Army during the Rebellion, and although in many 
battles, not one of them was wounded or even marked. 

David M. Baker's family record: John M., married Jan. 20, 
1868, Laura Smith; resides in New York City. Joshua D., 
resides in Arizona. Mary, married to William W^hite, July 4, 
1871 ; resides in Zoar. Maurice married Sarah Sibley, June 28, 
1871 ; resides in East Concord. D. A., married De Etta Whee- 
lock, March 26, 1866; resides in Nebraska. Russell married Ro. 
sella Vosburg, March 4, 1875; resides in Bradford, Pa. Jennie 
married Almar White, March 4, 1875 ; resides in Zoar. Samuel 
resides in Sardinia. Henry died in Arizona, in 1877. Allen 
died an infant. Frank married Eva France, Jan. 3, 1881 ; re- 
sides in Sardinia. Ella married Henry M. France March 20, 
1879. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 857 

Joshua 1>. Baker. 

Joshua D. Baker served as a soldier in the One Hundred and 
Sixteenth regiment three years during the late Rebellion. He 
was in several battles and was a Sergeant when he came home. 
He went to Texas and then to Arizona. He returned in the 
Winter of i<S8o-8i, and bought a farm of two hundred acres in 
Sardinia for his parents and the family, on which they now 
reside. He then returned to Arizc^ia, where he now is. 

Willurd Brink. 

Mr. Brink's father, Anthony Brink, was born in New Jersey, 
June 5, 18 1 2. He married Sophrona Aldrich, who was born in 
1814, in what is now Wayne county, N. Y.; Town of Arcadia- 
They came from Orleans county to Aurora, Erie county, in 
1847 or '48, and to Golden in ^^57' where Mr. Brink died in 
1869. Mrs. Brink is now living. 

Their children were : Isaiah died young. William married 
Harriet Crump : lives in Golden. Willard. Luraine married 
Davis Greene ; lives in Aurora. Glark married Sarah Savage . 
lives in Sardinia. Mary married Peter Zimmer; lives in Spring- 
ville. Orrin ; Austin. Eliza married George Gregson. Myron 
married Ella Gould. Carrie married Charles Olin. Anna mar- 
ried George Odell. 

Willard Brink was born Aug. 13, 1840, in Phelps, Ontario 
county, N. Y. He was married in 1863, in Palmyra, Wayne 
county, N. Y., to Alberteen Miller. They have one daughter, 
Cora. 

Mr. Brink enlisted April 25, 1861, in company I, Seventeenth 
New York volunteers ; mustered out of service June 10, 1863. 
He participated in the battles of the Peninsular campaign up 
to the close of his service — First Bull Run, Seven Pines, etc. 

Mr. Brink has been a resident of Sardinia since 1866, and has 
served as Commissioner of Highways and Collector in that 
town. 

.Teftersoii Ij. Childs. 

Jefferson L. Childs, son of Samuel and Olin Childs, was born 
Jan. 7, 1849, '" ^^^^ Town of Sardinia, where he has always 



858 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

resided, being engaged in buying cattle. Oct. 22, 1868, he mar- 
ried Malinda Odell. He has a family of three children, viz.: 

Alta L., born May 7, 1869. Flora, born March 4, 1875. 
Hattie E., born Dec. 12, 1880. 

Mr. Childs had two brothers in the Rebellion — Myron and 
Decatur, both of whom were taken prisoners at Nashville, Tenn., 
and Myron died in Andersonville prison. 

His father Samuel was born in Aurora, Nov. 3, 1841, and 
died in Sardinia, Jan. 29, 1866. His grandfather, Henry 
Childs, a native of Vermont, attained the remarkable age of 
ninety-eight years, six months and sixteen days, and lived with 
his wife seventy-one years. 

Hiram D. Coriiwell. 

Mr. Cornwell's father, Levinus Cornwell, was a son of Ben- 
jamin and Hester Carrington Cornwell. He was born in Con- 
necticut in November, 1791 ; moved first to Cortland county, 
N. Y.; then to Springvillein 1822, and to Sardinia in 1830, onto 
lot thirt}^-six, township 7, range 5. Mr. Cornwell was a tan- 
ner currier and shoemaker, but he gave up those professions 
after moving on to the farm, to which he gave exclusive atten- 
tion up to his death, Nov. 3, 1878. 

He was married to Lois Wheat, A\ho was born Nov. 28, 
1794, at Whitehall, Washington, county, N. Y., and died in 
Sardinia, May 5, 1871. They had four children: 

Asher, born Dec. 22, 1820; married Delilah Stone; is a 
farmer and lives in Holland. 

Levinus, born Sept. 4, 1822; married Charlotte Soule ; is a 
practitioner of medicine at Alden, Erie county, N. Y., and has 
been Supervisor of Alden. Miles C, born in Sardinia Jan. 12, 
1 83 1 ; has been married three times — first to Harrier Weeden ; 
second to Mary Weeden ; third to Dorcus Doty. He is a 
wagon maker and lives at Randolph, N. Y. 

Hiram Cornwell was born at Springville, N. Y., Dec. 12, 
1823, and came to Sardinia in 1830, where he has since lived. 
He is a farmer ; was married in 1855 to Martha J. Weather- 
low, who was born Dec. 8, 1822, at Waterloo, N. Y. They 
have seven children, viz.: 

Lois v., Charles H., S. Alida, Nellie M., Willis L., Ernest 
J. and Marion E. 



HIOr.RAPHICAL SKKTCIIES. 



859 



Mr. Cornwell attended school at Aurora under Principal 
Barney three terms, about I<S40. He taut^ht school five or six 
Winters, three terms of which were in the town of Holland. 
Mr. Cornwell has been Supcri'isor of Sardinia two terms. 

Hiram Crosby. 

Mr. Crosby was born March 30, 18 14, in Sardinia, where he 
has always resided ; his occupation is farming. He has been. 
Assessor and Commissioner of Highways in Sardinia. He was 
married Dec. 22, 1837, to Susan Jackman, who was born Dec. 
9, 18 18. They have had twelve children, viz.: 

Levi, born Nov. 8, 1837; married Mary Anderson; re- 
sides in Wisconsin. Aldcn, born Feb. 26, 1839; married 




FIREPLACE IN BRICK CHIMNEY. 



Mary Johnson; resides in Sardinia. Morton, borri March 30, 
1841 ; died July 14, 1864, in Andersonville prison. Jeremiah, 
born March 27, 1843; ^^^^^ ^^'ly -- 1845. David, born Nov. 
17, 1846; died July 10, 1864, in Chicago; he was a soldier in 
the Rebellion. Emily N., born June 26, 1849; married Duane 
Fuller; resides in Concord. Lucy M., born April 6, 185 1 ; 
died March 28, 1853. Albert, born June 28, 1853; married 
Ella Smith ; resides in Concord. Clark F., born May 3, 1855. 



86o BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Millard F., born Jan. 5, 1857. Alice A., born July 9, ICS59; 
married Alva King. Hiram E., born Feb. 28, 1863. 

Morton C'rosby. 

Morton Crosby was born in November, 1776; came from 
Herkimer county, N. Y., to Sardinia in 181 1 ; was by occupa- 
tion a farmer; he died in Sardinia, April i, 1840; his wife's 
maiden name was Charlotte Wilcox, who was born Sept. i, 
1777, died March 13, 1865. Morton Crosby served as a sol- 
dier in the War of 181 2, and was at Buffalo when it was burned. 

FAMILY RECORD. 

Parley, born Dec. 16. 1800. in Litchfield, Herkimer county, 
N. Y.; married to Charlotte Heacox ; now lives in the State of 
Wisconsin and is a hotel keeper. Luc}', born about 1802 at 
Litchfield, Herkimer count}', N. Y.; married Jonathan Mathew- 
son, who died in April, 1879. Sanford, born about 1804 in 
Litchfield, Herkimer county, N. Y.; died in Illinois about 1850. 
Mary, born in 1806; married Chauncey Hakes ; died in Illinois 
in October, 1864. Eleanor, born in 180^. John, born in Sep- 
tember, 1810; married Sarah Hakes in 1830; his second wife 
was a Mrs. Hyde, who was a widow. Hiram, born in 181 2. 
Mahala, born July 29, 18 14, in Sardinia. -Solomon, born in 
1818; married Ellen Sweet; he died in Iowa in 1869. Porter, 
born in 1820; married Katie Clover; he died in Minnesota in 

1863. 

Thomas Fitzpatrick. 

Thomas Fitzpatrick was born in Count}- Clare, Ireland in 
1815; came to America, to Springville, in 1848; became a 
permanent resident of Sardinia, " Prattham," in 1859, ^vhere he 
lived until his death, Ma}' 12, 1876. By occupation he was a 
blacksmith and farmer. He married Mary Cotteral who was 
born in Utica, N. Y.; she died in 1879. The}' had thirteen 
children, viz : 

Thomas, born 1850. Sarah A., born 1852 ; married James 
L.Steele. Maggie E., born 1853; married Clifford Firman. 
Frank, born 1855 ; died at two years of age. John, born 1856 ; 
married Luella Hopkins. Daniel, born 1858. Francis, born 
1859; married Lizzie hlanagan. James, born 1862. Ella, 



iu()(;kaimiic Ai. ski; re 1 IKS. 86i 

born 1863. Mary, born 1865. William, born 1867. Fatrick 
Hcnry, born 1870. Andrew, born 1871, 

flolin <<iai-li('l<l. 

In 1792, John (iarficld, of Lincoln, Mass., purchased of John 
Colburn, the farm formerly owned by Moses Cutting;. Garfield 
was a patriot of the Revolution. Ha\'in(;" made provisions for 
his famil)' he entered the arm\' at the bci^innini^ of the war and 
served his country until the war ended After the war he 
resided in Lincoln about nine years, then, with his family, con- 
sisting of his wife and nine children, removed to Marlboro, and 
settled on the farm before mentioned. Here he spent the 
remainder of his days. He has the reputation of having been 
a good citizen, a kind husband and father, and his children now 
living largel)' inherit his virtues. John Garfield had fourteen 
children : 

Sarah, born 1770; married Lucy Davis; died in London- 
derry, Vt. Abraham, born 1779; married Eunice Thurston; 
died in Jeffrey. Luc}-, born 1781; married Eastman Alexan- 
der; died in Troy. Samuel, born 1782; died in New York. 
James, born 1784; died 1844. Thomas, born 1786; married 
Lois Davis ; died in Londonderr\'. Isaac, born July 7, 1788- 
married Submit Alexander ; died March, 1883. Thankful, born 
1790 ; married Israel Davis ; died in Montgomery. Abel, born 
1792; married Martha Ealler; died in Troy. Elisha, born 1794; 
married Polly Pierce ; died in Sardinia, X. V. Enoch, born 
1796; married Lucy Hopkins; died in Troy, May, 1883. Aba- 
gail, born 1798; married Newel Lay; died in Ilinchendon, 
Mass. Hepzibcth, born 1798; married Amos Ray; died in 
Gardner. 

l.saac Oarfiolcl. 

Isaac Garfield, the eighth child of John Garfield, was born 
July 7, 1788. He married Submit Alexander, by whom he had 
eight children, three d\-ing in infancy. The names of the five 
living are: Eliza, born in Wrmont : married Gideon Tilling- 
hast ; lives in Sardinia. Antis, born in Vermont; married 
George Furman ; lives in Sardinia. Issac, born in Vermont ; 
married Lititia Cochran ; lives in Sardinia. Joseph A., born in 
the Town of Londonderr)-, \T., May 10, 1826; married .Mrs. 



862 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Long, formerly Miss Mary Ann Hopkins, Jan. 20, 1866, and 
lives in Sardinia. Chancey, born in Vermont ; married Ellen 
Tolman and lives in Sardinia. 

Joseph A. and Mary Ann Garfield have two children : Burt, 
born in Sardinia Nov. 16, 1865. Addie M., born in Sardinia, 
Sept. 22, 1867. Mr. Gariield is a farmer. He located on the 
central part of lot fifty-nine, township seven, range five, in 
i860; afterwards bought one hundred acres on lot sixty, town- 
ship seven, range five, and at another time fifty acres on lot 
four, township seven, range six, making in all about two hun- 
dred acres of choice land. 

Although his principal business is farming, Mr. Garfield is 
frequently called by his fellow townsmen to fill of^ces of pub- 
lic trust. Mrs. Garfield's children by her first husband, (Zelo- 
tus Long) are Mary A., born April 7, 1S51. Willie, born April 
27, 1858, all born in Sardinia. 

Chaiiiicey Garfield. 

, Chauncey Garfield is a farmer and lives in Sardinia. *He 
married Ellen Tolman, by whom he has one child, Ella, born 
June, 1867. Mr. Garfield owns and occupies a farm of over 
three hundred and fifty acres. He is an energetic and success- 
ful farmer and a respected member of society. 

Chaiiiicey Hastings. 

Chauncey Hastings was born Jan. 20, 1792, in Wilmington, 
Vt., and came to Sardinia in 1822. He married Elarcia Titus, 
who was born in the Province of Lower Canada, Sept. 10, 1803. 
When Mr. Hastings first came to Sardinia he boarded with 
Willis Cornwell and sold goods in his house. There was no 
other house at that time, where the village now is. There 
were three other families by the name of Clark living over on 
the east side of the creek. Mr. Hastings built the hotel in 
1824 or 1825, and also built an ashery about the same time. 
He was a merchant, hotel-keeper and farmer, also run an 
ashery and made potash and sometimes bought and drove cattle 
east to market. He was an energetic and enterprising busi- 
ness man. He died in 1864. His children are: 

Seymour, born July 4, 1824; married Sarah Mosier and lives 
in Aurora; Chauncey J., born May 16, 1826; married Lydia 



liiocRAi'iiUAi. ski: rciii-.s. <S63 

Cliadddck and lives in Buffalo. Julia !'' ranees, born Se])t. 13, 
182S. B'jattie Samantha. born Aul;'. 11, 1S31; married Joel 
l\)vvel and resides in Buffalo. Minerva Maria, born May 26, 
1H34; married George Stron^i^ and resides in Sardinia. Mary 
Abagail, born April 24, 1<S27. 

XoAvoll S. Hosiiior. 

Newell S llosmer was born Nov. 26, 1821, in the town of 
Sardinia. His occupation a farmer. Was married June 25, 
1855, to Clarissa Rider, who was born in Sardinia in 1825. His 
father's name was J. B. Hosmer, his mother's maiden name was 
Lura Abbe. 

Newell S. Hosmer built the cheese factory in 1869, near 
where he lives and known as the Cloverfield factory. 
Sold it to Johnson, Richardson & Horton in 1873. He run 
the factor)- four }'ears and started a factory near James Hop- 
kins the same year as factory No. 2. In 1872 he built a fac- 
tor}- in Hollanci and run it one year. During the time he 
owned the Clo\-erfield factor}- (from April, 1869), he made in 
round numbers about six hundred tons of cheese. Mr. Hosmer 
lives on the old homestead, having bought out the other heirs 
in 1854. John B. Hosmer first located east of Sardinia village, 
near where the Cherr}- Tavern was kept. Then removed to the 
place where Newell S. now lives in 18 14 or 1815. The first 
school in the east part of Sardinia was taught in 1814, in a log 
house near Newell S. Hosmer's residence, by Miss Melinda 
Abbe. The}- had one child : Lucien, born March 25, 1856. 

John B. Hosmer. 

John B. Hosmer was born Nov. 10, 1787, in Windham 
county, Conn., in the town of Mansfield, and came to Sardinia 
in 1 8 13. Was a farmer. Was married to Lura Abbe, June 9, 
1809, who was born Jan. 30, 1791, in Chatham. Came to Sar- 
dinia in 181 3. Ancestors were early settlers in Connecticut ; 
they came from Scotland. J<^hn B. Hosmer was a soldier in 
the war of 1812. He died in Sardinia July 2, 1854. Mrs. 
Hosmer lives at Racine, Wisconsin : Their children were : 

Arvilla, born Oct. 5, 1810; married Alonzo Fitch. Alonzo, 
born March 8. 181 2 ; died Jan. 2!, 1814 ; Ezra S..born Oct. 31, 



864 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

1814; died Dec. 28, 1819. Mariam B., born Jan. 25, 1819; 
married Orson Phelps and lives at Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin. 
Newell S., born Nov. 26, 1821 ; married Clarissa Rider and 
lives in Sardinia. Harry W., born Feb. 26, 1823 ; married 
Jenette Wright and lives in Wisconsin. Anna S., born April 
14, 1826; married Nicholas Montpied and lives in Wisconsin. 
John F., born May 20, 1828, lives at La Crosse, Wis. Babe, 
born Dec. 14, 1S30; died Dec. 17, 1830. 

Thomas Hopkins. 

Thomas Hopkins, son of Thomas N. and Sarah Howe Hop- 
kins, was born in Windham county, Vt., Jan. 16, 1802. His 
grandfather, James Hopkins, was a native of New England and 
a soldier of the Revolution ; was Lieutenant, and at one time 
had command of a company at Peekskill, N. Y. 

John H., a brother of James, served in the same war, was at 
the Battle of Bunker Hill, and when the ammunition failed he 
says "they threw stones like Hieton." 

His grandmother's maiden name was Mary Ann McGregor, 
and supposed to be from the North of Ireland, as were the an- 
cestors on his fathers side. They were of Scotch-Irish descent. 

Mr. Hopkins came to Sardinia in 1823 ; was married Oct. 26, 
1826, by the Rev. John Wiley, to Sally Hall, who was born 
June 17, 1805, at Deerfield, Oneida, county, N. Y. About 
1828 Mr. H. located on the southeast part of lot nineteen, 
township seven, range five, where he now lives, and as the lot 
was then mostly covered with timber, much of his time for a 
few years, like other early settlers, was spent in " wielding the 
axe." Mr. Hopkins has been one of the leading men of his 
town as the records show. He had five children : 

Mary Ann, born Aug. 7, 1827; married March 28, 1850, to 
Zelotus Long, who died in September, 1857; she was married 
a second time to Joseph Garfield March 31, 1867, and lives in 
Sardinia. Eliza Mariah, born March 21, 1834. Harriet Caro- 
line, born May 29, 1837, married to Edward K. Farrington 
March 31, 1861. Wilson N., born Jan. 31, 1842; lives in Sar- 
dinia ; Charles D., born Oct. 8, 1844; married Gertrude Holmes 
Sept. 8, 1870. 



mOC;RAPIIICAL SKETCHES. 865 

Tlioiiias N. Hopkins. 

Thomas N. Hopkins was born May 4, 1776, at Londonderry, 
N. H. His wife's name was Sarah Howe, who was born March 
8, 1780, in Westmoreland, N. H. His father's name was James 
Hopkins ; his mother's maiden name was Mary Ann McGregor ; 
came from the north of Ireland, near the Scotch border; 
were Scotch-Irish. James Hopkins, the father, was a Lieuten- 
ant in the Revolutionary war ; had command of a company at 
Peekskill one Winter ; his brother, John Hopkins, \\as at the 
Battle of Bunker Hill, and i^ot out of ammunition and then 
threw stones at the enemy. 

FAMILY RECORD. 
Thomas, born Jan. 16, 1802 ; married Lucy Hall ; lives in 
Sardinia. Eliza, born Nov. 21, 1S03; married Samuel Crocker ; 
not living at the present. Dudley, born Jan. 6, 1806; married 
Maria Wilson; lives in Sardinia. James, born Dec. 2, 1801 ; 
mawied Charilla Ballard ; lives in Sardinia ; Nehemiah. born 
March i, 1810; married Maria Butler; lives in Corfu, Genesee 
county, N. Y.; Robert N., born June 10, 1812; married Sarah 
Ann Canahan ; liv^es in Batavia ; she is not living ; Mary Ann, 
born July 4, 1814; died young. Nelson, born Feb. 28, 1819; 
married Mary Couch ; both are dead. Clarissa, born March 3, 
1824; married Amos Vandenburg ; lives in Brocton, Chautau- 
qua county, N. Y. 

Robert Hopkins. 

Robert Hopkins was born Dec. 11, 1787. Dec. 26, 181 1, lie 
was united in marriage to Miss Submit Howe, b\' whom he 
had six children : 

David M., born at Londonderry, Vt., Oct. 15, 1812 ; died 
March 29, 18 15. Daniel, born Nov. 23, 18 14; died June 10, 
1815. James, born March i, 1816; lives in Sardinia. Clarissa, 
born Dec. 21. 1818 ; died Feb. 29, 1870. Nancy, born Nov. 13, 
1820; died Sept. 10, 1873. William, born Nov. 4, 1824; died 
Sept. 10, 1873. 

Mr. Hopkins came to Sardinia in 1823, and located on lot 
two, township seven, range 6, where he opened a farm upon 
which he resided until the time of his death, which occurred 



866 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



May 24, 1846, at the age of fift}'-eight years, six months and 
fourteen days. 

.Faiues Hopkins. 

James, the only surviving member of the family of Robert 
Hopkins, was born at Londonderry, Vt., March 7, 18 16. In 
early life he came with his father to Sardinia, where he shared 
in the toil required to open a farm in the primitive forest. Mr. 
Hopkins married Miss Abigail Rider, daughter of Horace 
Rider, May 19, 1844. He continued to reside on the farm 
which he had assisted in clearing until within a few years, when 







MRS. JAMES HOPKINS. 




JAMES HOPKINS. 



he removed to the farm formerly owned and occupied by Hor- 
ace Rider, leaving the homestead in charge of his son. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hopkins have had three children : 

Horace, born Dec. 20, 1845; <^i^d Feb. 4, 1848. Robert, 
born July 13, 1849. Frankie, born Dec. 25. 1854. 

Mr. Hopkins has always been a very industrious, thorough- 
going and successful farmer and business man. 

Harry House. 

Harry House was born in Hartford, Conn., Nov, 6, 1787; re 
moved to Cazcnovia, Madison county, N. Y., where he married 
Annie Martindale, by whom he had nine children : 

Hiram H., born Dec. 20, 1813; Alexander, born Sept. 18, 
1815. Samuel, born Feb. 4, 1818. William M., born Oct. i 5, 



IJIOtJRAlMIICAL SKETCHES. . 86/ 

1820. Georj^c \\'., born May 10, 1823. Harry L., born June 
14, 1826, died Nov. 7, 1834. Joel D., born Aut,^ 17, 1828. 
Dwight F., born May 2, 1831. Harriet P., born Oct. 10, 1833. 
Mr. House moved from Cazenovia, Madison county, in 1824, 
and located in Concord, Erie county, where he resided for 
many )-ears. 

Samuel House. 

Samuel House, third son of the preceding, was born in Nel- 
son, Madison county, Feb. 4, 18 18. When he was six years 
old, his father removed from Madison county to Concord, and 
located on land covered with the primitive forest, which 
afforded young Samuel and his brothers excellent opportunities 
to develop their muscles and acquire that manly courage which 
enables them to meet the responsibilities of life with courage 
— and the habits of industry acquired in early life are a sure 
guarant)' against penur}' and want. 

Mr. House has been twice married ; first, to Sally Holman, 
Jan. 18, 1843, by whom he had four children: 

Mary A., born Oct. 29, 1843, ;i'''d Helen L., born Aug. 21, 
1847; both accidentally drowned, July 12, 185 1. Henry A., 
born July 25, 1850; married Emma Bond, Dec. 13, 1876; 
Leora, born Sept. 14, 1852 ; married Austin Olmsted April, 
1875- - 

Mrs. Sally House died July 13, 1854. Mr. House was 
united in marriage to Mrs. Lydia M. Ballard, March 4, 1858. 
They have one child, Stanley G., born March 21, 1859; ^^^^r:- 
ried Emma Crosby, March 21, 1880. Mr. House is a black- 
smith by trade, but for several years past has owned and 
worked a farm lying on the Cattaraugus creek in the Town of 
Sardinia. 

Albert Hall. 

Albert Hall, son of Louis and Sarah Hall, is a nati\-e of Sar- 
dinia, and was born Jan . 19, 1848. He occupies a farm situ- 
ated four miles northeast of Sardinia village, it being a part of 
the quarter section bought by his grandfather, Daniel Hall, in 
1812. March 2, 1873, he married Mary Tiffney, daughter of 
Jared and Louisa Tiffney, of Wales, Erie county, N. Y. His 



868 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

father Louis, died Aug. 25, 1866, and his mother, Sarah, Hves 
at Marilla, Erie county, N. Y., having married again, to Albert 
Adams of that place. 

Mr. Hall has a family of three children : Louis, born Aug. 
I, 1874. Glenna, born Aug. 2, 1879. O^^' born Aug. 6, 1881. 

Benjaiuiu Johu.son. 

Mr. Johnson formerly resided at Covcntr\-, R. L, where he 
married Miss Alzada Briggs. They have had four children : 

Horace C, Burrell L., Nancy A., and Mary Jane. 

Horace C. married Helen Bailey, of Holland and lives in 
Sardinia. Mary Jane died in 1879. 

Benjamin Johnson came to Sardinia about 1829, and located 
the land on which he now resides. 

Burrell L. Jolmsoii. 

Burrell L. Johnson, the second son of the preceding, was born 
in Sardinia, Erie county, Dec. 21, 1831. Was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Eliza Edith Scott, Nov. 9, 1853, and settled in 
Sardinia. They have two children : 

Lillie Isadore, born Sept. 17, 1858, in Sardinia ; married I'red 
Bigelow at Sardinia, Aug. 12, 1877. M^'- Bigelow died at Sar- 
dinia, March i, 1881, leaving one child — Flora, born Feb. 20> 
1879. Halsey S., born in Sardinia, Nov. 12, 1862, lives with 
his father. 

Mr. Johnson is a farmer and owns and occupies a very con- 
venient and desirable farm of two hundred and seventeen acres 
near Sardinia village. 

Keubcii Long-. 

Reuben Long was born in Coventry, Conn., March 29, 1764. 
In the Spring of 1816 he and his son Silas came to Sardinia 
and bought one hundred acres of land of Mr. Persons of (jcn- 
eseo, at six dollars per acre. In the following September, Mr. 
Long having previousl}^ returned to Connecticut, the family 
came on. Their mode of conveyance consisting of two yoke 
of oxen with a horse hitched ahead and tw one-horse wagons. 
They came via Albany, Cayuga Lake and Geneseo to Sardinia- 
where Mr. Long li\ed until his death, .April 27, 1:46. His wife. 



mocRArmcAL skktciies. 869 

Ksthcr Hini;haiii. was born April 12, 1776, and died Jan. 26, 
1851. Mr. Lontj's father's name was Lemuel Lon<^ ; his 
m(,)ther's maiden name was Martha Brewster. 

Two of Reuben Long's brothers. Rufus and Josej)h, were 
killed in the Revolutionary war. 

Famih' Record: Silas, born March 3, 1796, in Connecticut; 
went west in 1817; his friends do not know \\hether he is 
alive or not. Eli, born h'eb. 4, 1798. unmarried, died Dec. 8, 
1856, in Sardinia. Patty, born No\'. 23, 1799; married Joseph 
McClure in 1823. who died Sept. 1873 ; she died recently in 
Sardinia. ICrastus, born Oct. 17, 1802; married Hannaii 
Putnam; he died April 10, 1809, '" Michigan. Esther, born 
May 2, 1805; married Luke Smith; died Sept. 10, 1876, at 
Arcade. Joseph, born May 26, 1807 ; married Angeline Jewett 
and li\'es in Sardinia. Nancy, born Dec. 9, 1809; married Lu- 
zerne Hunt and lives In Sardinia. Melinda, born Oct. 28, 
181 1, unmarried; died April 19, 1865. Lemuel, born Oct,. 29, 
1813 ; married Jane Shumaker ; lives in Iowa. Charles, born 
Oct. 9, 1816; li\-es in Sardinia. 

Charles Loiii»'. 

Mr. Long was born Oct. 9, 18 16, in Sardinia, where he has 
always resided. He was married in 1846 to Cordelia West, 
who was born March 22, 1818, in Tompkins count}', N. Y. Mr. 
Long's occupation is that of farmer. He owned the Sardinia 
grist-mill from 1858 to about 1869, when he sold it to Nicholas 
Bolander. He also owned the saw-mill north of the village at 
one time. They have five children : Ada Eliza, born in 1846; 
married Judson Carney: resides in Sardinia. Edgar, born in 
1848; married Mar\- Winston ; resides at North Branch, Minn., 
where he went about 1868. He taught school at first and sub- 
sequently engaged in trade: he is now largely engaged in lum- 
bering and is an extensive owner of timbered land. Ida, born 
in 1852; married Albert Hawkins; resides in Sardinia. Eu- 
gene, born 1857; resides in Minnesota. Frank, born in 1861 ; 
lives at home. 

Joseph Lona. 

Joseph Long was born in 1807, in Coventry, Conn., and came 
to Sardinia with his father's family in 1816; his occupation is 



8/0 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

that of a farmer, He married Mary A. Jewett, who was born 
March, 1820. in Cayuga county. N. Y. They had a family of 
nine children : 

Reuben E., born Dec. 20, 1840 ; married about 1861 to Eliza 
Truesdale. Melissa, born March 15, 1842, Levi O., born Sept. 
17, 1844; married Nov. 14, 1872 to Libbie Golden. Josephine 
W., born March 15, 1846; married Nov. 27, 1873 to Clark 
Ferrin. Georgiana E., born June 21, 1850; married Jan. i, 
1872 to Clark Ferrin ; died Sept. 10, 1872. Silas A., born April 
I/' 1853 ; married April 15, 1875 to Emma Lake. Lemuel A., 
born March 12, 1855; married Jan. 21, 1876 to Julia Robbins. 
Luella, born April 22, 1862; married Dec. 24, 1879 ^o Nelson 
Ferrin. Maryette, born July 12. 1853; died Aug. 12, 1869. 

Charles D. Madison. 

Mr. Madison's grandfather's name was Eason Madison. His 
father, Obediah Madison, was born May 29, 1790 ; was married 
July 7, 1816 to Martha Hull, who was born May 28, 1789, and 
died July 22, 1873. He died Sept. i, 1857. They had three 
children : 

Charles D , born Dec. 20, 1820; married Aug. 29, 1845 to 
Diana Briggs, who was born Oct. 23, 1826. Louisa, born Dec. 
23, 1822; married Wilber Tillinghast. Irene S., born July 2, 
1830; married E. H, Stickney. 

Mr. Madison says: " My father came to Sardinia with his 
family in the Winter of 18 18 and '19, from Benington, Vt.,with 
oxen and sled, located on the south part of lot forty-eight on 
one hundred acres where he lived until his death. The plage 
called Madison's corners was named after him." Li speaking 
of wild animals at an early day he says : " Sexton Bigelow was 
over at John VVeller's, sitting in the door, and as he looked 
over to the north, on the rise of land, he saw some kind of ani- 
mal and asked "whose black hogs those were?" Weller looked 
and saw three bears, and started in pursuit with his dog but no 
gun. The dog attacked the bears and the old she bear turning 
upon Weller he escaped by catching hold of the limbs of a 
friendly tree and swinging himself up out of her reach. The 
bears then went away, but the neighbors rallied in pursuit and 
shot all three. 



BIOCRAPIIICAL SKKTCHES. 87 I 

Oil anotlicr ()ccasit)n I remember m)' sister and I were out 
wliere mother was milkini^; the wolves commenced howHng 
near by, and we were sent to the house for safety." 

Charles D. Madison has had four children : Martha Jane, 
married Austin Stickney, of Holland. Edt^ar, married Eldith 
Wells. Ida, died yount;". Clara, married M. Frank Cottrell. 

Aldeii J. McArtlmr. 

Mr. McArthur was a son of John McArthur, a prominent 
business man of Buffalo, where he died in 1828. He was born 
June 4, 1824, in Holland, N. Y. At the death of his father he 
went to live with his uncle, Moses McArthur, a prominent citi- 
zen of Holland, who for thirty-si.K years in succession (one 
year excepted) held the ofifice of Supervisor in Holland and . 
Wales. 

At fourteen years of age Mr. McArthur came to Sardinia 
and became an apprentice of Zacheus W. Fuller, at the axe- 
makers' and blacksmiths' trade. Since 1844 he has carried on 
the blacksmith business at the " Upper Corners," Sardinia. 

Mr. McArthur has been Deputy Sheriff two terms, one under 
Sheriff Dorsey and one under Sheriff Cleveland. 

He was married in 1847 to Florilla Risley, of Fredonia. 
They have one daughter : 

Ellen, who married James Cook, of Sardinia, in 1872. 

Curtis Newton. 

Mr. Newton's father, Ethan Newton, was born Oct 4, 1779, 
in Stonington, R. I. He was a soldier of the war of 18 12, and 
took part in the battle of Sackett's Harbor. His father, Isaac 
Newton, was a soldier of the Revolution. His occupation was 
that of millwright, carpenter and joiner. He was twice mar- 
ried ; first in 1802 to Hannah Ellis, who died in Jefferson 
county, N. Y., about 1818 ; second time to Thirza Wood, in 
1824, who died May 26, 1859, aged sixty years. 

Mr. Newton had seven children by his first wife and six b}- 
his second : 

FAMILY RECORD. 
John, died when seven years old. Oris, at about the same 



8/2 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

age in 1843. Orlando, came to Sardinia about 1832; after- 
wards he moved to Michigan where he died in 1843. Susana, 
married Jonathan B. Thomas in 1827 and died in Michigan in 
1876. Elhs, was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., and married 
Catherine Gates, who died in 1877; Mr. Newton is still living 
at Sardinia, N. Y. P. C, who was a married man and born in 
1 8 16. Henry, born in 1818 ; married Mary Hudson ; he died 
soon after being discharged from the United States service in 
1862. Curtis, born in 1825 ; married in 1856 to Lucretia Ab- 
bott, of Concord. Hannah, born April 2, 1827. Lucy, born 
in 1829; married in 1855 to Sanford Thomas ; sh-^i is a widow 
now and resides in Michigan. George, born in 1832 ; died in 
1844. Elvira, born in 1836; married in 1857 to Hanford West, 
. who resides in Sard-nia. Cornelia, born in 1838 ; lives in Sar- 
dinia. 

Curtis Newton was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., and 
came to the town of Sardinia in 1849. ^Y occupation he is a 
farmer. For a time he was the proprietor of the Newton 
cheese factory. He had six children, viz.: 

George, born Oct. 7, 1856; died June 12, 1858 ; Charles, born 
Aug. 5, 1858; died in 1866. Guy, born Sept. 5, 1862; John, 
born Aug. 18, 1864. Lillie, born May 12, 1869; Charles, born 
March 13, 1871. 

Caleb Nichols. 

Caleb Nichols was born about 1783 in Coventry, R. I.; came 
to Sardinia in 181 5 ; died March 27, 1870; his wife's name was 
Sophia Collins; was born Dec. 8, 1799, i" Cayuga county, N. 
Y.; she died June i, 1856. His father's name was Reuben 
Nichols; came from Rhode Island; died July 20, 1840. His 
mother died in Rhode Island. 

fWMIEV RECORD. 

Dates of births of some of the family are wanting. 

Stephen, married Harriet Irish ; lives at Arcade. Hannah, 
lives in Sardinia. William, lives in Sardinia. Mary, married 
Abram Smith; died Dec. 19, 1866. Caleb, married Eunice 
Smith; not living. Sarah, married William Long; died in 
1875. James, died in 1874. Nancy, married Delias Giles and 



HKx; RAPiiicAi. sKirrciiKS. 783 

died in 1880. Arvilla, barn Sjpt. 5, 1S35 ; died May 12, 1870 ; 
John, born Scj^t. 5, 1837. Harrison, born in October, 1840; 
married Hattie Rudd. Harriet, born Au^. i, 1842; married 
Monroe Withereil, of Arcade; died in 1872. 

eJolin Nichols. 

Mr. Nichols was born in Sardinia Sept. 5, 1837, where he 
now resides; he is a farmer; was married Feb. 28, 1858, to 
Helen Kimball, who was born in Holland, N. Y., April 7, 1838. 
They have two children: 

Fred and Kate. 

Mr. Nichols' maternal grandfather was a soldier of the Revo- 
lution, and he had four cousins in the Union arm\' during the 
Rebellion, one of whom, B)'ron, froze to death, Dec. 31, 1864, 
while on picket duty; another, Horace, died the next day af- 
ter his return from the army, and another. Se}'mour, was killed 
at Fort Donaldson. 

John Ostrander. 

John Ostrander was one of a family of thirteen children, nine 
boys and four girls. He was born in 18 16 in Montgomery 
county, N. Y., from which place he came to Sardinia in 185 i. 
His father, Solomon Ostrander. came to East Concord about 
the same time. Mr. Ostrander is a farmer; he was married 
first to Rachael (jraft in 1852, and a second time in 1870 to 
Kate Odell, by whom he has three daughters: 

Rachael, Maggie and Emilie. 

Mr. Ostrander died in the Spring of 1883, since the above 
was written. 

William Park. 

William Park was born in 1791, in Genevva, Seneca county, 
N. Y.; came to Boston in 1808, and to Sardinia in 1836; was a 
farmer; was married in 181 7 to Rachel Strong, who was born 
in Northampton, Mass., in 1793 ; moved to Plattsburg about 
1810 ; came to Bcston from Steuben county; he died Aug. 28, 
1878 ; his wife lives in Sardinia ; his father's name was Squire 
Park; his mother's maiden name was Lucy Strong. 

William Park was in the war of 181 2, and his widow draws a 



8/4 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

pension. Mrs. Park's father, Nathan Strong, was a soldier all 
through the Revolutionary war. Amy Lee was the wife of 
Nathan Strong. 

FAMILY RECORD. 

Celestia A., born Jul}' 17, 1 81 8; married Roswell Frisbee ; died 
in Pennsylvania in 1870. Nathan A., born July 4, 1820; mar- 
ried Ruth Frisbee, who died, and he married Catherine Peck- 
ham ; he lives in Wisconsin. Lucy Ann, born Sept. 4, 1822; 
married Anson Sibley; she died in April, 1874. Amy S., born 
Feb. 16, 1825 ; married Norman H. Hubbard; lives in Steuben 
county. Belinda, born May 13, 1827; married James Dawley, 
who died in 1858, and she was married to George Payne, who 
died in 1878. Laura M., born Oct. 19, 1829; married Addison 
Wheelock ; lives in Sardinia. James C, born May 22, 1832; 
married to Ann Reed, who died in 1863, and he married Lottie 
Perigo ; he lives in Wisconsin. William, born Ma}' 28, 1838; 
married Adelaide Green ; is a dentist and lives in Fredonia, N. Y. 

Beliurta P. Payne. 

Mrs. Belinda P. Payne, daughter of William and Rachel 
Park, was born May 13, 1827, in Boston, Erie county, N. Y.; 
came to Sardinia in 1836; was first married to James Dawle}', 
in 1 85 I, who died in 1858. 

Ir\-ing, their only child, born May 13, 1852, and was married 
to Ellen Wood Feb. 2, 1871, in Sardinia, where they now reside. 
They have one child : 

Burt L., born Oct. 18, 1873. 

Mrs. Dawley was married a second time, Aug. 16, 1866, to 
George Payne, who died in Canada in 1878. Mrs. Pa}'ne is 
now living in Sardinia. 

John Pre.ster. 

John Prester, son of Conrad and Elizabeth Prester, is a 
native of Germany, and was born June 15, 1822. In the Sum- 
mer of 1847, he came to America and resided in Buffalo for 
three years, after which he lived for a short time in the Towns 
of West Seneca and Aurora, after which he came to Sardinia 
at which place he now resides. 



HloiiRArillCAI. SKKITIIES. 8/5 

In 1847, li^ married Elizabeth Peapart, a native of Germany, 
and who died June 10, 1873. 

He has a family of four children, nanieh- : Henr\', born Jan. 
7, 1849, '^'''<^^ resides in Sardinia. William, born Feb. 21, 1851 ; 
George, born Sept. 19, 1855 ; I-ouis. born March 13, 1862, and 
two daughters, who died young. 

Klihii Kice. 

Elihu Rice, jDrominently connected with the history, growth 
and prosperity of Sardinia, was born in Coventry, R. I., Feb. 
27, 1785, and came to Sardinia when twent}'-five years of age, 
and took the whole of lot two (500 acres). He subsequently 
sold a part of this to his brother Joseph. He was married 
Dec. 5, 1 8 16, at Canandaigua, N. Y., to Miss Elizabeth B. Nott. 
His father, Joseph Rice, was a soldier of the Revolution, and 
Elihu, the subject of this sketch, took an active part in the 
war of 181 2 and 181 5. At one time he was in command of 
Fort Schlosser on the Niagara frontier. 

FAMILY RECORD. 

Cyrus, born Nov. 24, 18 17, resides in Sardinia; Edwin, born 
Feb. 2, 1820, and lives in Sardinia; Mary, born July i, 1822 ; 
married Harlow Boyd, is a widow and lives in Rushford ; 
Delos, born April 22, 1825, married Francina McClure and 
lives in Sardinia; Alfred, born May 3, 1829, lives on the old 
homestead; Martha, born July 21, 1829; married George \V. 
Orr ; she died Feb. 24, 1881 ; Charlotte, born Sept. 30, 1831 ; 
died Aug. 17, 1836; Malinda, born Feb. 13, 1838 ; married J. 
B. Gordon and li\'es in Rushford. 

COPY OF MILFIWRY COMMISSION GRANTED TO ELIHU RICE 
BY DE WITT CLINTON. 

The people of the State of New York, by the grace of God 
free and independent : 
To all to zvhoni all these presents shall conie, greeting : 

Kno\Y ye, That we liave nominated, constituted and 
appointed, and b}- these presents do nominate, constitute and 
appoint Elihu Rice, Brigade Major and Inspector of the Fifty- 
fourth Brigade of Infantrx' of our state. Hereby giYing and 
granting unto him all and singular, the powers and authorities 



876 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

to the said office by law belonging or appertaining. To have 
and to hold the said office, together with the fees, profits and 
advantages to the same belonging, for and during the term 
limited by the Constitution and Laws of our said state. 
In testimony whereof, We have caused these, our letters 
to be made patent, and the great seal of our said state 
to be hereunto affixed. Witness, De Witt Clinton, 
Esq., Governor, General and Commander-in-Chief of 
[l. S.] all the Militia, and Admiral of the Navy of our said 
state (with the consent of our Senate), at our city of 
Albany, the third day of February, in the year of 
our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty- 
seven, and in the fifty-first year of our Independence. 

De Witt Clinton. 
Passed the Secretary's office the 9th day of February, 1827. 

Archibald Campbell, 

Department Secretary. 
Erie County, ss : 

I hereby certify that on the 20th day of /\pril, 1827, the 
within-named Elihu Rice personally appeared before me and 
took and subscribed the oath required by law to qualify him to 
discharge the duties of the office to which he is within com- 
missioned. Frederick Richmond, 

Brig. Gen. Forty-seventh Brig. Inf., N. Y. S. Militia. 
Horace Rider. 
Horace Rider was born May i, 1789, and came to the Town 
of Sardinia in 181 1, and located one hundred and forty acres 
of land on west part of lot fifty-seven, township seven, range 
five. He afterwards located on lot twenty-five, near Sardinia 
village. He cleared up a large farm and furnished it with 
good, substantial buildings. In 1840 he erected a fine brick 
residence, that even to-day, stands second to none in town as a 
farm building. He also built and conducted a saw-mill for a 
term of years, besides overseeing the multifold duties of a large 
farm. A man of rare business tact, energ}' and perseverance. 
He also participated in the struggles of the war of 181 2 and 
1815, on the Niagara frontier. On Feb. 19, 1815 he was united 
in marriage to Miss Catharine Wilkes, who was the mother of 
a family of nine children, viz : 



HIOGKAl'llICAL SKK'ICIIKS. .S// 

Nancy, born Aug. 27, 1816 ; married Nelson Nourse and died 
in 1866; he died in 1879. William, born Sept. 11, 1818; mar- 
ried Clotira Tildeii ; li\es in \'orkshire. Amanda, born Jan. 
22, 1820; married Jonathan Calkins; died in Maryland. Aba- 
gail, born June 2, 1822; married James Hopkins; lives on the 
old homestead. Almira, born June 2, 1824; married (ist) Suel 
Pingrey, (2d), George Burlingame ; lives in Little Valley. Oretta, 
born April 30, 1826; married James Fitch; lives in Yorkshire 
Center. James, born June 3, 1828; married Alary Long; lives 
in Bradford, Pa. Julia, born June 8, 1830; married Thaddeus 
Cutting; died June 9, 1854. Electa, born March 8, 1832; mar- 
ried George Andrews, proprietor of Sardinia Hotel. Hortense, 
born Jan. 8, 1836; married Joel House; lives in Yorkshire. 

Mr. Rider died Jan. 5. 1850 and Mrs. Rider July I, 1870. 

Reuben Rider. 

Was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., April 25, 1792. In 1812, 
with a capital consisting of five dollars and an axe, he set out 
on foot for the Holland Purchase and located on lot fifty-eight 
in the Town of Sardinia. Upon this lot he spent the energies 
of his life clearing up a farm and making a pleasant home. Jn 
1819 he was united in marriage to Miss Jemima Pingrey who is 
still li\"ing. The}' liad nine children, viz: 

Jerome B., Mahala, Clarissa, Addison, Joel Cj., Eleanor, Har- 
riet, Abigail and Reuben C. 

Mr. Rider died July 24, 1864. 

Reuben C. Rider. 

Reuben C. Rider, son. of Reuben Rider, was born Juh" 1 1, 
1843, oil the homestead farm, where he has always lived. He 
was married in 1870 to Luc\' J. Shultus. They have two 
daughters: Iva, born Dec. 6, 1874 anil Erma, born Oct. 11, 
1879- 

.Jerome B. Ri<ler. 

Jerome B. Rider, son of Reuben Rider, was born in Sar- 
dinia June 22, 1820, where he resided until his death in 1882. 
He owned and cultivated a fine farm at Sardinia village, at the 
time of his death. He was married ALi}- 30, 1847, to Eliza 



8/8 BI(3CxRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Nichols. They had two sons and one daughter: Seymour, 
born Oct. 21, 1849. Charles M., born July 8, 1852. Nellie G., 
born June 9, i860. 

Charles M. Rider. 

Charles M. Rider, son of Jerome B. Rider, was born July 8, 
1852, in Sardinia, where he has since resided. He is a farmer 
by occupation; was married to Emma A. Parker in 1875; she 
was born Aug. 15, 1857. They have two children: Charles 
Howard, born Oct. 30, 1876. Grace E., born July 8, 1878. 

Mr. Rider represents his town on the Board of Supervisors 
of Erie county this year, (1883). 

Charles B. Russell. 

Charles B. Russell, son of William and Calista Russell, was 
born July 21, 1846, in the Town of Wales, Erie county, N. Y., 
where he resided until March, 1870, when he removed to Sar- 
dinia where he has since resided, owning and occupying a farm 
four miles north-west of Sardinia village Jan. 25, 1870, he 
married Sarah J. Richardson, a native of England, born Feb. 
14, 1847, and who came to America with her parents in 1852. 

They hav^e no children except an adopted son, Michael, born 
July 3, 1873. 

Capt. Saiimel Sheparcl, Jr. 

Capt. Samuel Shepard, Jr., was born in Connecticut, May 
12, 1778, and removed with his father's family to the Town of 
Whitestown, N. Y., in 1790; from there, Mr. Shepard came 
to Sardinia, in 1817. In 1801. March 10, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Asaneth Bronson, who was born in his native 
State (Conn.) Nov. 4, 1770. The fruits of this union were five 
sons and two daughters, viz.: 

Olive, born Dec. 30, 1801 died Oct. 22, 1829. Richard, born 
Dec. I, 1803; married Lucinda Cunningham; died in 1875. 
George, born Feb. 8, 1805 ; married Eunice Briggs ; died March 
17, 1864. Amanda, born March 10, 1807; died 1883. War- 
ren, born Dec. 8, 1809; married Almedia Lewis. Henry, born 
Sept. 18, 1810; married Hannah Corkins ; is a physician. 
Albert, born Aug. 24, 18 14, of whom a sketch will be given 
hereafter. 



ISKXiKAIMlh Al. SKKICIIES. 879- 

Mrs. Shcpard died Oct. 16, 1854; he survived her nearly 
ten years, dyini;- July 16, 1864. Mr. Shepard, father of Samuel 
Shepard, was a soldier of the Revolution, antl lived to the re- 
markable at^e of ninety-six \x^ars. 

AllM'it SiK'pard. 

Albert Shepard, son of Samuel Shepard, was born in (Oneida 
county, N. Y., in 1814, and came with his father's family to 
the Town of Sardinia in 181 7, where he has since lived, follow- 
ing the occupation of farming. Mr. Shepard has been twice 
married, first to Antha Briggs, second to Hepsy Garfield. Mr. 
Shepard is the fatl-.er of four children, viz.: 

Sidney S., born Feb. 25, 1855, and resides at Plymouth, 
Mich. Dwight L., born Jan. 27, 1857, and lives in Sardinia. 
Olive A., born Feb. 24, 1862 ; lives at home. Orpha A., born 
Nov. 4, 1863, antl lives at home. 

Nathaniel Simons. 

Nathaniel Simons was born in Boston, Mass., and moved to 
Whitestown, N. Y., in 18 18, where he li\cd two years in the 
capacity of a tanner, currier and shoemaker and also boarded 
laborers employed in building the Erie canal. He came to 
Sardinia in the fall of 1820, and built a log house without roof; 
moved his famih' the following Spring and put a roof on his 
house, but lived for some time without door, windows or a 
chimney. He died Feb. 17, 1875, aged ninet)'-four years, lack- 
ing fourteen days. He was married to Plumy Lancton, of 
Springfield, Mass., who died June, 1859. 

They had four children : Marium, Roderick, Henry and 
Harriet. 

Roderick Simons. 

Mr. Simons was born April 30, 1810, in Springfield, Mass.; 
came to Sardinia with his father s family in 1820. He was 
married Aug. 11, 1836, to Frances Kingsley, who was born in 
Concord in December, 18 15. They had four children, viz.: 

Mary Jane, born Nov. 22, 1844; died Dec. 24, 1847. Julian 
C, born Nov. 17, 1847; married June 8, 1873, to Alice Bige- 
low. Juliaette, born Dec. 15, 1849; died Oct. 8, 1855. Nel- 
lie, born May 24, 1856. 



88o BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Mr. Simons was a carpenter and joiner. After working at 
that trade a few years, he engaged in wagon and carriage man- 
ufacturing, which he pursued eighteen or twenty years. In 
1870, he bought the Sardinia Mills. He has built for himself 
and afterward sold five different dwelling houses in Sardinia. 
He was Supervisor of Sardinia several terms, and Internal 
Revenue Assessor for eight years. 

Mr. Simons was an active, enterprising business man, and 
did much for the benefit of Sardinia village. 

Julian Simons. 

Mr. Simons was born in Sardinia, where he was married and 
always resided. He has two children : 

Harry Lee, born Oct. 13, 1874, and Bessie D., born Oct. 22, 
1878. 

He attended school at Arcade, and in the Spring of 1870, 
engaged in business with his father in carrying on the saw-mill 
— and for a time the grist-mill -and manufacturing cheese boxes 
and carriage materials, which business he still continues. He 
also cultivates a farm near the village. In the Spring of 1882. 
he opened a cheese factory there. In 1883, he bought the old 
M. E. Church, which, at much expense, he has transformed into 
two commodious stores. 

Henry Simons. 

Henry Simons, son of Nathaniel and Plumy, was born July 
27, 1 8 16, in Worcester, Mass.; when he was young his parents 
ramoved to Sardinia, where he has since resided, except one 
year, in which he lived in Wyoming county, N. Y. He has 
been twice married, first to Maria McKellips, June 12, 1839; 
second to Adaline A. Woods, daughter of Warren and Salone 
Woods, Feb. 19, i860. His first wife, Maria, died June 21, 
1857, by whom he had six children namely : 

Chauncey, born June 17, 1841 ; married Mary Ford and re- 
sides in Oconto, Wis. Plumy, born Aug. 18, 1842; married 
Sylvester Pitcher, and lives in Oshkosh, Wis. Thomas, born 
Jan. 3, 1846 ; is married and resides in Wisconsin. Orlando, 
born Sept. 11, 1848; is married and lives in Wisconsin. 
George, born April 4, 1851 ; has been twice married, first to 



IJIOURArHICAL SKETCHES. 88l 

Alice Houi^htoii ; second to Hattie Carlin, and resides in Sar- 
dinia ; has one child, Albert H.; business, manufacturer of bent 
carriage materials. Roxana, born April 21, 1854; married 
Lewis Ford, and resides in Cumberland, Wis. 

In 1823 Mr. Simons had the misfortune to break his leg, 
which was set by Dr. Colgrove, it being the first limb that he 
set in the town of Sardinia. 

Mr. Simons died in the Spring of 1883. ^^Y his second wife 
he had two children, viz.: 

Saloma M., died April 28, 1883, and Elmer. 

Mary A. SimonH. 

Mary A. Simons, daughter of Samuel and Lovina Wether- 
low, was born in Seneca county May 5, 18 18. When sixteen 
years of age she removed with her parents to Sardinia, where 
she has since resided. Jan. 4, 1834, she married Orson D. Sim- 
ons, son of Jonathan and Abigail Simons, of Sheldon, N. Y. ; 
her husband, Orson, died April 7, 1874; before his marriage he 
spent several years on Lake Erie in the capacity of Captain of 
the steamboats Taylor, Sandusky and Governor Marcy, after 
which he bought a farm in Sardinia, and followed farming un- 
til his death. They raised a family of ten children, namely : 

Colonette E., born Aug. 7, 1839 ; married Aug, 3, 1 86 1, to 
Thomas Putnam, and resides in Sardinia. Seymour H., born 
Oct. 25, 1 841 , married Oct. 6, 1864, to Maria Bosworth, and 
lives in Sardinia. Seymour, has three children, as follows: 

Bertie, born Nov. 30, 1865 ; Ernest D., born July 8, 1871. 
Reuben, born Jul)- 31, 1877. 

Stickuey Family. 

William Stickney, the first settler, was the ancestor of nearly 
all who have since borne that name in America. The old fam- 
ily residence was at Ridgmont, a beautiful place about nine 
miles east of Hull, England, where the family for many gene- 
rations had lived, hospitably and honorably, keeping almost 
open iiousc in a large mansion, and receiving guests from al 
countries. 

Samuel Stickne}-, eldest son of William and Elizabeth, was 
born in England in 1633; married first in Bowley, Feb. 18, 

34 



882 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

1653, Julian Swan, who died in Bradford between the years 
1670 and 1673. He married second in Bradford April 6, 1674, 
Prudence (Leaver) Gage. 

Samuel Stickney came with his father first to Boston, thence 
to Rowley, and lived with him till he was twenty-one years of 
age ; he then received his portion of his father's estate, and 
married Julia Swan. He soon after purchased of William 
Acre a freehold, consisting of " land, dwelling house and barn" 
originally laid out in 1643 to Thomas Leaver, on Holmes street, 
near his father-in-law. Richard Swans. It was bounded "on the 
south by the common, and the east end by the streete." 

William Stickney, son of Samuel Stickney, born in Bradford 
Jan. 27, 1674; married in Bradford Sept. 14, 1701, Anna Hes- 
eltine. After his decease she was married second by Rev. 
Thomas Symmes, to Samuel Hunt, of Billerica, March 31, 
1709. He received May 4, 1704, by deed of gift from his 
father " four score acres of land in Bradford, one-half of his 
meadow and mowing ground, all his dwelling house and barn, 
one-half to be possesst on at present, with the above s'd land, 
the other half on his decease, one-half of his upland and Crane 
meadow in Rowley." He died in Bradford, and his grave-stone 
may still be seen in its old burial ground with the inscription : 
"William Stickney, died Feb. 21, 1706, AL. 32." Three chil- 
dren. 

Daniel Stickney, son of William Stickney, born in Bradford, 
Feb. 6, 1706-7, was married at Billerica by Rev. Samuel Rug- 
gles, to Mary Hill, Dec. 15, 1730. She died in Billerica June 
28, 1798, in her ninty-third year. 

Daniel Stickney was Captain of a troop of horse that were 
ordered by Colonel Eleazer Tyng, to march for the relief of 
Fort William Henry, August, 1757. Capt, Daniel Stickney 
died in Billerica, April 25, 1783. He was the father of seven 
children : 

David Stickney (1st), son of Daniel Stickney, born in Billerica 
Jan. 5, 1732-3 ; was married there by his uncle, William Stick- 
ney, Esq., Jan. 3, 1765, to Widow Kersiah Shed. She died 
March, 1805, and he was married again in Grafton, Vt., by 
Rev. William Hall, Oct. 10, 1805, to Widow Rachel Putnum, 
" He aged seventy-three, she aged seventy-two." She died 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 883 

Sept. 17, 1807. David went from Billcrica as trumpeter, in 
the troop of horse that were ordered out by Col. EleazcrTyng 
and marched for the reUef of Fort William Henry, under com- 
mand of Daniel Stickney (his father), Au<rust, 1757. . He 
removed to Grafton, Vt., and died there Oct. 17, 1807, aged 
seventy-four. There were six children. 

David Stickney (2d,) son of David Stickney first, was born at 
Billerica, Nov. 19, and baptised Nov, 25, 1770 ; married Sally 
Gray, 1794, and settled in Grafton, Vt., where all his children 
but the youngest were born. He then removed to the Holland 
Purchase, New York state, from thence to Illinois, where he 
died Oct. i, 1854. His widow died in Eden, Erie county, N. 
Y., July II, 1855. They had eight children. 

David Stickney(3d), son of David Stickney second, was born in 
Grafton, Vt., March 2, 1801 ; married Dec. 26, 1826, Hannah 
Hopkins, who was born in West Moreland, Vt., Nov. 28, 1800, 
and died in Seward, 111., Oct. 9, 1854. He lived in Sardinia, 
N. Y., where his children were born. He died Sept. 28, 1854. 
There were ten children. 

Edwin H. Stickney, son of David Stickney third, was born 
in Sardinia, N. Y., Aug. 25, 1828 ; married there Oct. 11, 1854, 
Irena Madison, who was born in Sardinia, N. Y.. July 2, 1830. 
They still reside in their native town and have one child. 

De Carl Stickney, son of Edwin H. Stickney, was born in 
Sardinia, Aug. 6, 1857, and lives in Buffalo, N. Y. 

Eli Stone. 

Eli Stone, son of Pollard and Electa Stone, was born Sept. 
14, 1828, in the Town of Sardinia, where he now resides own- 
ing and occupying a farm situated four miles northwest of Sar- 
dinia village. July 17, 1852, he married Hulda J. White, 
daughter of Albert and Jane White. Many of Mr. Stone's 
uncles were soldiers in the war of 1812. His father Pollard 
and his six brothers participated in the battle of Plattsburg, 
and his grandfather, John Stone, served in the Revolutionary 
war. The record of his family are as follows : 

Ella A., born Aug. 17, 1853 ; married Abby Rouse Sept. 29, 
1877. Marvin A., born Oct. 5, 1854; married Matie Kuhan, 
Oct. 6, 1877. Charles W., born June 8, 1859. Wilson L., born 



\ 



884 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

April 2 1, 1 86 1. Frank P., born Dec. 14, 1868, and died Dec 
25, 1868. Benjamin, born Dec. 12, 1870. James H., born Oct. 
5, 1872, and an adopted daughter, Ida M., born June 20, 1878. 

Edward Scott. 

Mr. Scott was born in Coventry, Kent county, R. I., March 
9, 1794. Jan. 10, 1816, he married Miss Ohve Madison, who 
was born at West Greenwich, Kent count}-, R. I., Oct. 1797- 
They have five children : Halsey, born May 10, 1818, in Rhode 
Island, died at Detroit, Mich., Mov. 8, 1861. Leonard, born 
Sept. 25, 1822, in Sardinia, and died there Nov. 8, 1854. 
Celestia, born April 3, 1827; married Reynold Tillinghast 
March 5, 1848, at Sardinia, where they now reside. Eliza E., 
born March &, 1835, at Sardinia; married Burrell L.Johnson 
Nov. 9, 1853. They live in Sardinia. 

Charles Spencer. 

Mr. Spencer's father, ^sagh Spencer, was born in 1804, in 
Westminster, Vt.; from there he went to Hinsdale, N. H., 
where he was married to Roxy Stearns,. From Hinsdale, they 
moved to Otto, N. Y., in 1826, and to Sardinia, " Prattham." in 
1828, where they now reside. When they came to Sardinia, 
the only settlers on the " Prattham " road were Deacon Beach, 
Isaac Bradshaw, and John Philips, Jr. 

Mr. Spencer had four children : Fannie married George 
Firman and since died. Caroline married J. W. Peckham and 
died April 21, 1871. W^arren ; and Charles, who was born in 
Sardinia, Sept. 30, 1835, where he has since resided. His busi- 
ness is farming and milling. He was married Feb. 11, 1858, 
to Sarah E. Grififith, daughter of John Griffith. They have 
five children ; 

Kinnie C, born 1858. Arthur C, born 1863. Belle, born 
1867. Clark R., born 1870, and PVank C, born 1873. 

Kinney C. Spencer. 

Kinney C. Spencer, the subject of this sketch, was born in 
Sardinia, Erie county, N. Y., Dec. i, 1859. His father's name 
is Charles Spencer ; his mother's maiden name was Sarah Grif- 
fith. He lived with his parents in Sardinia, and attended school 



BIOGRAl'lIICAL SKETCHES. 885 

at Springville a number of terms, until 1880, when he came 
to Concord and boui^ht the saw-mill one and one-fourth miles 
east of Springville, of Peter Zimmer. This he run until the 
Fall of 1882, when he sold out and returned to Sardinia, where 
he now lives. He was married Jan. i, 1879, ^^ Miss Emma 
Ruple. They have one child: 

Clyde Spencer, who was born Oct. 27, 1880, 

Cyreim.s F. Starkweather. 

Cyrenus F. Starkweather, son of Sidney Starkweather and 
Belinda (Cook) Starkweather, was born in Hamburg, N. Y., 
Jan. 19, 1838 ; came to Sardinia at fourteen years of age, 
where he resided until his death, Oct. 28, 1882. He was mar- 
ried Feb. 1 1, 1863, to Abigal Rider, daughter of Reuben Rider. 
They have one son now living, Carlton S. Rider, born Sept. 16, 
1872. Mr Starkweather was a farmer by occupation. Two 
of his brothers, Samuel and Wallace served in the Union army. 

Hiram C. Tanner. 

Mr. Tanner was born May 13, 1833, in Wales, Erie county 
and came to Holland in 1858. His father's name was Amos 
S. Tanner, born 1796, and died in 1849. His mother's maiden 
name was Sally Boughton,of Stephentown, Rensselaer county, 
N. Y. 

Mr. Tanner was married in Sardinia, Jan. i, 1861, to May 
Orr, who was born in Holland, N. Y., Aug. 8, 1838. While a 
resident of Holland, Mr. Tanner was engaged in dealing in 
cattle and produce. He moved to Protection, N. Y., in 1866 
and was engaged for two years in mercantile business. Since 
1868, he has been proprietor of the hotel at Protection. 

James H. Vosburg. 

James H. Vosburg, son of Henry J. Vosburg, was born 
at Kinderhook, Columbia county, N. Y., Feb. 10, 1822; 
came to Concord in 1832. In 1847 he bought ^3.^^d of the Hol- 
land Company on lot seven, township seven, range six, in Sar- 
dinia, where he has since resided. He was married Dec. 15, 
. 1846, to Delia Graff. They have three children: Henry J., 



886 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

born Nov. 20, 1848. Jane Maria, born March 15, 1850 ; mar- 
ried Charles Zimmer. William M., born March 9, 1854. 

Sterling Titiis, 

Son of James B. Titus, was born in Eden, N. Y., June 9, 1831, 
and this town was his home until 1866, when he removed to 
East Concord, N. Y., where he lived for eight years. In 1874 
he sold his farm there and bought the Cohvell place in Sardinia, 
where he has since lived. In 1856 he was united in marriage to 
Miss Annis Horton by whom he has three children, viz : Viola, 
Sarah and Willie. Sarah was married in the Fall of 1882, to 
Leverett Hitchcock and lives in Ashford. Mr. Titus is a Dea- 
con in the Free Baptist Church of East Concord. 

Roger P. Ward. 

Mr. Ward was born in Champion, Jefferson county, N. Y., 
June 21, 1816. His father, Thomas Ward, was a native of Ire- 
land ; his mother, whose maiden name was Susannah Kelner, 
was a native of Germany. They were married about 1802, in 
Jefferson county, N. Y., and came to Sardinia about 1818 or 
1819 and settled on "Shepherd Hill," on part of the farm now 
owned by Addison Wheelock. After living there six years 
they moved to the north-east part of the town. They had 
seven children : Nancy, married Jonathan Thomas and died 
in Holland about 1868. Polly, married Rufus Hawks and was 
killed in i860, by a run-away horse. Lawrence C, married 
Rebecca Brown ; lives near Grand Rapids, Mich. William, 
married Douzilla Ballard ; lives in Holland. Rosannah, mar- 
ried Averta Odell ; lives in Holland. Roger P., married Lu- 
cinda Avery ; lives in Sardinia. Eliza, married George Sweet ; 
lives in Pennsylvania. 

In speaking of early times in Sardinia, Mr. Ward (Roger P.), 
said he " first attended school in 1822 or 1825 to a Mr. Conklin, 
in his house, which stood where Fred. West now lives and 
went bare-footed all winter." Other early teachers were Betsy 
Steele, Lawrence Ward and E. H. Drake. 

Referring to wild animals he relates that a wolf came near 
their house one night and howled; several others down toward 
a swamp near by immediately answered. They went out and 



BIOflRAPIIICAL SKETCHES. 88/ 

drove the wolf away. The next mornini; in goin<;' dow n to the 
swamp they found the tracks of several wolves. 

Mr. Alanson Colby was out one evening C(V)n huntini^ and 
having occasion to climb a tree the wolves surrounded him and 
kept him up there all night. In speaking of the June frost in 
i8i6, he said his "father, on the morning of the 9th of that 
month, in going across the fields to a neighbor's, a mile or two 
away, and wearing shoes and stockings with holes in them, got 
his shoes full of the thickly accumulated frost in going through 
the grass and froze his heels so that they peeled." 

Mr. and Mrs. Roger P. Ward have four children : 

Angeline, married James Waggoner ; lives in Sardinia. 
Thomas, married Judith Crawford; lives in Holland. John 
Edwin, married Sarah Orr ; lives in Sardinia. Louisa, married 
William Haggerty ; lives in Arcade. 

Mr. Ward's father, Thomas Ward, died about 1849; ^""i-^ 
mother about 1855. 

Frederick R. AVest. 

Mr. West was born Jan. 12. 1821, in Tompkins county, N. 
Y.; came to Yorkshire with his father's family in 1828. In 
1843 he came to Sardinia, where he has since lived. His occu- 
pation has always been farming. Mr. West has been twice 
married, first in 1850 to Huldah Thompson, who died June 16, 
1855 ; a second time to Mrs. Mary Bowen, May i, 1862. By 
his first wife Mr. West has two children : 

Clarissa E., born May 10, 185 1. Alpheus B., born Feb 17, 

1853- 

Ashbel West. 

Ashbel West was born May 10, 1789; came to Sardinia in 
1843 ; '^V'^s married Feb. 14, 1843, ^^^ Eliza Hanford, who was 
born April 22, 1792; was a farmer; his father's name was 
Elijah West, born in Massachusetts, and died in Tompkins 
county, N. Y., at the age of ninety-six years. Ashbel West 
came from Tompkins county in 1828 to Yorkshire, Cattaraugus 
county, where he lived until 1843. He was at the burning of 
Buffalo in the war of of 18 12. 



888 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



FAMILY RECORD. 



Caroline E., born May 21, 1815; married Oct. 6, 1833, to 
Asa Packer, of Arcade, and lives in Machias. Hanford S., born 
Oct. 22, 1817. Cordelia, born March 22, 1819; married Charles 
Long in 1846 ; lives in Sardinia village. Frederick R., born 
Jan. 12, 1821 ; married in 1850 to Huldah Thompson, who 
died, and he was married a second time to Mrs. Mary Bowen. 
Abigail, born Dec. 6, 1823; married in 1844 to Joseph Butler. 
of Bloomington, Du Page county. 111. Minerva, born May 5, 
1825; married in 1856 to Harvey Butler; she died in Illinois 
in 1873. Emily, born June 12, 1827; died April 15, 1862. 
Elijah, born July 4, 1830; married and lives in Chicago. 

Hanford C. West. 

Hanford C. West was a son of Ashbel West and Elizabeth 
Hanford. His father was a native of Massachusetts, and served 
in the war of 1812; was at the burning of Buffalo. His mother 
was born in Delaware. 

Mr. West was born Oct. 2, 1817, in Tompkins county, N. Y,; 
moved to Yorkshire about 1830, and to Sardinia, where he now 
resides, in 1845. About 1840 Mr. West went to Illinois, and 
remained there five years ; then came back, and in 1853 made 
an overland trip to California. He started from Chicago, drove 
one hundred head of cattle, six horses and a mule ; was six 
months making the journey, including a week spent at Salt 
Lake City. He remained in California about three years, when 
he returned and has since resided in Sardinia. 

Mr. West was married July 3, 1857, to Alvira Newton, who 
was born March 3, 1836, in Jefferson county, N. Y., and came 
to Sardinia in 1849. They have three children: 

Charles W., born Oct. 11, 1859; Duaine A., born March 20, 
1 861. Ella J., born Nov. 27, 1864. 

Wilcox Family. 

John Wilcox, grandfather of William Wilcox, was born in 
England about 1757. Came to America in the early part of 
the Revolution, and at once enlisted in the American army, 
where he served until the close of the war, when he married 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 889 

Mary Crosby of New York city, who was born in 1757 and died 
in 1832. He resided at New York city for a number of years, 
where his two oldest children were born ; from there he moved 
to Litchfield, Herkimer county, and from there to Sardinia in 
1813, where he lived as a farmer until his death about 1823. 
He had a family of eleven children. 

John, married Melinda Palmer; died in Illinois in 1874. 
Charlotte, married Zacharia Townsend ; died in Litchfield, N. 
Y., in 1861. Henrietta, married Archibald Perry; died in 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1865. Jeremiah, married Melinda 
Abby ; died in Ashford, N. Y., in 1855. Hiram, born in 1790; 
died in Illinois in 1 850. Samuel, born in 1792 ; married De- 
borah Smith ; died in Concord, N. Y., in 1859. Oliver, born in 

1794; married Hannah ; died in Ohio in 1850. Mary, 

born in 1796; married Stephen Townsend ; died in Litchfield, 
N. Y., in 1850. Roswell, born in 1798 ; died in Illinois in 1855. 
Polly, born in 1800; died in Litchfield, N. Y., in 1855. Charles, 
born in 1802; married Barbara Wilkes; died in Minnesota in 
1875. 

Elijah Wheelock. 

Mr. Wheelock was born in the Town of Litchfield, Herki- 
mer county, N. Y., in 1794, and came to Sardinia in 1838. V^ 
18 19, he was married to Lucretia Taylor, who was born in the 
Town of Volney, Oswego county, N. Y., in 1797, and who died 
in Sardinia in 1841. Mr. Wheelock is still living, at the re- 
markable age of eighty-nine years. They had a family of 
children, viz.: 

Franklin W. married Diantha Reynolds; she died in 1843 J 
married again to Louisa Johnson ; he died April 22, 1872. 
Harrison, born in 1822; married Miss Jeannette Brewer ; moved 
to Iowa ; served two years in the War of the Rebellion, and 
died in 1863. Addison, born Jan. 29, 1824; married Minerva 
Parks, in 1848. Alzina, born 1827: married Albert Dawley, 
and died in 1851. Matilda, born 1829; married Philip Fris- 
bee, and resides in Pennsylvania, Caroline, born in 1834; mar- 
ried William Moses and lives in Pennsylvania. 

Since the above was written, Mr. Wheelock has died (Oct., 
1883), aged about ninety years. 



890 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



Addison Wheelock. 

Addison Wheelock, son of Elijah Wheelock, was born in the 
Town of Olney, Oswego county, N. Y., Jan. 29, 1824, and at' 
the age of fourteen years he came with his father's family to 
the Town of Sardinia, which has since been his home. As a 
general rule, the sons of the early settlers had but limited 
means for improvement. The Summers were spent in chop- 
ping and clearing land, and only three months of the Winter 
was allowed for schooling, and we presume young Addison 




HAND FAN, 



fared no better than the rest. However, he was possessed of 
two sterling qualities that greatly aided him in making his way 
in the world, viz.: energy and perseverance. By the help ol 
these, he has qualified himself for all the practical concerns of 
life, and by good management and perseverance he has 
acquired a goodly competence. He has the respect and confi- 
dence of his fellow-townsmen, who have upon several occa- 
sions honored him with positions of trust and responsibility, 
the duties of which he has discharged with fidelity. In 1875, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 89I 

'y^ and '79 he represented his town on the Board of Supervis- 
ors. In 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Minerva 
Parks, who has borne him two children, viz.: 

Lucy A., born in 1854; married Cyrenius Holmes, Feb. 9, 
1874, and resides in Sardinia. William Addison, born in 1863, 
and died at his father's home, Oct. 6, 1 883, a favorite. Willie was 
a bright and promising youth, and his sudden taking off has cast a 
great shadow o'er the hearts of the sorrowing parents and friends 
who have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community in 
this their affliction. 



892 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

FAMILY SKETCHES OF PERSONS NOT RESIDING 
WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE PRE- 
CEDING TOWNS. 

tTohn Calvin Adams. 

John Calvin Adams was born May i, 1793, at New London, 
Conn.; died July 25, 1847, at Franklin Mills, Ohio. He learned 
and worked at the trade of a blacksmith. He was the first 
Postmaster at Collins Center ; was a merchant there several 
years. At the time of his death, he was engaged in farming. 
He was a descendant of the Massachusetts Adams family, his 
father being a nephew of Samuel Adams, one of the signers 
of the Declaration of Independence. 

Hepzibah Chadwick, his wife, was born March 18, 1787, at 
Lyme, Conn.; died Jan. 14, 1853, at Franklin Mills, Ohio. 
They ^vere married Jan. i, 1817, at Chatham, N. Y. They had 
children, viz.: 

George Rodney C. Adams, born Aug. 16, 1818, at Chatham, 
N. Y.; by occupation a farmer; now retired and lives at Gales- 
burgh, Mich. He married Henrietta Olin, at Franklin Mills, 
O., Oct. 8, 1843. 

Samuel Cary Adams, born Dec. 22, 1820, at Chatham, N. Y.; 
learned and worked at the carpenter and joiner trade ; after- 
wards studied law; was admitted to the bar ; is a practicing 
attorney, and resides at Buffalo. He married Harriet White, 
daughter of Isaac White, at Collins, N. Y., Oct. 20, 1842. 

Ezra Chadwick Adams, born Jul}- 14, 1823, at Collins, N.Y., 
a physician, and lives at Alamo, Mich. He married Mary 
Stratton, Sept. 17, 1844, at P^ranklin Mills, O. 

Charles Chaunce\- Adams, born April 27, 1 830, at Collins, N. 



mOGRAl-lIICM, SKETCHES. ^93 

Y.; a farmer, and lives at Riley Center Kan He married 
Melissa P. Southwiek, March 20, .853. at 1-rank m M.Us O. 
George Rodney C. Adams, has four ehildren hvng. Hepsy 
Ueor„L > f .,„a i.vcs near Gales- 

C:::^" M^,o O marr,ed; .s a hardware merchant at 

G lesbrn 'h, M.ch. Sarah A. married a Mr. Towne a farmer 
and hves' near Galesburgh, Mich. George, marr.ed ; .s Post- 
master at Galesburgh, M.ch. 

Sann,el Gary Adams has four ehddrcn ..ng . John U un 
married ; one of the firm of Young Logwood & C^rcs.des 
at Buffalo, N. Y. Hannah M., marr.ed Mr. A. I.. R' "'^"^ ^ 
farmer and resides ..ear Galesburgh, M.ch. Harr.et A., un- 
mlTrLd and resides w.th her father at Buffalo. Carr.e, u.,mar- 
married and resides with her father at Buffalo. 

EraC Adams has three children l.vhrg : Charles C. mar 
..ied a merchant, and res.des at Alamo, Mich. F-^" ---" 
■> co..,mercial traveler, and res.des at Plamwell, M.ch. Ala, 
unmarried, and resides with her father at Alamo. 

Charles Chauncey Adams has four eh.kh^en '-'"'S^ I'°;^' 
unmarried, and resides w.th her father at R''^ Cent r Kan 
Id i married a farmer and lives near Riley Cente.. Ctta mar- 
ncd a farmer and lives near R.ley Center. Charles C, unma,- 
ried and resides with his father. 

John Brooks. 

Tohn Brooks was a son of Nathaniel Brooks and Lucy 
,R chards) Brooks of Connecticut. The family consisted of 
^mjah. Jesse, John, Theophilus, Roxana, Polly, Hannah and 

-lohn was born in Connecticut, Apnl ^^ 1790 ; married 
Lydia Booth, daughter of Isaac and EHzabeth Booth March 
.1 1816. The family of John and Lydia consisted o Luc> 
Tohn Jr Elizabeth. Diantha, Nathaniel, Belinda, Lyd.a and 
Andrew J., of whom four only are now living, viz.: Lucy L., 
Diantha, Nathaniel and Andrew J. The oldest, now Lucy 
Gould, is living at Emmettsburg, Iowa, with her son, J. E. King, 
merchant, and former Sheriff of Palo Alto county, Iowa. Eliza- 
beth Diantha Aldrich lives at Boston with her daughter, Rox- 
-ini Pierce Nathaniel lives at Colden village; has four 



894 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

daughters, all married, and two sons (medical students). Belinda 
Taber died at Elma, Nov. 28, 1870, leaving four sons and three 
daughters. Lydia Hall died at Wales Center, April 20, 1873, 
leaving three daughters. 

Andrew J. Brooks. 

Andrew J. Brooks, son of John and Lydia Brooks, was born 
in Concord, Aug. 5, 1832; attended school at Springville 
Academy in 1849 and '50 ; attended lectures at the Albany 
Medical college in 1856 and 1858, at which college he gradu- 
ated, and located at Marilla, Erie county, N. Y., in 1859, where 
he has since practiced. He was married in 1863, to Melvina 
A. Clark, and has a family of three boys and two girls. The 
oldest son, R. E. Brooks, is now teaching school on Townsend 
Hill, where his grandfather taught nearly sixty years ago. 

John Brooks died at his home in Colden, Erie county, June 
7, 185^, was at one time Colonel; also held the office of side 
Judge. He was a member of Living Stone Lodge of F. and 

A, M.. of Colden, N. Y., from its first organization until re- 
moved to the Grand Lodge above. 

Mrs. Lydia Brooks died at the home of her daughter Lydia 

B. Hall, at Wales Center, N. Y., April loth, 1870. Of their 
children John, Jr. and John, Jr. (son), died in infancy. 

Lucy has two sons by her second husband ; one is a farmer 
in Iowa, and one an editor in Minnesota. 
Diantha has one son and one daughter. 

A. H. Briggs, M. 1>. 

Dr. Briggs' father,- Joseph B. Briggs, was born in Woodstock, 
Vermont, and came to this county in 1828. His ancestors are 
traceable to the New England Puritans. The doctor's mother 
was the oldest daughter of Col. Cyrenus Wilber, who repre- 
sented the county in the Assembly of 1838. 

Dr. Briggs was born Sept. 9, 1842, in Lancaster, Erie county, 
N. Y. He attended school at the Batavia Union School, 
Aurora Academy and Genesee Wesleyan College, at Lima, 
N. Y. In 1868 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. 
Samuel Potter, of Lancaster ; was with him three years and 
three months. Attended during that time three full courses of 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 895 

lectures at the Buffalo Medical College, graduating Feb. 20, 
1871 ; commenced practice in Buffalo May i, 1871. 

Dr. Brigg.s was the first post-mortem examiner in the county. 
Ho held that office over three years. He was for one year 
District Physician for the 2d District of Buffalo. For two 
years, 1880 and '81, he was Health Officer of the city. During 
1 88 1 he established a system of inspection of emigrants in 
transit, which has since been adopted throughout most of the 
northern states. In 1881 he was appointed First Grand Medi- 
cal Examiner of the A. O. U. W., for New York state, which 
position he still occupies. He is also Sergeant of the 65th 
Regiment of National Guard. 

Dr. Briggs was married in 1863, to Meckre Baker, daughter 
•of Dr. Baker, of Andover, N. Y. They have one son and one 
daughter. 

Greorg'e W. Briggs. 

Mr. Briggs was born in Collins, in 1850, where he lived until 
he was twenty-two years of age. Has taught school eleven 
terms. Was seven years in the employ of William A. Johnson, 
a cheese manufacturer. Became a resident of East Hamburg 
in 1881 ; was elected Justice of the Peace of that town in 1882. 
Is now Deputy Sheriff on Sheriff Koch's staff, Mr. Briggs 
was married in 1875 to Orcelia A. Pike. They have had two 
children: Nora M., born Dec. 8, 1876; died Aug. 8, 1880, and 
Norman E., born in Concord Aug. 3, 1879. 

Harrison T. Foster. 

Harrison T. Foster, son of Talcott and Lucy I'oster, was 
born in Byron, Genesee county, N. Y., June 20, 1827. His 
father was a native of Massachusetts ; his mother of Connecti- 
cut. He was the only child of a second marriage on the part 
of both parents, but had several half brothers and sisters. His 
father died when he was seven years of age, and with the aid of 
his mother he nianaged the farm until he was eigh teen ; mean- 
while he had formed the acquaintance of Miss Clarissa Strick- 
land whom he married September, 1846. Taking his amiable 
young wife and his mother he at once removed to Michigan, 
but before the ne.xt Autumn tiiey were all attacked with 



896 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

malarial fever; the mother died, and as soon ashimseh^and wife 
were able to travel they returned to their native town. The 
following year he purchased sixty acres of land in Alden (now 
Marilla), about a half mile west of what is now Marilla village, 
on which he constructed a rude dwelling into which he moved 
and commenced logging and clearing his land. This he 
followed for about three years. 

About this time an accident occurred which changed the 
whole course of Mr. Foster's life. A yoke of oxen, the only 
team he possessed and for which he was owing, broke loose from 
their moorings and filled themselves with corn to such an extent 
that one of them died and the other was rendered valueless, 

Mr. Foster was in debt for his land, having made but partial 
payments on his purchase. He was unable to buy a team, and 
make payment on his land. In this crisis of his affairs Joshua 
Axtel, the keeper of a small grocery in' the Village of Marilla, 
offered to purchase the land ; a bargain was made, Mr. Foster 
taking in payment the grocery store and stock of goods, valued 
at five hundred dollars, an eighty acre lot in Wisconsin and a 
mortgage of $300 on land in the Town of Darien. Failing to 
sell his grocery stock, he formed a copartnership with Charles 
Walker, who had a small stock of dry goods and groceries in 
the village. They built a small store with their own hands, 
and moved into it in May, 1852. The following July he bought 
Mr. Walker's interest, and carried on the business himself two 
years. He then sold to Jonathan B. Bass ; and the following 
year was spent in settling accounts and lumbering. 

Having become familiar with and liking the mercantile busi- 
ness, Mr. Foster availed himself of the first opportunity of 
re-entering it. In September, 1855, he formed a partnership 
with Jefferson H. Brooks, and bought the store opposite the 
Spring hotel in Marilla. This partnership continued until Jan- 
uary, 1865, when Mr. Foster bought Mr. Brooks' interest, and 
formed a partnership with Henry D. Harrington, who had been 
a clerk in the store for the previous five years. 

In 1873, G. C. Mouchow was taken into the firm, which con- 
tinued until 1878, when Mr. Foster bought out Mr. Harring- 
ton and formed a partnership with Mr. Mouchow, which con- 
tinues to the present time, 1883, under the firm name of H. T. 



HIOCIKAPHICAL SKETCMIiS. 897 

Foster & Co. The firm with its different partners, was ahvays 
successful, never made an assignment, was never sued at law, 
and is doint:^ a profitable business at present. 

In addition to his mercantile business, Mr. Foster has been 
an active politician. He was first elected Supervisor of his 
town in 1S60, and held that office five years in succession, and 
then after one year he was elected two years in succession, then 
declined being a candidate. But in 1881, a sharp contest aris- 
ing between the City of Buffalo and the towns of Erie county 
in regard to equalization, the towns saw the necessity of send- 
ing men of experience and ability to represent them on the 
board, and Mr. Foster was again elected. He has been- for the 
last three years, and is now, a member of the board. He has 
held the office of Postmaster for the last twenty-three years with 
the exception of two years; was Justice of the Peace four 
years, and during the war he was made a member of the com- 
mittee to superintend the raising of volunteers and paying 
bounties. These duties he performed with so much energy 
and abilitN' that not a man in his jurisdiction was forced into 
the army by draft. 

Mr. Foster's first wife died in 1870; he subsequently married 
Mrs. Lord, daughter of George W. Carpenter, one of the first 
settlers on the Indian Reservation. At the time of her mar- 
riage with Mr. Foster Mrs. Lord had two daughters, Mary and 
Estelle. Mary married William H. Johnson in 1873 ; died in 
1874, leaving an infant boy. Estelle married Everett L. 
Hedges, of Marilla, in 1882 ; died in 1883, leaving an infant 
girl. Both of these children arc living with Mr. Foster as his 
own. 

Mr. Foster is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
having united therewith in 1870. He is now fifty-six )'ears of 
age, hale and hearty, healthy and happy. 

William Field. 

William Field, son of Solomon Field, came to Concord from 
Madison county in 18 10, with his father, with whom he resided 
during his minority, and assisted in improving his farm on 



898 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, 

Townsend hill. Mr. Field. was twice married, first to Miss 
Mary E. Briggs in 1827, by whom he had seven children: 

Marvin W., Mary L., Emily, Charles, Perry, Sally and Man- 
ley. 

Second to Mrs. Jane Briggs, by whom he had two children : 

Ellen F. and Ida F. 

Mary L. married David Needham and lives in LaCrosse 
county. Wis.: they have had two children. Emily married 
Austin Agard ; lives in Missouri. Charles, died in Buffalo. 
Perry, died at his sister's in LaCrosse county, by disease con- 
tracted in the army. Sally lives in Iowa. Manley lives in 
Buffalo. 

Marvin W. Field. 

Marvin W. Field, son of William and Mary E. Field, was 
born in Concord, Erie county, N. Y., Feb. 22, 1828. He has 
been twice married, first to Miss Malissa Ann Agard, who was 
born in Concord, April 4th, 1839, by whom he had one child, 
which died in infancy; second, to Mrs. Hannah A. Hill, Oct. 
II, 1870, who died at East Hamburg Nov. 5, 1883. 

Mr. Field is by trade a carpenter, which calling he has fol- 
lowed several years, but is now a successful horticulturist and 
fruit-grower in East Hamburg. 

Allen Drake. 

Allen Drake was a son of John and Dorcas Drake, who came 
to what is now Concord in 18 10, and settled on lot fifty. Mr. 
Drake had a family of four children : John, who died many 
years ago ; Angeline, who went west and married a man by 
the name of Williams ; Sarah Ann, who also went west and 
married, and Allen the subject of this sketch. Allen Drake 
married Mary Wheeler, daughter of Benjamin Wheeler, by 
whom he had nine children : 

Whitney A., born Jan. 28, 1827; died Oct. 18, 1846. Sam- 
son P., born June 29, 183 1 ; died Aug. 10, 1855. Caroline, wife 
of Samson P., died Jan. 9, 1864. Benjamin A., born Dec. 6, 
1843; died Sept. 19, 1855. Mary O., married Marcus Scott 
and lives in Chautauqua county. Harvey W., married and is 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 899 

a prosperous druggist in Milwaukee. Almantha. John R,, 
married, is a partner with his brother in Milwaukee. Henry T. 
Angie. 

William \V. Hniniiion<l. 

William W. Hammond, son of Charles Hammond and 
Clarissa Clark, was born in the town of Hamburg, Nov. 4, 1831. 
At the age of six years his parents moved to the town of 
Brant, while it was yet a part of the towns of Evans and Col- 
lins, and settled on lot number nineteen on the mile-strip, upon 
a piece of land comprising 120 acres, and which was then 
primeval forest. Here he was brought up, and here his parents 
lived most of their lives, after moving there, and the farm is 
still in possession of the family being now owned by his 
youngest sister, Mrs. Hicey. 

His education was obtained entirely in the pioneer log school- 
house, except three terms of thirteen weeks each, at Irving, 
Chautauqua county, to attend which he walked six miles each 
day, and one term at F'redonia Academy in the Fall of 1848, 
where he worked for a widow lady, doing chores for his board, 
his father not feeling able to pay his board in addition to nec- 
essary books and tuition. Then teaching school Winters and 
working on the farm Summers until twenty years of age, when 
he bought his time of his father, paying him therefor ten 
dollars per month until he was twenty-one. Married at the 
age of twenty-three, he carried on a farm on shares for three 
years, then commenced keeping a country store, with a very 
small capital and devoted his unoccupied time to the study of 
" Cowen's Treatise," and " Barbour's Criminal Law." 

His wife died in August, i860, leaving him with a babe one 
week old, which was taken by his deceased wife's parents, and 
early the next Spring, being then in his thirtieth year, he 
entered the law ofTice of Sawin & Lockwood, as a law student, 
in the same rooms on the corner of Main and Seneca streets, 
still occupied by Hon. S. Lockwood, and at the same time that 
the late William H. Guerney was a law student in the office of 
Humphrey & Parsons, over the old postoffice just across the 
street on the corner below. 



QOO 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



At a general term of the Supreme Court, held at the old 
Court House in the City of Buffalo, on the second Monday of 
May, 1861, Hon. Richard P. Marvin, Justice presiding, and 
Hon. Martin Grover and Hon. Noah Davis, Jr., Justices, after 
a course of study of less than thirteen zvecks, he was admitted 
to practice as an Attorney and Counselor of the Supreme 
Court. This is probably the shortest term of clerkship, in 
course of study as a law student, of any person ever admitted 
to practice as a lawyer in the City of Buffalo ; and many times 
in years since he has regretted the mistake of being admitted 
so soon. 

After this he practiced law for four years in the village of 
Angola, then gave up the practice and engaged in mercantile 
and lumbering business, in the town of Brant for about eleven 
years, during which time he held the ofifice of Supervisor of the 
town for nine years. In the Fall of 1877, he was elected County 
Judge in place of Hon. George W. Cothran, who was appointed 
by the Governor to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation 
of Hon. Albert Haight, and re-elected in the Fall of 1878. 

In the Spring of 1878 he removed to Buffalo where he has 
since resided. 

He comes from a long-lived race on the side of both par- 
ents ; his grandfather, Benoni G. Hammond, having died a few 
years ago, nearl}' ninety years of age, and his father died from 
the effects of a fall received after he was sixty. His mother 
died when he was about twelve years of age from an acute 
disease caused by an injury ; but her mother lived to a ripe old 
age, and died some 3'ears since at the residence of her son in 
Michigan. 

Chamicey J. Hastiiigrs. 

Chauncey J. Hastings was born in Sardinia, N. Y., May 16, 
1826, where ho lived until May 19, 1856, when he removed to 
Buffalo, where he has ever since been engaged in the real estate 
business in Brown's building. 

He attended school at Springville Acadeni}' two terms in 
1849 and '50. Was married in 1852 to Lydia H. Cheddock. 
They have a son, Charles R. and a daughter, F. Adeal, who 
resides in Binghamton, N. Y. 



HK^GRAl'lIICAF, SKETCHES. 9OI 

Seymour P. Hastiiis«. 

Seymour P. Hastings was born in Sardinia July 4, 1824, 
where he lived until 1856, when he went to New York and 
gave his attention to mercantile pursuits for ten \-ears. He 
then came to Buffalo where he has ever since been engaged in 
business. He is now in the real estate and insurance business 
with his brother Chaunce}' J. Hastings. 

Mr. Hastings was a student of Aurora Academy. He was 
Supervisor of Sardinia in 1855 and was once a candidate of the 
national democratic party for Member of Assembly. He mar- 
ried Sarah E. Moshier; they have had two children: one son 
Avho is dead and a daughter, Grace H., born Aug. 22, 1854. 

Harry H. Koch. 

Harry H, Koch was born at Williamsville, County of Erie, 
N. Y., on the loth of March, 1841. Hisancestors were of Ger- 
man and English descent. His grandfather, Jacob Koch, 
lived in Chester county, Penn., where his father, John Koch, 
was born in 181 1. When the latter was seventeen years old he 
came to this state and settled in W'illiamsv'ille, in this county. 
He engaged in mercantile pursuits, carrying on the business of 
a general country store. In 1857 '"^^ ^^^^^ '^'-^^ I'^is business in 
Williamsville and built a saw-mill near Clarence Center. He 
was a prominent and leading citizen in Williamsville and 
vicinity and was called upon by his fellow citizens while yet a 
young man to fill \'arious local offices, including Deputy SherifT, 
Town Collector and Constable. In 1862 he was appointed to 
the office of Deputy Internal Revenue Collector and discharged 
its duties with rigid fidelity. 

Mr. Koch was an old-time Whig, and a strong anti-slavery 
man. and therefore naturally drifted into the ranks of the Re- 
publican party at its formation and of which he was one of the 
founders. He was one of eleven persons in the town of Am- 
herst that voted the Republican ticket the first year of the 
existence of the party, and the ticket being successful in the 
state, the immortal eleven celebrated the victory with a grand 
banquet. 

He married Elizabeth Spayth, a sister of Henry Spayth, the 
well-known author on checkers, of Buffalo, and raised a family 



902 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

of five children, one son and four daughters. He died at Wil- 
liamsville in 1879, mourned by a large circle of friends after a 
residence in that village of fifty-one years. 

Harry H. Koch, the subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood 
at school and in attendance at his father's store. He graduated 
at Williamsville Classical School at the age of seventeen, and 
then devoted nearly three years in attendance upon his father's 
saw-mill. He received a thorough business training from his 
father, who ever held it of the first importance that young men 
should not only be educated, but instructed in business as well. 
After leaving the saw-mill young Koch came to Buffalo and 
attended the Business College of Bryant & Stratton, and grad- 
uated therefrom in 1861. 

For several years after this he found employment as book- 
keeper and salesman with boot and shoe dealers in Buffalo. In 
1869 he opened a small boot and shoe store on his own account ; 
he continued to enlarge and develop his business until it has 
reached large proportions. 

Mr. Koch represented the loth Ward in the Common Council 
in 1 88 1 as a Republican. He was an influential member of 
that body and championed many measures tending to correct 
abuses and diminish taxation in municipal affairs. His efforts 
in the Common Council were appreciated by the people and 
rewarded by electing him Sheriff of Erie county, in 1882, by a 
majority of 1103. Grover Cleveland, Democratic candidate for 
Governor, receiving at the same time 734 majority in the same 
county. 

Mr. Koch was married in 1865 to Hattie N. Coe ; they have 

two sons. 

Frederick Miller. 

Mr. Miller was born in Alsace, France, July 4, 1836; came 
from there to Buffalo in 1852, and engaged in carriage-making 
for five years ; then worked at bell-making at Boston, N. Y., 
awhile, when he started a blacksmith shop at the same place ; 
carrying this on a while, he returned to Buffalo to his former 
occui^ation of carriage-making, which he pursued until Febru- 
ary, 1864, when he enlisted in the army as a member of com- 
pany A, Seventy-fourth regiment New York State militia ; 
served about four months. 



BIOCIRAPIIICAL SKF.TCIIKS. 9O3 

In 1866, he went to Golden, N. Y., and opened a blacksmith 
shop, which he continued for six years, when he became the 
proprietor of the Boston Center hotel until 1875, when he re- 
moved to Sprin<jville and resided till 1877, when he went to 
Buffalo, where he now resides as proprietor of a restaurant 
opposite the City and County hall. 

Mr. Miller was married in 1858, to Magdalene Hendrich. 
They have three children, viz.: Albert F., born in Boston, 
March 6, 1859. Magdalene, born in Buffalo, Nov. 20, 1864. 
Emma E., born in Colden, Nov. 14, 1866. 

In 1854, Mr. Miller's father, one sister and six brothers came 
to this country, and at present (i882jare all living and residents 
of Colden and Boston. 

S. E. S. H. Nott, M. D. 

The Notts were of English origin, and a titled family in Eno-- 
land. The Doctor's grandfather, Epaphras Nott, was a native 
of Massachusetts ; he entered the Revolutionary War at six- 
teen, and served throughout as a marine. He had a family of 
three sons and three daughters. The eldest son, Ezra, father 
of the Doctor, was born in Wells, Vt., in 1787; he married 
Hannah Hardy; they came to Aurora, Erie county, in 1806, and 
while a resident of that place cleared the land where the Auro- 
ra Academy now stands ; he removed to Sardinia in 1809. He 
had a family of seven children, all born in Sardinia. 

Samuel E. S. H. Nott was born Nov. 19, [817. He attended 
school at Springville, Aurora and Wyoming academies, served 
as Inspector and Superintendant of Schools in Sardinia. 
Studied medicine with Dr. B. H. Colgrove of Sardinia ; "^radu- 
ated at the Castleton (Vt.) Medical college in 1844; afterwards 
attended lectures in New York. Came to Hamburg, April 18, 
1845, and began the practice of medicine, which he continued 
till December, 1849, when he removed to Buffalo and practiced 
eleven years ; when he returned to Hamburg, where he has since 
practiced his profession. While a resident of Buffalo, he served 
three years as Coroner. Is now President of the Erie County 
Medical society. 

Dr. Nott was married in 1847, to Eunice Salisbury, of Ham- 
burg. They have three children living, viz.: 



904 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Edward S., druggist, at Hamburg. Elon G., photographer, 
at Hamburg, and Nellie M. 

George W. Nichols. 

Alanson Nichols, father of the subject of this sketch, was 
born in the Town of Oneida, Oneida county, in 1804, and was 
married in the Town of Boston in 1826, to Miss Jerusha Irish, 
and went to live in the Town of Freedom, Cattaraugus county, 
where they resided about five years. They then came to Bos- 
ton and settled on East Boston hill, where they lived at the 
time of his death, which occurred Nov. 4. 1882, and where his 
widow still resides. 

Their children are : Jeduthan married and lives in Evans. 
Angeline, a widow, and lives in Oshkosh, Wis. Adaline is 
married and lives in Brant. George W. Harriet married 
and lives in Boston. Emery R. lives with his mother on the 
old homestead. 

George W. Nichols was born in the Town of Freedom, Cat- 
taraugus county, March 15, 1830, and came with his parents to 
Boston in 1832, where he resided till 1853, when he removed 
to Colden. He was married June 30, 1853, to Miss Helen 
Johnson, of Boston. He has been engaged in lumbering, farm- 
in"" and the produce business. He was Justice of the Peace 
twelve years, Associate Justice five years. Supervisor of Col- 
den thirteen years, and Chairman of the Board two years. 

They have two children: Eugene M., born in 1858, is a 
Civil Engineer in the employ of the N. Y. C. & St. L. R. R., 
with headquarters at Chicago. 

Anna J., born in 1863, married William B. Courier, May 9, 
1883. and lives in Colden. 

William Wiley. 

William Wiley was born Feb. 4, 1 801, in Londonderry, Ire- 
land, and was married in 1838 to Miss Maria McClure, who was 
born in Londonderry, county of Donegal, in 1816. He owned 
and carried on a farm four miles from Londonderry. They 
had three children born in Ireland-and their ages ranged from 
two to nine vears when they came to America. They came 



RIOGKAI'llICAI, SKETCIIKS. 905 

to this country in 1845, «" ^ sailing vessel, and were twenty- 
eight days from Liverpool to New York. They came from 
Albany to Buffalo on the canal and settled first in Boston ; 
lived there two years, and then removed to the northeast part 
of Concord in 1848. They lived there five years and then 
bought the Holt farm on South Colden hill, and lived there 
until 1874, when they sold out and removed to Golden village. 
They had four children : 

Richard, died in Golden Nov. 24, 1873. Margaret J., mar- 
ried William Kelso and lives in the Town of Aurora. John 
M. Andrew, born in Boston Aug. 4, 1845 I died March 5, 1; 



John M. Wiley. 

John M. Wiley was born near Londonderry, Ireland, Aug. 
II, 1843. ''^"tl came to this country with his parents in 1845. 
He is unmarried, and has always made his home with them; 
he has worked on a farm in his younger days, has dealt in 
stock, bought, sold and shipped cattle from Canada, and from 
the West to the Eastern markets. Li November, 1867, he 
bought a store in Golden, and kept a general assortment of 
goods and carried on a successful business for about seven 
years. He was elected Member of the Assembly in 1870, from 
the Fifth Assembly district, and was also elected a second time 
in 1871, being the first Democrat ever elected from the district. 
At the present time he is engaged in herding cattle in the Li- 
dian Territory and in raising oranges in Florida. He owns 
real estate in Golden, Concord and Aurora, and also in Florida. 

Christian Miller. 

Christian Miller was born in Alsace, France, Feb. 26, 1832, 
and was married June 22, 1853, to Saloma Frautz. He worked 
at the trade of blacksmith and machinist in the old country. 
He came to America on a sailing vessel in 1854, and was forty- 
two da}'s out from Havre. He Ccune direct to Buffalo and 
worked there at his trade three years. From there he came to 
West Concord, Erie county, and conducted a farm two years 
and then removed to the northeast part of Concord. He then 
moved to Golden and bought a farm (which he still owns) and 
conducted it nine years, and then bought the hotel at Golden, 



906 BIOGRAPHICAI. SKETCHES. 

which he has owned and managed ever since. He has been 
Constable, Collector, Assessor, Highway Commissioner and 
Deputy Sheriff. He has six children ; 

William C, born Aug. 6, 1854. Christian G., born Sept. 30, 
1857. Michael L., born May 8, 1859; married Julia M. Buf- 
fom. Lewis, born March 2, 1861. Fred, born Jan. 10, 1864. 
Maria L., born Sept. 3, 1865. 

David C. Oatman. 

Mr. Oatman's father, Lyman Oatman, was born in Hartford, 
Washington county, N. Y., Oct. 21, 18 16, and came to Evans, 
N. Y., in May, 1848. He built the first store, which was also 
the second building put up in what is now Angola, but was 
then a wilderness region. He conducted mercantile and other 
pursuits in Angola until his death in 1877, Sept. 9. Mr. Oat- 
man was not only an early pioneer, but an active and promin- 
ent person in the public affairs relating to his region. He was 
Supervisor of Evans several times and represented his district 
in the Assembly in 1870. He was Postmaster at Angola from 
the commencement of Lincoln's administration until his death, 
except a short time during Johnson's administration. He was 
married in 1839 in the town of his birth, to Desire Barrell. He 
had two sons : 

David C. and Leroy S. 

David C. Oatman was born Sept. 1 1, 1840, in the same town 
his father was born in. He was eight years of age when the 
family came to Evans, where he has always claimed a residence. 
He attended school at Madison University in 1857-58, after 
which he entered his father's store and subsequently became a 
partner, and since his father's death continues the business. 
Mr. Oatman was Supervisor of his town five terms, and in the 
Fall of 1876 was elected County Clerk, which ofifice he held one 
term. He is at present — 1882 — -one of the City and County 
Hall Commissioners. At the expiration of his ofifice of County 
Clerk he, in company with his brother Leroy S., engaged in 
the wholesale produce and commission, business in Buffalo, 

Mr. Oatman was married in 1866 to Allette J. Arneson, of 
Newark, N. J. They have five children, viz.: Flora A., Lillian 
B., Orlin Lyman, Minnie D., and May H. R. 



BIOGKAl'HICAL SKKTCIIES. 9^7 

Mr. Oatman's brother, Leroy S., was born July 6, 1844, at 
the same place where David C. was. He was a volunteer in 
the ii6thN. Y. State Volunteers, and served throughout the 
war. He was ordinance Sergeant of his regiment. While his 
brother was County Clerk he acted as Clerk of the Supreme 
Court. 

George Williams. 

The Williams" were of English descent. Stephen Williams, 
grandfather of George and a prominent citizen of Danby, Vt., 
came to that town from Rhode Island in 1776. His children 
were: Hosea died in Ohio in 1851; Sally died in Niagara 
county about 1845 ; David died in Michigan, aged ninety-four; 
John died in Concord, N. Y.; Hannah married Truman Austin 
and died in Hamburg ; Prudy married Hale Madison and died 
in Aurora; Sylva married Horace Wells and died in Michigan ; 
Daniel died in Concord ; Lsham died in Concord ; Phebe died 
in Concord unmarried ; Eliza married William Soule and died 
in Iowa; Lydia married Samuel Haight and lives in Canada; 
Orilla married Joseph Hammond and lives in Wisconsin. 

John Williams, father of George, was born in Danby, Vt., 
and came to"Concord first in 181 1, and was engaged for a time 
in the old Gardinier grist-mill at Springville. He was married 
in Vermont to Betsy Giles and moved with his family to Con- 
cord in 18 1 8, settling near the Cattaraugus creek. Their chil- 
dren were : Marshal, dead ; George ; Weighty, dead ; Elizabeth 
married Alanson McCoy and resides on the old homestead in 
Concord, and Marzavan who died April 10, 181 8. 

George Williams was born in Danby, Vt., in 18 17. He re- 
sided in Concord until 1855 ; now resides in Arcade, N. Y.,and 
is a farmer ; married a Miss Arnold ; they have two children : 
Emma L. married a Mr. Miller, and resides in Yorkshire, and 
Gideon A. married Estella Strong. 

While residing in Concord, east of Springville, in 1851, Mr. 
Williams found on his farm a mud turtle bearing on his shell 
this inscription— " C. Stone, 1808." The inscription was plain 
and distinct, and was undoubtedly the work of Christopher 
Stone, the first settler of Concord, and must have been placed 
upon the turtle the next year after Mr. Stone's coming. Seven 



908 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

years afterward — in 1858 — fifty years after it left the hands of 
Mr. Stone, Mr. Williams found the same turtle again on a farm 
farther east. It was again given its liberty and how long it 
has existed to perpetuate the name of Concord's first pioneer, 
no one knows. 

Charles Stowell. 

Ebenezer Stowell, father of Charles was born in Worcester, 
Worcester county, Mass., in 1782. His mother, Hannah 
Meacham Stowell, was born in New Salem, Franklin county, 
Mass., in 1787. 

Mr. Stowell came to Ashford with his family in 1836, and 
lived there until his death, which occurred in 1845. Mrs. 
Stowell died in 1862. They had eight children: 

Luthera, born in 1808, married Andrew Stevens and died in 
Ellicottville in 1863. John T., born in 1813, died in 1814. 
Caroline, born in 1816; married John Squires and lives in Con- 
cord. Maria, born in 1818, lives in Springville. JohnT., born 
in 1820 and died in 1834. Charles, born in 1822. Betsey, born 
in 1824, married John G.Blake in 1842 and lives in Mt. Carroll, 
111. John, born in 1828, lives .in Des Moines, Iowa. 

Charles Stowell married Susan West in 1846. They had 
eight children : 

Hannah Hapalona married David J. Wilcox and lives in 
Springville. Ebenezer, born in 1853 died 1862. Hattie, born 
in 1855, died Nov. 23, 1862. Caroline, born in 1857, died in 
January, 1863. Luthera married Lewis Twichell, and had 
one child named Lewis Bertie, which child was given to Charles 
Stowell and wife by mutual consent of both parents previous to 
the death of the mother. 

Mary, born in 1862 ; married E. A. Scott, in 1 880. Charles 
E., born in 1866. May S., born in 1873. 

Mr. Stowell was Captain of a militia company at one time 
and is at present a farmer and dealer in agricultural implements. 
His great uncle David E. Stowell, was killed in the Battle of 
Bunker Hill. 

Joseph E. Ewell. 

Mr. Ewell's paternal ancestors are traceable to Scotland, and 
his maternal ancestors were from New Ensfland. Mr. Ewell's 



inoCRAl'llHAI, SKK ICIIKS. 9O9 

father. Dexter Kwell. is cx-Associatc Jud^e of Erie county. 
Mr. Ewell, after completing his college course preparatory to 
the study of law; after the Battle of Bull Run, left his of^ce 
and enlisted a company of volunteers in Kane and McHenry 
counties. 111. It was designated as Fifty-second Regiment, 
Illinois volunteers. He was appointed First Lieutenant ; was 
ordered South and served in Missouri, Kentucky and Tennes- 
see, and participated in the Battle of Pittsburg Landing. His 
health failing, he was honorably discharged and returned home, 
but his patriotism made him eager for the service, and he en- 
listed a company in Erie county, and was appointed Captain, 
but was unable to accompany his regiment— -the One Hundred 
and Sixteenth — to the field on account of ill health. In 1863, 
he accepted the appointment of Captain of a company of the 
Twenty-sixth regiment, United States colored troops, and early 
in 1864, was employed in detached service under orders from 
General Dix. He was finally discharged on account of ill 
health, August, 1864, and returned to his law studies, being- 
admitted to the bar in May, 1867. 

In 1869, he was appointed United States District Attorney 
for the Northern District of New York ; in 1879, he was elected 
Supervisor of the Town of Alden for a term of two years ; in 
1880, he was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. He has 
been Deputy County Clerk since January, 1880. 

He married Miss Carrie l-'arnsworth, and has one daughter, 
Florence. 

Amos B. Tanner. 

Mr. Tanner was born in Steventown, Rensselaer county, N. 
Y., Oct. 23, 1830. He came to Wales, Erie county, the year 
following, where he resided until twenty-one years old. He 
attended school at Springville Academy two terms — one under 
Principal Earle and one under Prof. Lane. Mr. Tanner came 
to Buffalo in 1854, where he has since resided. He was for 
fourteen years principal searching clerk in the Count}' Clerk's 
ofifice. His present business is examining titles to and selling 
real estate, and loaning money on real estate. He is a brother 
of Alonzo Tanner, Esq. He has been a Member of the Board 
of Supervisors several terms, and also Clerk of the Board. 



9IO BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Daniel H. Persons. 

Daniel H. Persons was born in Buffalo, Dec. 22, 1851, where 
he has always resided. His business is that of wholesale 
liquor dealer. He is a graduate of Hicks Business College of 
Buffalo. He was elected Supervisor of the Fourth ward of 
Buffalo in 1876, and held the office two terms. His father 
Charles Persons, was Alderman of the same ward in 1875, and 
Supervisor in 1873. 

Col. Josiali Emery. 

Col. Josiah Emery was born July i, 1783, in Dunbarton, N* 
H., and died Aug. 14, 1873. After a few years' residence in 
Salem, Mass., he settled in Barre, Vt. In 1809, he married 
Snsannah Little, and in 181 1, removed to LeRoy, N. Y. The 
following year, he located a timber farm at Willink, now 
Aurora, which he improved and occupied until his death. He 
served in the War of 18 12, and was discharged as First Lieu- 
tenant of his company. 

His wife died Feb. 5, 1861. They had six children : 
Lucius H., born July 26, 181 1. Moses L., born March 28, 
1815. John Cborn Dec. 1,1817. Josiah, born Oct. 29, 1819. 
Asher B., born May 12, 1821. Mary S., born March 2, 1824. 

Lucius H. Emery has two sons; lives in South Wales. 
Edwin F. married Fedelia Hodges ; is a mechanic in South 
Wales. Moses L. died Aug. 2, 1840 ; left two sons. Charles 
E. married Susan Livingston of New York city. William H. 
served as a telegrapher in the army. John C. Emery lives in 
Oakland county, Mich., and has six children. Josiah, lives in 
South Wales on the old homestead, and has had five children : 
Ella F. died Oct. 15, 1865 ; Edward K. is an attorney-at-law 
in Buffalo, N. Y.; Albert J. is an attorney-at-law in Dakota; 
Mary E. married DeWitt C. Blakeley of Aurora; died June 13, 
1882. 

Asher B. Emery died Sept. 5, 1839. Mary S., married John 
H. McMillan, and lives in Aurora ; has three sons: 

Frank, married Mary Letson ; lives in Colden. Arthur, mar- 
ried Emma Dudley; lives in Aurora. Howard, married Nellie 
B..rlingham ; lives in Colden. 



MIOCRAl'llUAL SKE'ICIIKS. 9I I 

Justus Scott. 

Justus Scott, who died recently in the Town of Otto, Catta- 
raui^us county, N. Y., was one of the early settlers of the Town 
of Concord, where he lived so long and took so lively an inter- 
est in its schools, churches and general prosj)erity as to entitle 
him to notice in these pages. 

Justus Scott was born in the Town of Wallingford, Vt., 
March 19, 1799. Soon after his birth his father moved to 
Danby, Vt., where Justus remained with them till 18 16. The 
father was poor and the family had become accustomed to 
hard work, when he and his elder brother Phineas left home on 
foot with packs on their backs, to seek their fortunes in the 
Far West. They traveled sixteen days and arrived at Spring- 
ville in October, 18 16. The first business in which these boys 
engaged was chopping by the job. They cooked their food 
and kept bachelors' hall in the woods. Justus soon took an 
article of a piece of land on the road from Springv^lle to Ash- 
ford, now owned by John Ellis, being part of lot fifteen, town- 
ship six, range six. In July, 1817, he married Emily Hardy. 
They commenced house-keeping on this place in the most 
primitive style. The body of a fallen tree formed the rear of 
the house, while the front pillars were crotches driven in the 
ground, supporting a pole on which rested basswood dugouts 
for a roof, while the solid earth formed the floor. Brides of 
the present day might shrink from such a beginning, and find 
fault with the furniture, the carpeting, the curtaining or the 
bridal couch. But here this young couple commenced their 
life work ; happy in anticipation of a future whose contrast 
would be all the more gratifying. Here they lived for several 
weeks till a log house could be built, in which they lived till 
Aug. 7, 1828, when Mrs. Scott died. 

About this time Mr. Scott became the owner of a span of 
horses, an exceedingly rare Ijjxury in those days. These horses 
strayed into the woods of Cattaraugus county, which was then 
called the " South Woods." There being no roads, Mr. Scott 
tracked them to the McClure settlement, now Franklinville and 
from there to Olean Point, about sixty miles from home, the 
way they went. 

In March, 1830, Scott married Miss Electa Darling, a sister 



912 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

of Hon. J. P. Darling-, of Cattaraugus, a woman of superior 
mind, and Jan. 15, 183 1, Allen Scott, the present Judge of Cat- 
taraugus county, was born. Soon after Scott removed from 
this town to Otto, N. Y., where he remained till 1848, when he 
returned to Springville to educate his children. After remain- 
ng here six years, taking a lively interest in our schools, and 
churches, he returned again to his farm in Otto, where he died 
in 1 88 1, greatly respected, a man of strong mind and sterling 
integrity. 

R. K. Siuither. 

Mr. Smither was born at Worcester, England, in 1850; 
came to America and at fourteen years of age was apprenticed 
to the drug business, after which, in 1859, came to Buffalo, to 
accept a position with D. H. Peabody, druggist. In 1874 he 
married Lucretia, daughter of the late J. S. Newkirk, and 
grand-daughter of the late Loring Pierce, Buffalo's late pioneer 
undertaker, who officiated at the burial of more than three 
thousand of the early settlers of the city, among them the first 
interments at Poorest Law. 

In 1875 Mr. Smither embarked in business on his own ac- 
count, which he has successfully pursued to the present time. 
His ability as a chemist and druggist was recognized by his 
election as Vice President of the New York State Pharmaceutical 
Association in 1881 and President of the Erie county Pharma- 
ceutical Association in 1883. He represented the 9th Ward 
on the Board of Supervisors in 1880, '81, '82 and '83. In 1882 
he was Chairman of the Board. 

H. S. Spencer. 

Mr. H. S. Spencer, of Hamburg, removed to that town from 
Turin, Lewis county, N. Y., in 1864. He is the youngest son 
of the late Stephen Spencer of the latter place. The family, 
as the name indicates, is of English origin, being descendants 
of one of three brothers of that name, who emigrated from 
England to Connecticut in the seventeenth century. 

Later, and among the representatives of this family who 
became residents of this state, maybe mentioned John C. Spen- 
cer, of Canandaigua and Joshua A. Spencer, of Utica. The 



RiocRAi'nicAi, skktcuks. 913 

subject of our notice was educated at W'liitestowii Seminary and 
for a time en<ja<^cd in the business of teaching. At present 
and for many years, he has had charge of an extensive insur- 
ance agenc}-, and but few men in the count)' enjoy a larger 
persorial and business acquaintance. 

In 1881 or 1882 lie represented his town in the Board of Su- 
pervisors, being the onl)- Republican ever elected to that office in 
Hamburg upon part}' issues. He is at present Cashier of the 
Rank of Hamburg. 

Ahmzo Tanner, Esq. 

iMonzo Tanner, Esq., was born in Stephentown, Rensselaer 
county, N. V., Aug. 8, 1822 ; removed with his father and fam- 
ily to the Town of Wales, Erie county, N. Y., in 1831, and set- 
tled upon a farm, which is now owned by a sister, and where 
his boyhood was spent. At the age of seventeen young Tan- 
ner was given his time and came to Springville, attended the 
academy for about three years, teaching school Winters for his 
support. He studied law with Hon. C. C. Severance, and was 
admitted to the Supreme Court in the Eall of 1847. Residing 
at Springville from the commencement of his student life in 
1839 to 1848, when he removed to Buffalo, where he has ever 
since resided practicing his profession. B}' an observance of 
industry and application through life Mr. Tanner has been suc- 
cessful in accumulating wealth and attaining to positions of 
trust. He has held the offices of City Comptroller, Member 
of the Common Council, Police Justice, and U. S. Assessor 
of the 30th district- of N. V. Mr. T. has been twice married ; 
his first wife died in 1852, leaving him two daughters, now li\'- 
ing in New York. One of whom is Imogene Brown, famous 
as a church singer and vocalist. He has four sons by his pres- 
ent wife, two of whom are at present, 1882, clerks in his ofifice. 

The Wibert Family. 

James S. Wibert mo\-ed from the suburbs of Rochester, N. 
Y., to Erie count)' about the year 1830, and finall)' settled in 
what was designated as " Tubb's Hollow " now Eden valley, 
where he became proi)rietor of the old tavern so familiar to 
the older residents .of the county. At the time of his settle- 
ment in the hollow he was a widower, his children being seven 
35 



9H BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

in number, viz. : three sons and four daughters, namely, 
Phoebe H., Anna Maria, Jane Martha, Mary Esther. Thomas 
Wilham and Isaac, of whom Thomas, Isaac and Jane Martha 
are deceased. The three surviving daughters are widows, 
Phoebe H., being the widow of Dr. Battey, residing in Buffalo, 
and Anna Maria widow of David Gallaway (one of the pioneers 
of Battle Creek, Mich.) and now resides there, and Mary E., 
widow of Francis Burt, formerly of Buffalo, also now residing 
in Battle Creek, Mich. Shortly after becoming a resident of 
the county, Mr. Wibert married Clara Howard, of Hamburg, 
who became the mother of two boys, James S., and Henry H. 
On the 4th day of April, 1841, the day upon which President 
William Henry Harrison expired, Mrs. Wibert died. Her two 
sons named above, were sent to reside with Mary and William 
Taber, an estimable family, members of the Society of Friends, 
and residing in the Town of Collins. They lived for some time 
with Mr. and Mrs. Taber, and their son-in-law and daughter, 
Isaac Russell and wife, also of Collins. Subsequently the two 
boys resided in Buffalo for a time and afterwards again in Col- 
lins, until, finally, both became residents of the City of New 
York, where Henry became associated with his brother-in-law 
the late Isaac Sherman, who did a good deal for the Repub- 
lican party, and during the late war a confidential friend, asso- 
ciate and adviser of President Lincoln, who once remarked to 
a prominent man that he " regarded Mr. Sherman as one of the 
ablest men "' he had ever met. Mr. Lincoln tendered to Mr. 
Sherman the position of Secretary of the Treasury, upon the 
resignation of Secretary Chase. It was during the war period 
that Henry was the partner of Mr. Sherman in New York, 
their business being that of dealer in staves. In 1866 the}' re- 
tired from active busines, since which time Henry and his fam- 
ily have spent more or less of the Summer seasons in the Town 
of North Collins and the village of Springville, their Winter 
residence being in New York. James, for some years past, has 
been proprietor of the Mansion House, at Mauch Chunk, Pa. 
James S., their father, died in 1878, at Battle Creek, Mich., in 
the eighty-eighth year of his age. 



KIOCiRAI'HICAI, SKKTCHES. 915 

Caleb Cutler. 

Caleb Cutler was born in Worcester county, Mass., in 1771 ; 
married Kdna Parkhurst, in Milford, and removed to Wards- 
boro. Windham count)'. Vt., where he resided until 1.S16, when 
they came to Willink, Niagara county, now Holland, Erie 
county, and settled upon lot forty-two, where he resided until 
his death in 1S51. Mr. and Mrs. Cutler had seven sons and 
three dauj^hters, one son dyin<^ in infancy, the others all settled 
in Holland and Sardinia except one. William C. Cutler, third 
son of the above, was born in Wardsboro, Windham county, 
Vt., Nov. 21, 1 801, and came with the family to Holland in 
1 8 16. In 1828, March 9, he was united in marriage to Mary 
Moray, by whom he has had twelve children, of whom eight 
are living, four having died in infanc}'. William A., born Nov. 
14, 1828; Tirzah A., born Sept. 17. 1830, died 1855; Maria, 
born May 4, 1833 I Eda, born Jan. 20, 1835 ; Tirzah A., born 
July 7, 1837 ; Hobert, born July 28, 1839 ^ Mary, born Nov. 23, 
1841; Florence, born Feb. 12, 1844; Edward born July 21, 
1847, died Jan. 3, 1848; Abagail, born Nov. 26, 1848, died 
Oct. 19, 1850; Abagail 2d, born July 13, 1851. Mr. Cutler 
says at one time he wanted a barrel of salt, he took a load of 
oats to Buffalo for which he was offered eleven and one-half 
cents, salt was five dollars per barrel. This example will show 
the difference between what the farmers had to sell, and to 
buy in those days. 

Asa Rausoiu. 

Asa Ransom, of Geneva, N. Y., came to Buffalo in the Fall 
of 1796. It is said that his was the first family that brought 
into Erie county the habits and refinements of civilized life, 
and it is said, too, that he was the first white man to locate 
land with a view of obtaining a legal title, all the claims pre- 
vious had been merely on the sufferance of the Indians. In 
1799, he removed to Clarence Hollow, where he opened a 
tavern, and where Asa Ransom, Jr., was born, and in 1804 or 
'05, he erected a saw mill and grist mill there. This was the 
first mill for grinding wheat in the county, and for several 
years it supplied the settlers north of the reservation with the 
" staff of life." In 1807, town meeting was held at Clarence 



91 6 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Hollow hotel, and its worthy landlord, Asa Ransom, was 
elected Supervisor. This year, the militia of the western part 
of Genesee county had formed into a regiment, and Mr. Ran- 
som was appointed Lieutenant-colonel commanding. The 
term of this ofifice to him was brief, for the \'ery next year he 
had to resign, to accept of the more important position as 
Sheriff of Erie county, to which he had been appointed, and a 
similar honor was conferred upon him in 1812 and '13. In 
1818, Mr. Ransom retired from the office after being ap- 
pointed four times, and discharging the duties something over 
ten years. 

Asa Ransom Jr. 

Son of the former, was born at Clarence Hollow, June, 1801. 
and is tJic oldest person lunv Ihntig horn in Eric connty, Mr. 
R. possesses in an eminent degree the sterling qualities of his 
sire, and he has been an important factor in the growth and 
prosperity of his adopted town (Grand Island). Soon after 
attaining his majority, he was united in marriage to Miss Betsey 
S. Clark, daughter of Archibald S. Clark, a prominent actor in 
the early settlement of the county. In 1837, M^'- Ransom re- 
moved to the Town of Grand Island, and invested quite exten- 
sively in lands, and ever since this town has been his home. 
In 1867 and '68, he represented the town on the Board of 
Supervisors. Mr. and Mrs. Ransom raised a large family, 
seven of whom are living. 

FAMILY RECORD. 

*Levant, born Jan. 21, 1825; Ellen C, born May i, 1826; 
married W. D. Witner, lives in Kansas ; Mary A., born April 
23, 1827 ; married Harvey Booth; Archibald S.. born Aug. 21, 
1828; died March 14, 1829; Clark, born Nov. 7. 1829; mar- 
ried Saphronia Cutter ; Sarah, born Nov. 29, 1830; married J. 
D. Vandervort ; Harry B., born Nov. 30, 1832; married Zitella 
Benedict; Catherine, born Oct 6, 1834; died May 11, 1836; 
Betsey L., born May 11, 1836; married A. G. Kent; Asa, Jr., 
born Nov. 20, 1839; drowned June 8, 1872, in the Niagara 
river; James T., born Dec. 13, 1841 ; died Nov. 1 (, 187L 

♦Levant has been Supervisor of his town. 



Hioc.KAriiicAi, sKi:i( iiKs. 917 

Harry B. Hansom, 

Fourth son of Asa Ransom, Jr., was educated for the profes- 
sion of medicine. But like his ancestors he has been more or 
less in the active duties of business. For a time he owned and 
operated a steam ferry that plied between the Island and the 
main lands, cultivates a farm and has taken a very active part 
in public affairs. Represented his town on the Board of Super- 
visors in 1S66, ^(^J, '68, '69 and '74, and was a Member of As- 
sembly in 1870, '71 and '75. 

.Taiue8 B. Titus. 

James B., son of Robert Titus, whose father's name was 
Timothy Titus, was born in Hebron, Conn., on the 19th day of 
Jul}-, 1794. At an early at^e he emigrated to Ostego county, 
in this state, and on the 2d clay of January, 18 17, married 
Esther Yeomans, daughter of Sterling Yeomans, of Richfield, 
Ostego county. With his young wife, who was four years 
younger than himself, he started on horse-back for the " Far 
West," as the Holland Purchase was then known, and settled 
in the easterh' part of the Town of Eden, taking an " article " 
for a piece of land, on the road called the " Town Line. The 
Village of Buffalo had scarcely emerged from her fiery ordeal, 
and evidences of the depredations of the British were yet visi- 
ble, when they journeyed through to their new home. Roads 
were then unknown in that locality, and " blazed " trees were 
the guides which directed the w'eary traveler on his way. Plere 
began a life of labor and of hardship. The giant tree fell be- 
fore the axe in the hands of the hardy pioneer and grain and 
grass were soon seen, where, for time unknown, the sunlight 
had been hidden from the fruitful earth h\ the leafy forest. 
But labor and love brought health and happiness, and a moder- 
ate degree of prosperit\^ Mr. T. was prominent in all neigh- 
borhood enterprises ; for a long number of years he was deacon 
in the Free Baptist church, and in the militia of the state, rose 
from the ranks to the ofifice of Colonel, which he held but a 
short time, by reason of the pecuniary burdens it imposed up- 
on him. In 183 1, he moved from the " Town Line " down to 
the creek, where a comfortable house was standing provided 
with those early luxuries, a big fire-place and a " Dutch oven " 



gi8 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

along side , here he raised his increasing family and spent the 
happy days of his life ; with but few wants, knowing but little 
of the misery of the outside world, with good neighbors, pos- 
sessed of a firm belief in the teachings of Christ and with the 
aid of an unusually worthy wife, his cup of happiness was 
nearly full ; here he inculcated in his children those lessons of 
virtue and morality, which so prominently distinguished the 
early pioneer from many of the later settlers of the Holland 
Purchase. In March, 1839, ^^- Titus died after a short ill- 
ness, leaving his wife with her children to battle alone, and nobly 
did she do it ; she continued living on the farm keeping her 
family together, and by industry and that frugal economy 
which characterized the early settler, she managed to take care 
of her almost helpless children for nearly six years, when 
broken in health and spirits, she was prostrated with a linger- 
ing sickness, and for many years continued an almost helpless in- 
valid. During the time her family had grown up, some having 
married and left home, and the rest taking care of the farm, 
and each contributing his mite in supporting and keeping the 
household together. Nearly eighteen years ago, the old home- 
stead was sold, and strangers dwell where so many happy events 
occurred, and around which cluster memories sweet and beau- 
tiful in the green of distant youth, to many a saddened heart. 
The children of James B. Titus are: Nancy, born in 1818; 
Celina, born in 1820; Dolly, born in 1824; James B,, born in 
1826; Sterling, born in 1831 ; Amy, born in 1833 ; and Robert 
C, born in 1839. Orlando Titus, who was born in 1835, died 
at his home in Eden, in March, 1882. James B. Titus lives in 
the Town of Concord . 

Sterling Titus came to Concord in 1866, and is now living in 
the town of Sardinia, just across the east line of Concord, 
where Esther, his mother, who is now eighty-four years old, is 
now living. She is still in possession of her faculties, and can 
tell many interesting stories of the privations and hardships, 
and of the pleasures too, of pioneer life. Robert C. Titus is 
lix'ing in Buffalo, practicing his profession, the law. He is at 
present the State Senator of this district, having been elected 
the second time. Of the girls, all are living: Nancy Gail, at 
West Falls; Dolly Dayton, at Clarksburg; Celina Richardson 



r.IOtiKAI'IIICAL SKETCIIKS. 9I9 

and Amy Fryc, at Springville, in this county. Robert C Titus 
is truly a self-made man, and step by step has he risen through 
efforts of his own, until at the present he stands in the front 
ranks of the bar of Erie county. In 1877, he was elected Dis- 
trict Attorney of Erie county, by over two thousand majority 
being the only one elected that year on his ticket. In 1881, 
be was elected State Senator by over five thousand majority, 
and again re-elected in 1883 by nearly one thousand majority, 
running some two thousand five hundred ahead of the State 
ticket . 

fTosepli Kent. 

Joseph Kent, an early pioneer of Holland, came from Cor- 
inth, Orange county, Vt., in 181 1, and located with his family 
in what is now Holland, Erie county, N. Y. Although in em- 
barrassed circumstances, Mr. Kent would not leave his creditors 
until they were fully paid. For that purpose he applied for assist- 
ance to some of his neighbors, who were intending to move to 
the same place. His neighbors having confidence in his integrity, 
assisted him to pay his debts. But before he could provide a 
home ]f or his family and by his best endeavors pay these new 
obligations, he sickened and died, leaving his family in desti- 
tute circumstances. Well might his creditors conclude that in 
paying the debt of nature he had paid all he could pay, and his 
debts were canceled. But it was not so to be ; his sons, al- 
though with the family to support, labored with energy and an 
honest purpose till the last dollar was paid, and the father w^as 
•nobly honored by his sons. Need more be said ? 

Jonathan Kent. 

Jonathan Kent, son of Joseph, was born in Corinth, Orange 
county, Vt., in 1799. He removed with his father to Holland 
in 181 1, where he has ever since resided. May 15, 1825, he 
was united in marriage to Polly Davis, who was born Jan. 9, 
1807. They have five children : 

Albert H., born Jan. 4, 1827. Mary L., born March 30, 
1831 ; died April 14, 1841. Corydon C, born Oct. 31, 1836; 
married Fanny Smith, by whom he had one son, Carlton. 
Ellen, born Sept. 26, 1846. 



920 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Corydon is traveling for the Buffalo Scale company. Albert 
married Hannah Smith ; is a successful farmer and lives in 
Holland. 

Josepli Cooper. 

Joseph Cooper was a native of Massachusetts, but in early 
life removed to Vermont. His wife's name was Dolly Page. 
They have had six children : 

Joseph, married Lydia Dustin. Hannah, married Jonathan 
Colby, in Vermont. Dolly, man'ied Benjamin Crook. Leon- 
ard, married Eliza Humphrey. Eleanor, married Lj-man 
Clark. Samuel, married Sally Nutting. 

In 1811 Joseph Cooper emigrated from Vermont and located 
in Holland, Erie county, N. Y.; then Willink, Niagara county, 
on the north part of lot sixty-three, where he resided until his 
death, at the age of eighty-seven years. 

Samuel, third son of the preceding, was born in Corinth, 
Orange county, Vt., Aug. 1 1, 1800, and came with his father to 
Holland in 181 1. He still owns and occupies the homestead 
he helped to redeem from the wilderness. He married .Sally 
Nutting, and has a family of five children : 

Page, married Valona Sweet and lives in Holland. Mary- 
ette, married Seth Cooper. Julia, unmarried. Emma, un- 
married. Grace, married R. J. Sellek. 

Charles E. Young. 

Charles E. Young was born at Williamsville, Erie count}-, 
N. Y., Oct. 26, 1816. He received his education at the com- 
mon school, with the exception of one year at the Military 
School. On leaving school he located in Buffalo, and learned 
the trade of book-binding and blank book manufacturing, 
commencing business in 1838. May 27, 1842, he was united in 
marriage to Aurora M. Barnes, b}- whom he had five children : 

Charles Edward, born in 1844, died in infancy. Charles 
Fletcher, born July 11, 1846; married, has one child. Albert 
Barnes, born Oct. 20, 1848; married Oct. 20, 1870, to Lizzie 
Dixon, of Buffalo. His children are : William Dixon and Alice 
Fletcher, (ieorge F'oster, born Feb. 28, 1851. Aug. 23, 1854, 



BI()t;RAl'lIICAL SKETCHES. 921 

he was married to Eva M. Knight. They have one child. 
They live in Texas. Clara Lovina, born Sept. 8, 1855. 

Mr. Young was first elected a member of the Board of 
Supervisors in 1854, from the Second Ward in Buffalo; after- 
ward from the Tenth, which he continued to represent, with 
two or three intermissions, to the time of his death. He was 
intelligent and energetic, and in whatever position placed, dis- 
charged his duty with fidelity and ability. He was several 
times elected Chairman of the Board. 

Ebenezer liOck^vood. 

Ebenezer Lockwood, the son of Timothy and Abagail M. 
Lockwood, was born at Greenwich, Fairfield county, Conn., 
July 4, 1776. His father was Captain of a company of minute 
men in the war of the Revolution, and would often relate the 
following incident, of which Ebenezer was an eye-witness. 
The Captain had left his company and was with his family. 
Early in the morning his wife was aroused by the report of fire- 
arms, and called out to him, " The Red Coats are coming ! 
He replied, " Oh, no ! " Soon after she heard a second volley, 
and called out more earnestly, " The Red Coats are coming! " 
He said, " Oh, no ! The men are only cleaning out their mus- 
kets." A moment after she vociferated, " The Red Coats are 
in sight ! " At this he instantly apprehended that the enemy 
were in the road between him and his company, and there was 
no time to lose. He jumped from his bed, took his outer gar- 
ments in his hand, ran toward his company across a salt 
meadow, at the time covered with water. This movement 
attracted the attention of the enemy, who sent their bullets 
after him, which the subject of this sketch, though not five 
years of age, remembered to have seen skip on the water near 
his father. 

These hardships and exposures brought on disease of which 
he died before the close of the war. His son, Ebenezer, was 
as soon as of suitable age, apprenticed to a man in New York 
city to learn the shoemaker's trade. At the age of nineteen, 
the master signified his intention to whip him for some delin- 
quency, and he departed without leave, in quest of a friend in 



922 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

what is now South East, Putnam county, N. Y., with the 
hope of obtaining the means with which to purchase his time. 
This was readily done and he was honorably discharged. 

At this place he made the acquaintence of Betsey Seymour 
whom he married before he was twenty-one years of age. In 
i8i6, when they removed to the Holland Purchase, the family 
consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood. Nathaniel, who returned 
to Dutchess county where he married and ever after resided. 
Jesse, who was twice made Justice of the Court of Sessions of 
Erie county. Orin, who was elected Sheriff of Erie 
county. Timothy, who became an eminent physician, 
practicing first in Hamburg, afterwards in the City of Buffalo, 
of which city he was Mayor for one term. 

Harrison, who died, leaving one son, Daniel N., who has 
served one term in the Congress of the United States, taking 
a position in that body seldom reached by a new member. 
Stephen, born in Erie county, who was elected County Judge 
of his native county. Melinda, who married Salmon Washburn, 
late of Boston, Erie county, and Maria, who became the wife 
of Daniel R, Newton, late of Hamburgh. 

Marcus L. Lockwood, son of Philo, served as a Member of 
the Legislature of Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Lockwood cared for his children and they were a blessing 
to him, aiding him very materially in clearing his farm, and 
erecting his buildings. As he had no money or lands to bestow, 
he gave each of his sons his time at the age of eighteen : no 
inconsiderable endowment to a youth of that age if properly 
utilized. He moved in a humble sphere, but acted well his 
part : " Here all the honor lies." 

He lived to the ripe age of eighty-four, and died at the 
residence of his son Jesse, the favorite of the family, especially 
of the children, of whom he was in turn very fond and indul- 
gent. 

David Stickney, Jr 

David Stickney, Jr., and his wife Hannah, were the parents 
of ten children — nine boys and one girl, all born in the Town of 
Sardinia : 

Edwin, Charles, Everett, Mary Jane, George Albert, Austin, 



HIOGRAl'HICAI, SKHTCIIKS. 923 

Cassius, Julius and Wilmot. Seven of the ten are still liv^ing. 

Mary Jane, the only daughter, died when eight years of age. 
Albert and Julius died soon after they became of age. 

Austin N. Stickney, the subject of this sketch, was born in 
Sardinia, Dec. 22, 1841 ; lived there until the Spring of 1854, 
when his parents sold out and moved to Illinois, taking the 
boys with them. In the August following, his parents and 
grandfather were stricken down with cholera, all dying within 
the space of two weeks, Austin returned to Sardinia soon 
after ; worked on a farm from that time till the War broke out ; 
enlisted in the Thirty-sixth Regiment, Company A, New York 
Volunteers — a two years' regiment ; served his time and re- 
turned home; married Martha J. Matteson, daughter of Charles 
and Diana Matteson, of Sardinia ; Engaged in the mercantile 
business at Holland village in the Spring of 1873 ; continued in 
the business up to the Spring of 1883; was appointed chairman 
of the purchasing and auditing committee for Erie county, an 
office created by the Legislature of 1883, the duties of which 
consisted in purchasing the supplies used in the city and county 
hall, the jail, penitentiary and almshouse ; the following Fall, 
he was elected keeper of the Erie County penitentiary, by a 
majority of six hundred and twenty-three. 

Austin and Martha Stickney have but one child, a daughter, 
Floy Bell, born in Holland, July 22, 1873. 

Aimer White, 

An active and useful man in community, came to Concord at 
an early day, and followed the business of farming, cattle buy- 
ing and driving. Cattle raising fifty or sixty years ago was 
universal among the farmers, and this stock generally found a 
market East. Large droves would be bought up and driven 
to market early in the Fall. Mr. White followed this business 
quite extensively, besides he owned and conducted a farm. In 
the Winter of 1859 he was stricken down with consumption, 
and died the following Summer. He reared a large family of 
children of which only three are living, viz : — William, Edwin,' 
and a daughter. 



924 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Williaiu White, 

Son of Aimer, is a farmer, and lives in Zoar. He was united 
in marriage July 3, i85i,to Miss Cordelia Hammond, by whom 
he has three children, viz : — Aimer, born Aug. 4, 1852 ; Clark, 
born Aug. 23, 1854, and Charlotte L., born Jan. 6 1861. Mrs. 
White died in 1862. Mr. White was again married July 4, 
1 87 1, to Miss Mary Baker, by whom he has one child, viz : — 
Maria, born July 27, 1880. 

Aimer White, 

Son of William is a farmer and resides in Zoar. On March 
4, 1875 he was married to Miss Jennie Baker, by whom he has 
four children, viz: — Grace, born June 2, 1876; Nellie, born 
September, 19, 1878; Alma, born April 6, 1880, and Mabel, 
born Jan. 28, 1882. 

Clark White, 

Second son of William, is a farmer and lives in Zoar. Oct. 3, 
1876 he was married to Miss Lucy E. Babcock, by whom he 
has one child, viz :— Ward, born Aug. 17, 1878. 

Harvey J. Tucker, 

Third son of Nathaniel Tucker, was born in the town of Brant, 
Erie county, N. Y., May 23, 1844. His father was born in the 
town of North Collins in 18 17, and was a son of Abram and 
Anna Tucker, who were of the first settlers there in 18 10, and 
who have the credit of erecting the first log cabin in what is 
now North Collins. Harvey's youth, up to his twelfth year, 
was passed upon his father's farm. The Summers were spent 
in the duties and labors of farming, and the Winters were de- 
voted to the district school. In the Summer of 1866, young 
Harvey was thrown from a mowing machine and had his right 
hand severed just below the elbow. The loss of this useful 
member banished all thoughts in his mind of ever becoming a 
farmer, and he turned his attention to a profession. Two years 
he attended school at the Gowanda Academy, and again two 
years at the Oberlin College. At the age of seventeen he 
entered the law-office of Horace Boise, at Hamburg, where he 
remained one year. His room-mate and fellow student 
while there was Senator Robert C. Titus. Both were 



IJIOGRAl'lIKAL SKKTCHES. ' 925 

compelled to teach district school Winters to defray ex- 
penses. The next year Mr. Tucker entered the law office of 
Austin & Austin of Buffalo, where he remained one year. The 
}-ear 1863 was the darkest in our national calendar and the 
yountr law student, then but seventeen years old and with only 
one haml listened to the call of his country, and he enlisted 
that Winter a company of one hundred men for the 24tii Reg- 
iment NewVork Volunteer Cavalry and received a commission 
as First Lieutenant of Company M, same Rec^iment. Before 
the Regiment entered active service Lieutenant Tucker resigned 
and was appointed Sutler of the same Regiment, a position he 
held until the close of the war. The next year he passed in 
the Oil Regions. Then he returned to his native town and 
opened a country store, at North Collins, and the same year, 
June 10, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Emily Tucker. 
He remained in business at the latter place until 1872, when he 
sold out and removed to Buffalo. In January, 1873 he was 
appointed Assistant Keeper of the Erie County Alms House, 
a position he held for one year, when he resigned to accept the 
appointment of Keeper of the Insane Asylum, where he re- 
mained four years, at the expiration of which he again returned 
to Buffalo and entered into a partnership with a brother, in the 
commission trade, continuing this business until 1880, when 
he was appointed Jailor of Erie county, a place he occupied 
two years, when he resigned and purchased a lease of the Tre- 
mont House of Buffalo, and still remains its genial and popular 
landlord. 

Mr. Tucker has always been a staunch Republican and has 
taken an active part in politics. 

Aloiizo U. LoekAvood. 

Alonzo U. Lockwood was born in East Hamburg, Erie 
county, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1829. He is one of a family of eight 
children, four boys and four girls. 

Mrs. Mary E. Waite, the only surviving sister, is still a resi- 
dent of East Hamburg: the other girls having died when 
young ladies. 

His three brothers. Philander. George, and Lafayette, are all 
residents of the county, and prominent citizens of the localities 
in which thev li\e. 



926 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

In 1857, ^^- Lockwood married Cornelia A. Skinner, daugh- 
ter of Palmer Skinner, of East Hamburg, and in 1864, moved 
into the town of Boston, and in the year 1873, represented his 
town on the Board of Supervisors. The year following, he 
moved to West Falls, where he still lives, enjoying the reputa- 
tion of being a gentleman and a man of honor. 

Archibald G. Preston. 

Mr. Preston's father, Joel Preston, was born near Providence^ 
R. I., Sept. 23, 1797, and was married there in 181 5, to Lucinda 
Griffith, sister of the late Archibald Griffith, of Concord. They 
lived in Providence until 1824, when they moved to Otsego 
county, N Y., where they remained until 1840, when they 
moved to Concord, where they lived until their deaths : Mr. 
Preston died Dec. 9, 1861 ; Mrs. Preston died April 23, 1868. 

Their children were, Curtis O., born 18 16, lives in Wisconsin. 
Amarilla, born 1818, married Walter Bates, lives in Pennsylva- 
nia. Joseph, born 1820, died in infancy. Sarah M.,born 1822, 
died 1825. Archibald G., born Dec. 6, 1824. James F., born 
1826, died 1829. Lucinda, born 1828, died 1829. Mary A,, 
born 1830, married S. J. Parker, and died in Arcade, in 1862. 
Edwin W., born 1832, died in rebel prison on Bell Island ; was 
a member of 24th Iowa Regiment. Eugene L., born in 1835, 
lives in Missouri. Sarah M., born 1839, married Wm. Lord, 
lives in Adrian, Michigan. 

Archibald G. Preston was born in Otsego county, N. Y.; 
came to Concord with his father's family, where he lived until 
1854, when he went to California, via Nicaraugua route ; was 
there three years, during which time he helped survey the route 
for the first railroad built in California. He returned to Con- 
cord, where he remained until 1866, when he removed to York- 
shire, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., where he now resides. He 
was a member of the N. Y. State Guards, and has been Com- 
missioner of Highways in Yorkshire. 

Mr. Preston has been twice married : first in 1849, to Susan 
King; second in 1862. to Melvina Smith, daughter of the late 
Calvin Smith, of Concord. They have one son, Arthur E. 
born Nov. 7, 1863. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 927 

William AV TjUavsoh. 

Mis father, Richard Lawscm, canic to l^uffalo from Li\'cr- 
pool, En<;land, about forty years ago, and became one of the 
leading, active business men of the city. He was possessed of 
a large amount of real estate in the lower portion of the city, 
was proprietor of the old Commercial Hotel, and the " Rob 
Roy" House, that old Buffalonians will readily call to mind. 
He died about fourteen years ago, leaving four children — two 
sons and two daughters. 

William W. Lawson, the subject of this notice, was born in 
Buffalo on the i6th of June, 1845. He was educated in the 
public schools of the city and subsequently a graduate at 
Bryant & Stratton's College, where he received a thorough 
business education. After leaving the College he entered the 
service of Mr. David Bell, an extensive foundryman and 
machinist, with the view of learning a trade. Not fancying a 
mechanical calling, after a few months with Mr. Bell, he changed 
his plans, and went into business with his father-in-law, Mr. 
James Farthing, an extensive stock dealer and butcher. The 
concern bought and sold cattle at East Buffalo, upon a large 
scale, kept an extensive slaughter-house, and maintained a 
popular retail market on Main street, corner of Eagle street, 
for a number of years. He was first elected to the ofifice of 
Supervisor in 1871, from a strong Democratic ward by a decis- 
ive majority, and after a year's acceptable service in the Board, 
he was re-elected in 1872. 

In 1874, Mr. Lawson was elected to the Assembly from the 
Second Assembly District, consisting of the Second, Third, 
Fourth and Sixth wards. In the Assembly Mr. Lawson was a 
memberof the Committees of Privileges and Elections and Pub- 
lic Printing. In 1875, he was renominated. The result was a 
majority of 1,194, a gain of more than one thousand from the 
previous year. During his second term Mr. Lawson wasChair- 
man of the Committee on Petitions of Aliens, and a member 
of the Committees on Commerce and Navigation, and Printing. 

He was an effective committee worker, and was assiduous in 
attending to the duties of his ofifice and in looking after the 
interests of his constituents. The Republicans of the county 
placed him in nomination for the office of Sheriff in 1876, and 



928 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

he became a candidate for a more important office and before 
a larger constituency. The canvass occurred during a Presi- 
dential campaign and the contest was a spirited one and des- 
perately fought. The Democracy nominated a popular candi- 
date and an experienced politician, and Mr. Lawson suffered 
defeat. 

When three years had rolled around he was again made the 
party's standard bearer for the office of Sheriff. The unanim- 
ity of the convention gave him a good send-off in the canvass 
and he came out of the conflict with victorious banners flying, 
on which was inscribed a majority of over five thousand. Air. 
Lawson entered upon the duties of the office of Sheriff, Janu- 
ary I, 1880, and discharged them for three years with general 
satisfaction to the public and with credit to himself. 

On March 4th, 1864, Air. Lawson married Adelia J. Farthing, 
daughter of James Farthing of Buffalo. Four children— two 
sons and two daughters — have been born to them making a 
happy family of a half a dozen, equally divided as to sex, that 
are cozily domiciled in a newly completed mansion on Rich- 
mond avenue. 

A. Bartholomew, Esq. 

Mr. Bartholomew was born in North Collins, Feb. 28, 1837. 
Attended school in Springville in 1853 or '54, and graduated 
at the State Normal School at Albany in 1857. Mr. Bartholo- 
mew has taught twenty-three terms of school in thirteen dif- 
ferent towns of Erie county. After graduating at the Normal 
School, he studied law with Hon. C. C. Severance, of Spring- 
ville. Was admitted to the bar Nov. 13, 1861, and commenced 
practicing at Hamburg in 1866 ; came to Buffalo in [870, where 
he has since practiced his profession. 

He was married in 1864, to Florence Cutler of Holland, N. 
Y. They have four children, viz.: 

Alice ]M.,born June 25, 1866. Nellie C, born April 23, 1868. 
Edward W., born Dec. 25, 1870. Glenni A., born Oct. 16, 1878. 

Mr. Bartholomew had eight brothers and sisters viz.: 

John P. resides near Aleadville, Pa. Alary married Charles 
Winner and resides in North Collins. Elizabeth married Chris- 
tian Burgot and resides in North Collins. Catharine resides in 



liKXIRAPIIICAL SKErCFIP:S. 929 

Buffalo. John A. died in Chicago in 1878. Charles resides in 
North Collins. Phoebe died young. Abram, the subject of 
this sketch. 

Mr. Bartholomew's father, Philip Bartholomew, was born at 
Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, April 4, 1790. He was four 
years in Napoleon's army. He came to this country in 1836, 
and settled on lot thirt\'-six, Collins. Died Aug. 24, 1863. 

Joseph P. Sampson. 

Mr. Sampson's grandfather, Peter Sampson, Jr., was born in 
Taunton, Mass., in 1747. He married Elizabeth Perry, in 1773. 
Of their thirteen children, Peter Sampson, Jr., father of Joseph 
P., \\as the eldest ; he 'vas born in New Salem., Mass., Dec. 
30, 1773, and was married in 1793 to Sarah Kellogg. They 
had a family of thirteen children : 

Sally, born 1793, died in 1796. Gamaliel, born 1795, died 
in 1870. Lucy, born in 1796; married Mr. Maklem, and died 
about 1870. Sally (2d) born 1798; married William Shultus, 
and since died. Sandford P., born in 1800, died in 1825. Han- 
nah, born in 1802 ; married Truman Bensley, and died in 1854. 
John H., born 1805, died in 1829. Roxana, born 1809. 
Elizabeth, born in 1813 ; married Dr. Poole, of Springville, and 
died in 1843. Nancy, born 181 5, Joseph P., born Nov. 5, 
1819. Peter M., born 1810; died in 1845. Frank S., born 
— , died in 1849. 

Peter Sampson, Jr., moved with his family to Concord in 
18 16, from New Salem, Mass., making the entire journey with 
cart and oxen. He located on lot twenty, township six, rano-e 
six. Soon after coming, he took the contract for carrying" the 
mail from Buffalo to Olean, via Townsend Hill, Springville and 
Ellicottville. It was the first regular mail carried between those 
points. P>om Buffalo to Springville. he drove a wagon first 
then a coach. From Spring\'ille to Olean the route, the ""reater 
part of the way, led through the wilderness ; this stage of the 
journey was made on horseback. Joseph P. speaks of accom- 
panying his father on the same horse, when a boy, to learn 
the wa)-, and afterwards being sent occasionally over the route 
alone. 'Sir. Sampson carried the mail about ten years. 

After some years' residence in Concord, he moved to 



930 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Ashford, Cattaraugus county, where he served as Supervisor of 
that town eight years and was also Justice of the Peace" about 
the same length of time. Mr. Sampson was well and favorably 
known in Erie and Cattaraugus counties. He died in Ashford, 
Dec. 8, 1836. 

Joseph P. Sampson was born in Concord ; resided in Ash- 
ford until 1868, when he moved to Yorkshire, Cattaraugus 
county, where he has since lived, except two years spent in 
Springville and five in Arcade. Is a farmer ; was married 
Jan. 27, 1853, to Mrs. Mary A. Hakes. They have one son, 
Joseph F., born March 22, 1859 • married Nellie Mclntyre. 

From the United S'ates Biographical Dictionary of Illinois, published in 1876. 
Joliu R. Bensley. 

Mr. John Russell Bensley was born on the first of May, 
1833, at Springville, Erie county, N. Y., and is the son of Eaton 
Bensley and Sophia {ut'r) Russell, both of whom were 
among the pioneers and early settlers of Concord. His father 
was a soldier in the war of 18 12. Mr. Bensley received his 
education at Springville Academy. At the age of eighteen he 
began life as a clerk in a country store and acted in this capacity 
for three years when he purchased the stock of his employer 
and became proprietor. In 1857 he removed to Du Page county 
Illinois and in 1858 located in Chicago, establishing himself as 
a general commission merchant, in which business he has con- 
tinued until the present time. 

From a small beginning he has steadily advanced, keeping 
pace with the growth of the city, until he stands at the head of 
two of the most prominent houses in Chicago, whose business 
transactions arc surpassed in magnitude b}' but few firms in the 
city. 

In 1868 the firm extended their business to the live stock 
trade, under the separate firm name of Bensley Brothers & Co., 
and this business has grown to be scarcely less important than 
their grain trade. 

Mr. Bensley is an able, shrewd and careful business man, and 
he has held various official positions in connection with the 
Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, of which he has long 
been a member. In 1868 he was elected a member of the Com- 



BKXJRAPHICAL SKKTCIIKS. 931 

niittee of Arbitration. In 1872 he was chosen a member of the 
Board of Directors, and in 1874 was elected Vice-President. In 
1 876 he was elected its President by a handsome majority. In 
1873 he was appointed b\' Governor Beverai^c a member of the 
Committee of Appeals on <^rain inspection for the State of Illi- 
nois. In 1876 was made President of the Board of Trustees of 
H}'de l^irk, where he resides. 

He was married in 1854 to Miss Mary A. White, daughter of 
Aimer White of Concord. She died in 1862. He was again 
married to Miss Augusta F. Fuller, daughter of Elijah Fuller, 
of Wyoming county, N. Y. 

Always genial and courteous in manner, overflowing with 
good humor, generous to a fault, everywhere a pleasant com- 
panion ; he especially delights in the endearments of home 
and brings his choicest offerings to the shrine of the household 
gods. Mr. Bensley freely ascribes much of his success to the 
powerful auxiliaries of home influences, where his efforts have 
always been seconded by intelligent co-operation and courageous 
self-sacrificing support. 

Since the above was written, Mr. B. has held various respon- 
sible positions on the Board of Trade, as member of committee 
of appeals ; chairman of a committee to secure a location and 
erect suitable buildings for the accommodation of the Board — 
a labor of no small magnitude when we consider the amount of 
money required and the conflicting interests to be harmonized 
or overcome. All difficulties have been surmounted and a 
commodious building is well under way. He is also President 
of Hyde Park, an extensive municipality adjoining the City of 
Chicago. But perhaps no one thing so clearly demonstrates the 
entire confidence which men in responsible positions repose in 
Mr. Bensley, as his appointment as Receiver of the firm of 
McGeogh, Everingham & Co., the lard kings ; and the prompt- 
ness, energy and ability with which he discharged that dut\' 
shows how well that confidence is deserved. 

Geovs'e E. Bensley. 

George E. Bensley was born in Concord, Erie county, N. Y., 
Sept. 7, 1823. His early life was principally spent on the farm 
with his parents. In 1850 he purchased of his grandfather. 



932 



I5IOGRAPHICx\L SKETCHES. 



Deacon John Russell, his farm, together with fifty acres be- 
longing to his father, and carried on the dairy business until 
1856, when he sold out the farm and engaged in the grocery 
trade in the village of Springville, in which he remained until 
1862. He then closed out the grocery and formed a partner- 
ship with his brother, J. R. Bensley, in the grain commission 
business in Chicago, in which he still remains. In 1868 they 
opened a live stock commission business at the Union Stock 
Yards, Chicago, where they still continue the business. 

On the 20th of February he was united in marriage with Miss 
A. L. Tanner, daughter of Deacon Joseph Tanner, of Attica, 
N. Y. They have had four children : 

The oldest, C. R. Bensley, is interested in the live stock 
firm. Fllla F., is living Vv'ith her parents. Lottie, died at the 
age of three years and one month, and George died in infancy. 

For the past thirteen years Mr. Bensley has been an Elder in 
the Ninth and Sixth Presbyterian churches, but has recently 
taken a letter and united with the Plymouth Congregational 
church, which is in many respects more in conformity with his 
views of church government. 

Albert Haislit. 

Albert Haight, one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of 
the Eighth Judicial District of the State of New York, was 
born in the town of Ellicottville, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., 
on the 20th of PY^bruary, 1842. His father, Henry Haight, was 
born at Glen's P'alls, N. Y., where one or two generations of 
the family had lived before him. When a mere boy he came 
to Western New York, and found employment as a farm hand 
in the towns of this county, first in Brant, afterwards in Collins, 
and finally he located in Elicottville, where he carried on the 
business of farming on his own account. 

Before leaving this county, Mr. Haight married Miss Sarah 
Sisson, of Collins, and the subject of this notice was the issue 
of this union. Mr. Haight moved to Gowanda when Albert 
was about a year old, and operated a farm in that localit)-, and 
three years thereafter, in 1846, he returned to this county and 
settled at West Falls, in the town of Aurora, where he contin- 
ues to reside upon his well kept farm. 



BIOCKAI'IIICAI. SKKTCHKS. 933 

Albert was reared near the little village of West I'^ills. amid 
the surroundinij;, influences and opportunities that environ 
country-bred bo\s. And they may have been the very best 
surroundings after all, and ha\e furnished the necessary discij)- 
line for subsequent growth and development. The success and 
eminent attainments of country-bred boys in America are not 
uncommon. Indeed, it has almost become a settled rule to 
which exceptions are not numerous, that the most successful 
men in business in the professions and in public life are country 
born and reared. 

Mr. Haight had the experience of farmer's boys generally. 
The needs of the family required his services in " doing chores" 
and attending to light farm work as soon as he was old enough 
for these duties. The Winter months were spent in the dis- 
trict school, and in Summer, farm work absorbed the attention 
of the future jurist. Wood-chopping, sugar-making, fence- 
building, plowing, sowing, weeding, haying, harvesting, and 
such other employments as are incident to farm life were the 
lot and fortune of young Haight. These labors tended to de- 
velop his physical strength and to discipline his mental facul- 
ties for the sterner duties of life. 

After two or three brief terms at select schools. Mr. Haight 
entered Springville Academy at the age of sixteen, for a semi- 
nary course of three years. The habits of industry and frugal- 
ity already inculated by parental example and discipline, taught 
him the importance of making the best possible use of his time 
and opportunities. He realized the fact that his future de- 
pended upon the equipment he was to secure at the brief term 
for which he had entered the Academy, and he studied accord- 
ingly. At the end of the three years, he left the institution as 
well fitted for the duties of a business life as are the average 
graduates of colleges and universities. 

The reputation Judge Haight made in the office of County 
Judge led to his selection as a candidate for the office of Jus- 
tice of the Supreme Court, by the Republican District Con- 
vention in 1856, a year before his term as County Judge 
expired. He was elected by a majority of nearly fifteen thou- 
sand, and entered upon the duties of the of^ce on the first of 
January, 1877, for a term of fourteen years. It was a respon- 



934 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

sible trust for one so young aud inexperienced, but Judge 
Haight has acquitted himself to the satisfaction of his friends 
and the public generally. 

During the Seminary course, Mr. Haight taught the village 
school at West Falls one Winter term, which was the only 
experience of this character he ever had. Upon leaving the 
Academy, he came to Buffalo in September, 1861, being then 
in his twentieth year, with a determination to fit himself for 
the practice of the law. He was not long in getting an oppor- 
tunity to study for the profession in the office of Messrs. 
Sawin & Lockwood, then leading lawyers of the city. Subse- 
quently he became a law student and clerk in the office of the 
late Edward Stevens 

In 1863, at the age of twenty-one, Mr. Haight was admitted 
to the bar as attorney and counsellor, with the right to practice 
in all the courts of the State. He at once opened an office in 
the Hollister block on his own account, and solicited the 
patronage of the public. 

In the year 1872, after a practice of only nine years, and at 
the age of thirty, Mr. Haight was nominated for the office of 
County Judge, by the Republicans, and he was elected by a 
majority of a little over five thousand, in a district that not 
unfrequently goes Democratic by several hundred. He entered 
upon the duties of the office of County Judge on the ist of 
January, 1873, and from the first, although the youngest man 
who had ever held the office, he attracted the attention and 
secured the commendation of the bar and the public by the 
manner in which he administered its duties. He was elected to 
the office of Supervisor from the Second Ward for three con- 
secutive terms, before he was elected County Judge, and served 
in the Board with honor and credit. 

On the 20th of November, 1864, Judge Haight married Miss 
Angeline Waters, daughter of Mr. Harrison P. Waters, a prom- 
inent citizen of West Falls, and for about twenty years a justice 
of the peace of that place. One child, a daughter, is the fruit 
of this union. 

George Coit. 

George Coit was born in Norwich, Conn., June 10, 1790. 
After serving as clerk in a drug store in his native town, he, in. 



lUOC.RAI'IIICAL SKl-.TCIir.S. 935 

company with a fellow clerk by the name of Townsend, re- 
moved to Buffalo, in 1811, and engaged in the same busmess, 
which thev followed until 18 18, when they sold their drug store, 
and entered largely into the storage and forwarding busmess. 
Their first warehouse was built at the foot of Commercial street, 
and the firm Townsend & Coit, and later Townsend & Coit and 
Thompson & Co., was extensively engaged in the transporta- 
tion and forwarding business on the Erie Canal, and the lakes. 
This firm merited and received the confidence of the busmess 

public. 

In 1816, Mr. Coit married a sister of Judge Townsend, by 
whom he had eight children, two of whom died young. Mrs. 
Coit died leaving a family of young children. Subsequently he 
was twice married, but had no children by his second or third 
wife. Though possessed of ample means, he was content to 
live in a plain, unostentatious manner ; and possessing decided 
political opinions, he never aspired to political preferment nor 
sought notoriety outside his chosen legitimate business. 

Arthur Humplirey. 

A pioneer of the Town of Holland. Walked all the way 
from Vermont to that town in 1800, and located land upon 
which he began improving that Summer, and which was his 
home during life. The following Fall he returned to Vermont 
in the same way he came, and the next Spring he set out for 
his claim with his young wife and child, with a team consisting 
of a yoke of oxen and a horse, hitched to a wagon, and we 
presume drove " tandem." Arthur Humphrey was a man of 
sterling integrity and sound judgment, qualities that very soon 
rendered him a very prominent man in the settlement. Dur- 
ing the war of 1812 and '15, a stockade was erected upon his 
farm as security against the British and their bIoodthirst>- 
allies— the Indians. At an early day he represented his town 
for several years upon the Board of Supervisors. Mrs. Hum- 
phrey's maiden name was Althea Morgan, by whom he had 
six children— three sons and three daughters : Eliza married 
Deacon Leonard Cooper, of Holland, and died in 1835. The 
other two daughters are also dead. Isaac, the eldest son, also 
represented his town upon the Board of Supervisors and was 




936 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

appointed Associate Judge of Erie county. About 1840, he 
went west and at the time the "gold fever" raged he left for 
the Pacific coast. In 1868, he left California for Victoria, B. 
C, with the hopes of benefiting his health, which was poor. 
He soon after died. Arthur K. owned and occupied the old 
homestead for some years. This he sold and removed to Iowa, 
and at the present his home is in Nebraska. James M., the 
youngest son, worked upon the old homestead until he was 
seventeen years old, but we infer from the very successful 
career since achieved by Mr. Humphrey in the profession of 
law, that farming was not his " forte," and we read of him as a 
student at the Aurora Academy ; then again in wrestling with 
Coke and Blackstone in the law office of Harlow S. Love, of 
Buffalo, where he remained for a time and then he returned to 
Aurora and entered the law office of Albert Sawin, and after 
reading there for a time, he was admitted to the bar in 1846; 
here he remained some ten years in the practice of his profes- 
sion. In 1856, he waselected District Attorney of Erie county, 
and since that time his home has been in Buffalo. In 1863, he 
was elected State Senator, and from 1865 to 1869 (two terms), 
he represented his district in the halls of Congress. Soon after 
he was appointed by the Governor a Judge of the Superior 
Court, to fill a vacancy, which he held until the expiration of 
the term. Since that time Mr, Humphrey has confined him- 
self to the practice of his profession, being the senior partner 
of the law firm of Humphrey & Lockwood, which stands in 
the front ranks of the profession in Buffalo. In 1846, he was 
united in marriage to a daughter of Jonathan Bowers, one of 
the early settlers of Aurora. She is a sister of Dennis Bowers, 
Esq., late a prominent lawyer in Buffalo. They have four 
children, namely : 

Arthur B., Fred, Jennie and Carrie — all residents of Buffalo 
with the exception of Frederick. 

Arthur Humphrey, the father, lived to the age of eighty- 
four years, and the mother to the age of seventy-six. Both 
died on the old homestead. 

Daniel N. Jjock-wootl. 

Daniel N. Lockwood was born in the Town of East Ham- 
burg, Erie county, N.Y., where he lived and worked on a farm 



BI()GRAriIK;AI, SKETCHES. 937 

until ho was sixteen years of age. After tlie usual prelimin- 
ary prejiaration in the district and ])ublic schools, he entered 
Union College at Schenectad\- in the I'all of 1861, from which 
he graduated with honor in 1S65. lie then entered the well- 
known law office of Humphrey and Parsons as a student and 
was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court in Ma\', 1866. 
In 1862 he was elected District Attorney of Krie count}-, and 
among other noted and celebrated causes conducted by him 
was the case of George U. Lord, who was tried for briber}', 
growing out of the exposure of the canal frauds under Gov- 
ernor Tilden's administration. He was elected a member of 
the Forty-fifth Congress, and although he was the }'oungest 
member of the House, he took an active and leading part 
in exposing the crimes by which Mr. Tilden was defrauded 
out of the Presidenc}', making the first and leading speech 
on the subject and demanding an in\'estigation of the whole 
affair. He was also a member of the Democratic National 
Convention at Cincinnati in 1880, which nominated Gen. \V. 
S. Hancock for the Presidenc}-. In 1882 he was a member of 
the Democratic State Convention at Syracuse and presented 
Governor Cleveland's name to the Conx'ention for Gov- 
ernor. For the past four \-ears Mr. Lock\\ood has 
devoted himself mainl}' to the duties of his profession. He is 
also largely interested in business enterprises, holding the office 
of President of the Buffalo, New York & Erie railroad com- 
pany, and is President and General Manager of the Akron 
Cement works, located at Akron in this count}', one of the old- 
est and largest cement works in this part of the State. 

Mr. Lockwood is a son of Harrison and Martha Phillips 
Lockwood. His father died when he was but six years of age, 
and from that time he was to a great extent dependant upon 
his own resources ; but, possessed of an indomitable will, full 
of hope and courage, he has succeeded, by industry and pru- 
dence in acquiring a thorough education and in securing for 
himself a position of influence and honor, not alone in his 
native count}', but throughout the State. 

Mr. Lockwood was married in 187 1 to Sarah E., daughter of 
Thomas Brown of Buffalo. He has two children, a son and a 
dauc'hter. 



938 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

O. J. Green. 

O. J. Green was born in 1810, and came to the Town of Sar- 
dinia in 181 5, where the greater portion of his life has been 
passed. Early in life, he took an active part in public affairs, and 
the people have honored him upon several occasions with posi- 
tions of trust and responsibility. In 1839, he was elected Jus- 
tice of the Peace of his town, a position he held twenty-four 
consecutive years. In 1846, he represented his district in the 
legislature at Albany, and in 1858, he was elected County Clerk 
of Erie county, serving a term of three years. Since then, Mr. 
Green has rather sought seclusion from the cares of public 
life. 

In 1837, he was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca J. 
Goodspeed, by whom he has three children : Horace C, 
Manly C. and Nettie. 

Horace C Green. 

Horace C. Green, eldest son of O. J. Green, was born in the 
Town of Sardinia, and upon attaining his majority, began his 
business career in the City of Buffalo. He is at present the 
junior partner of the well-known firm of A. T. Kerr & Co., 
wholesale dealers, on Seneca street. 

In July, i860, he was united in marriage to Miss Francis C. 
Cleveland, by whom he has two children, viz.: Harry C, born 
August, 1 86 1, and Nettie C„ born Oct. 5, 1872. 

Manly C. Green. 

Manly C. Green, second son of O. }. Green, was born in the 
Town of Sardinia, studied for the law, and is at present prac- 
ticing his profession in the City of Buffalo. 

He was united in marriage to Miss Jenny Lincoln, b}' whom 
he has two children, viz.: Ethel and Lincoln H. 

Mr. Green is a graduate of Williams College, Mass. A thor- 
ough student in his profession, who bids fair to make his mark 
in his chosen calling. 

Richard Reading-. 

Richard Reading was born near Banbury, Eng., June 30, 
1814. When seventeen years of age. he came with his father,^ 



lUOCJRAl'lIICAL SKKTCIIES. 939 

Richard, Sr., to America and settled on a farm in Aurora, in 
this county. 

When about thirty years of age, Richard, Jr., returned to 
England. While there, he married Miss Mar\- A. Borton, and 
again set sail for his new home. Twent)' weeks were consumed 
in the trip, it havir.g been made by sailing \essel to New York, 
and thence to Buffalo over the Eric Canal. 

Mr. Readin.g with his wife settled on the farm now occupied 
by him in 1846. Sixteen years later, they were the parents of 
eight children, seven of whom grew up and are still living : 
two daughters and five sons. 

During his lifetime, Mr. Reading has taken considerable 
pride in stock raising, especially of cattle. His Banner Yorks, 
a pair of Durhams, were sold to Farthing Bros., of Buffalo, in 
i860, and subsequentl}' shown at several cattle shows in this 
State and in Canada. After eight years' fattening, the two 
weighed six thousand pounds. Mr. Reading is considered an 
excellent judge of cattle, and is almost inwiriably one of the 
judges in this department at local fairs. 

In politics, he is a staunch Republican, as are his five sons. 
He is of retiring disj^osition, and domestic in his tastes. His 
chief ambition seems to have been the education and success 
of his children. This opinion was formed by conversing with 
his neighbors in regard to this. Few men have more friends, 
none have less enemies. 

Mr. Reading's fourth son, William B., was born April 22, 
1857, and like his brothers and sisters, he grew up in school, 
and he graduated from the Buffalo Central High School, June, 
1878. He next took a two j^ears' course in Cornell University 
and afterwards studied law with Marshall, Clinton & Wilson, of 
Buffalo. In 1882, he was elected Clerk of the Board of Super- 
visors of Erie countv-, and again re-elected to the same office in 
1883. 

Joseph Caiulee, Esq. 

Joseph Candee was born in Oxford. New Haven count}-. 
Conn., Jul}- 6, 18 13. Came to Pompey, Onondaga county, 
N. Y., with his father's family when three years old. Lived 
there and in the neighboring city of Syracuse until 1837, when 



940 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



he came to Sardinia, where he resided until June, 1856, when 
he removed to Buffalo, where he now resides. While a resident 
of Sardinia he was engaged in the tanning business in company 
with O. J. Green. He represented the town of Sardinia on the 
Board of Supervisors four times, 1S49, '5^' '5- '^^''^^ '53- ^''' 
1852 he was elected Sheriff of the county. 

He was three times elected Superviscir of the Tenth Ward 
of Buffalo, 1857, '58 and '59, and and was Postmaster 
for a time under Andrew Johnson's administration. He was 




Joseph can dee, esq. 

connected for about a year — 1861 — with the Buffalo Coin- 
vicrcial A dvcrtiscr. 

Mr. Candee was married in 1837 to Julia Jennings, who died 
Jan. 13, 1875. Mr. Candee has a daughter, Emilie ; born July 
1 7) f^37' ijii Pompey, N. Y.; and a son, Cassius C. born Oct. 
17, 1840, in Sardinia. He has been for several years Deputy 
Collector in the Buffalo Custom House. 



Patterson Kerr. 

Patterson Kerr was born in Orwell county, N. Y., Jan. 14, 
1810; was married in North Collins, in 1834, to Miss Rozette 
H. Tucker, who was born March 11, 1815. They have four 
children, Abram T., born March 4, 1835; married Rebecca 



ItloCK.M'IIICAI. ski; ICIIKS. 94I 

Marshall, Apiii 11, 1S72. The)- ha\c two cliiltlrcii, Abel T. 
and Frank M. Kniil}' A., born Jan. 19, 1838; married George 
Manford in 1859. ''•-" ^^'^■'^ been dead man\- years. She lives 
in New York City. Albert D. Born Now 4, 1841 ; married 
Fanny Price, Dec. 2, 1869. They have four children : George 
A., Fred, Albert and Harry; they live in l^uffalo. Fllen mar- 
ried George W. Arnold, Sept. 22, 1869. Has had three children : 
Bertha, Bertie E. and Emily J., who died in Buffalo, Nov. 3, 
1878. 

Abram T, Kerr is the senior partner in the well known firm 
of A. T. Kerr & Co., wholesale dealers in wines and lic^uors, 
Buffalo, N. Y. 

Madison C Scoby, 

The eldest son of Alexander Scoby, was born in Ashford in 
1829 or '30, and spent the years of his minority at home. Being 
the eldest, he was of great service to his father, and long before 
he attained his majorit)' he had become thoroughl)' proficient 
in his calling (that of miller). In the Winter of 1853 he left 
here in company with Addison Gibbs, a cousin, who was after 
Governor of Oregon for the latter state, and located at Port- 
land. He was soon engaged to take charge of a large flouring 
mill there where he remained until his return home in 1856. 
Soon after he entered into a partnershij) with his father in the 
milling business, which was continued until i860 or thereabouts. 
In 1861 he bought a half interest in the Springville mill, which 
he conductetl until 1863. In 1866 he was united in marriage to 
Miss Agnes Bensley, and soon after he removed to the State of 
Kansas, where he established himself in the business of cattle 
raising, a business that he still continues. In 1868, he removed 
his family back to Chicago, and entered into a co-partnership 
with the Bensley Bros, in the live stock trade. Mr. and Mrs. 
Scoby have a family of seven children. 

Marcus Baitlett 

-Marcus Bartlett was born at Danby, Rutland count)', Vt., 
May 16, 1817. His father, David Bartlett, came with his par- 
ents from Cumberland, R I., about 1790. lie was a self-made 



942 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

man, by trade an edge-tool manufacturer, and a man of unbend- 
ing integrity- He married Prusha Allen, daughter of Prince 
Allen, of Danby, and held many positions of honor and trust 
in his adopted town. Not being wealthy he had not much to 
give his children except a good common school education and 
the example of a life which betokened a soul of honor. Relig- 
iously he was a Quaker. His father, Abner Bartlett, married 
Drucilla Smith. His grandfather, Joseph, lived also in Cum- 
berland, and married Abigail Aldrich, and his great-grandfather, 
Jacob, settled in Cumberland from Salem, Mass. His wife's 
maiden name was Ballou. 

In November, 1839, Marcus Bartlett married Fanny A. Kelly, 
daughter of Azel and Rebecca Kelly, of Danby. He came 
with his family to Collins in November, 1846, having embarked 
at Fort Ann on the raging canal ; after an eventful voyage of 
eleven days in the kind care of good old Captain Brayton, they 
landed safely in Buffalo, and after a two days' journey by land 
over rough and muddy roads, arrived in Collins. His family 
at that time consisted of himself and wife, daughter Jane and 
an adopted son, Edward Daggett ; it was afterwards increased 
by Alice L., Allen P., Mary E. and Lucius E., two sons and 
two daughters. 

Edward enlisted in the Twenty-first regiment New York vol- 
unteers, in the War of the Rebellion ; he was promoted to Ser- 
geant and honorably dischargeci after serving his full time, and 
soon after died of disease contracted in the army. 

Allen P. married Edith M. Gay, daughter of Ira and Diana 
Gay, of State Line, Pa. Their children were : Gay, Allen P., 
Jr., and Fannie. Gay died when twenty-one months old; his 
father, Allen P., died Sept. 18, i88(. The other members of 
the family are now living together at 127 West Eagle street, 
Buffalo, N. Y., and Mrs. Bartlett's mother, Mrs. Rebecca Kelly, 
now in the ninety-first year of her age, in good health and the 
full enjoyment of all her faculties, adds greatly to the enjoy- 
ment and pleasures of their happy family circle. 

Mr. Bartlett's life has been one of continuous labor, never 
having received a dollar except what he earned by hard work 
and unremitting industry ; in youth, working some with his 
father in the blacksmith shoji, and also assisting in culti\ ating 



HIOC.RAI'HICAL SKK'RIIKS. 943 

a small farm in Summer, and attending the district school in 
Winter, where iiis education was obtained excepting one term 
at Burr Seminary, Manchester, and one at Black River Acad- 
emy at Ludlow, Vt. While most of his life has been spent on 
a farm, he taught school twenty-six consecutive Winters, com- 
mencing at the age of sixteen years. He was the first Super- 
intendent of Schools elected in his native town, a law requiring 
such an ofificer having been passed by the last Legislature pre- 
ceding his election. After settling in the Town of Collins he 
was elected Justice of the Peace and was a candidate on the 
Democratic ticket for School Commissioner, and afterwards for 
Member of Assembly in his district. His party being largely 
in the minorty, he was defeated, though running far ahead of 
his ticket. At the commencement of the late war he was 
elected Supervisor of the town against a political majority of 
about two hundred, and was appointed by the Board a member 
of the first Bounty Committee, and went to the front at Fred- 
ericksburg, Va., and along the lines, holding unlimited orders 
on Jay Cooke & Co., at Washington, from the county, to pay 
bounties to enlisted soldiers, as it had been demonstrated that 
if their money was given them in Buffalo the facilities were 
such that many of them after receiving their bounty, would de- 
sert and cross to Canada. In 1863 he was appointed Assistant 
Assessor of Internal Revenue for his district, comprising the 
towns of Collins, North Collins. Hamburg, Plast Hamburg, 
Brant, Evans, Eden and West Seneca, and held the position 
for two years, receiving the thanks of the department for his 
promptness, abilit}' and fidelity in the discharge of his difl^cult 
and delicate duties. In i860 he was employed by the census 
department of the government to take the census of the towns 
of Collins and North Collins. 

Although retaining his farm in Collins he has since 1871 been 
living in Buffalo, where he has in various capacities been 
employed in the office of the County Clerk. In 1879, ^^^ ^^'^^ 
nominated unanimously for the office receiving more than his 
party vote, but was defeated, though he had been employed 
for nearly nine years as deputy by Clerks of both political par- 
ties, thus demonstrating his qualifications for the position. 

Though politically a Democrat and religiously a Universalist 



944 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

he is justly proud of his many true and valued friends among 
all religious sects and all political parties. Generous to a fault, 
but never a spendthrift, he could not become a wealthy man, 
unless he had been more penurious and less anxious for the 
welfare of others. During the last fourteen years he has by 
his individual labor, earned and received over twenty-one thous- 
and dollars, which he hopes if it has not made him wealthy has 
gone to make the world wiser, better and happier. But he 
counts his wealth not in gold, but in the devotion and happi- 
ness of his famih' and the love and fidelity of his many friends. 

Abbott C. Calkins. 

Abbott C. Calkins was born in the Town of Colden, Erie 
county, N. Y., June i, 1838, and worked upon a farm until he was 
eighteen years old. He attended school at the Springville and 
Aurora Academies, studied for the profession of law and was 
admitted to the bar in 1859, and began the practice of his pro- 
fession in Buffalo. In 1867, he removed to Hamburg and 
opened an office there. In 1868, he represented the district in 
the State Legislature at Albany. Since that time he has devo- 
ted his attention to the practice of his profession. In 1883, he 
returned to the City of Buffalo, where he enjo)'s a large and 
lucrative practice. Mr. Calkins is an able lawyer, whose marked 
points in his character is his devotion to the interests of his 

clients. 

Cbailes T. Coit. 

Charles Townsend Coit, a prominent citizen of Buffalo, was 
the eldest son of George and Hannah Townsend Coit, and was 
born in Buffalo, then a mere x'illage, Feb. 14th, 18 19, and died 
Dec. iith, 1881. Mr. Coit, having received a fair education, 
began his business career as a clerk in the office of Coit, Kim- 
berly & Co., on Central wharf, Buffalo. In 1844 he went to 
Troy and became a member of the firm of Ide, Coit &Co., own- 
ers of the Troy and Erie Transportation Line, which then did 
an extensive business on the lu'ie Canal. He remained in Troy 
about ten years, then located at Albany for a time, and finall}* 
returned to Buffalo, where he took part in organizing the Inter- 
national Bank, of which Mr. Coit continued Cashier until June, 
1879, '^vhen he was elected its President. He continued as the 



BIOClRArHICAL SKETCHES. 945 

■executive officer of the bank until within a few months of his 
A T He was also a Director of the Buffalo Gas Light 

rl.-ith his widow and one son. 

M /Coitwas aman of thorough bush,ess ab.hty and very 
.uc cssful a. a banker and financier. He was of s.mplc hab> ts, 
d , Ucd display and ostentation and had no t-te for p.b,,c - 
sition. In his personal intercourse « ,th men he --- pk^as 
ant. having a kind word for all. bocally he was an agreeable 
companion and one whose society was highly pr.zed. 

Frank S. Coit. 

l.-rank Seymour Coit, son of Charles T. and J""f ^Coit_ was 
born at Troy, N. Y., Sept. 2d, 1850. and came to Buflaloabo t 
,8r Was educated in the schools of the city and at Exeter. 
N H • became a clerk in the First National Bank about 1869 
and after several jears connection with that "-W""™' "-;^' ^ 
in .874, to engage in the lumber busmess as one of the firm o 
Coit, Smith & Co. m ,877 he accepted the pos.t.on of Depu, 
Treasurer of Erie county and continued in that office untd ,86 
when he assumed the management of ''-Ak.onCeme, Works^ 

In ,872 Mr. Coit m.arried Emily, daughter of A. A. Eustaphieve 

of Buffalo. 

Alexander A. Eustaphieve. 

xt^^:n\.^^rM,ranr:"h^9- 

me/cantile pnrsu.ts nnt.l ,832 ^v'-'"^; ---^ ,tk about 

With the exception of a few years, spent n ^-'^ 

1840, he continued to reside in Buffalo unfl h,s death, wh.ch 



36 



946 MASONIC LODGES. 

occurfed in August, 1879. ^^ early became identified with 
the insurance business and was highly esteemed for his 
thorough acquaintance with all its details. 

Mr. Eustaphievc married, in 1835, Emily Wilson of London, 
England, by whom he had eight children, six surviving him. 
His wife died in 1872, and in 1875 he married Sarah Carpenter, 
of Rye, N. Y., by whom he had one son. Mr. Eustaphieve 
was a man of strong character and a general favorite both in 
business and social life. 



MASONIC LODGES. 

CONCORD LODGE, NO. 346, F. AND A. M. 

In the year 1822, a petition for the formation of a lodge at 
Concord, Erie county, was presented to the Grand Lodge, at 
its Annual Communication held June 7th, of which the follow- 
ing is a copy : 

" To the Most WorsJiipfnl, the Grand Lodge of the State of New 
York : 

We, Free and Accepted Masons, having been members of 
regular lodges, and having the prosperity of the fraternity at 
heart, and willing to exert our best endeavors to promote and 
diffuse the genuine principles of Masonry, that for the con- 
veniency of our respective dwellings, and for other good rea- 
sons, we are desirous of forming a new lodge in the Town 
of Concord, County of Erie, to be named Concord Lodge ; 
that in consequence of this desire we pray for a warrant of 
constitution, to empower us to assemble as a legal lodge, to 
discharge the duties of Masonry in a regular and constitutional 
manner, according to the original forms of the Order, and the 
regulations of the Grand Lodge ; that we have nominated and 
do recommend Comfort Knapp, to be the first Master, Ira Hall 
to be the first Senior Warden, and Archibald Grififith to be the 
first Junior Warden of the said lodge ; that if the prayer of 



MASONIC LODGES. 947 

the petition should be granted, we promise a strict conformity 
to all the constitutions, laws and regulations of the Grand 
Lodge." Signed. 

Charles Wells, Comkori- Kx.vrr, 

Asa Torrey, Aaron Colk, 

Asa Phillips, Reuben Rockwood, 

Edward Cram, Jonathan Jennings, 

Archibald Griffith, Ira Hall, 

ROSWELL OlCOTT, FREDERICK RICHMOND, 

Truman White. 

This petition was endorsed as follows : 

• " AUR(n<A, Erie county, N. Y., Dec. 27, 1821. 

Blazing Star Lodge, No. 294, opened in due form. Several 
brethren from the Town of Concord, in this count}', having 
presented for the approbation of this lodge, a petition to the 
M. W. Grand Lodge,. for a warrant of constitution for a lodge 
to be held in said town ; therefore. 

Resolved, That we believe this is the nearest lodge to the 
said town of Concord, and further 

Resolved, That believing it will eventuate to the benefit of 
the institution, we do cheerfulh^ recommend to the M. W\ 
Grand Lodge to grant the prayer of the petitioners. A true 
extract from the records." 

Signed. John Wadsworth, 

Secretary Blazing Star Lodge, No. 294. 

An entry of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge at that 
communication reads: "Petition from Comfort Knapp and 
others to hold a lodge in the Town of Concord, in the County 
of Erie, by the name of Concord Lodge, recommended b\' 
Blazing Star Lodge, No. 294, the prayer of which was granted." 

A warrant of constitution was granted, and the lodge was 
numbered 346. It made annual returns to the Grand Lodge 
to December, 1825, after which date there is nothing on the 
records of the Grand Lodge relating to it. 

Its membership, in addition to those named in the petition, 
is not completel}- known, but Amaziah Ashman, Jarvis Bloom- 
field, Rufus C. Eaton, John Russel, Willis Cornwall, George 
Shultus, John House, Harry House and Eaton Bensley are 



948 MASONIC LODGES. 

remembered as " brethren of the mystic tie." The lodge held 
its communications at various places on Townsend Hill and in 
Springville, until the anti-Masonic excitement broke out,when 
it ceased to do " further work," and its funds, records and prop- 
erty became dispersed and lost, with the single exception of the 
Junior Warden's Jewel, which is now in the possession of 
Springville Lodge, No. 351, where it serves to adorn the can- 
didate of the third degree, and is justly cherished as a me- 
mento of "ye olden time." 

In removing the bodies from the old cemetery at Spring- 
ville, in 1882, the " square and compasses," and the initials "L. 
E. L.," on the remains of a cof^n in an obscure grave, were 
found to mark the resting-place of a brother, and it was sub- 
sequently ascertained that the relics were those of a young 
Frenchman by the name of L. Edmund Lidja. 

A masonic headstone also marked the resting-place of Lieut. 
Sanford Perry Sampson, who died in 1825. 

In "Rural Cemetery," they now await that rat'sin^ which. 
was once symbolically taught them : " Though the skin ma}^ 
slip from the flesh, and the flesh cleave from the bone, there 
is strength in the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and He shall pre- 
vail." 

SPRINGVILLE LODGE, NO. 35 1, F. AND A. M. 

After a local sleep of more than a quarter of a century, Free- 
Masonry again sprang into activity in the organization of 
Springville Lodge, No. 351. The brethren who were active 
spirits in the establishment of this lodge have all passed away, 
but their work remains, and their names should ever be held 
in grateful remembrance by their successors. 

They came from lodges as tollows : 

Alvah Button, Lamoile. Vermont, initiated 1820. 

Heman Rugg, Olive Branch, New York, initiated 1843. 

Joel Cobleigh, Union Star, New York, initiated 1825. 

Joseph Potter, no record. 

Aaron Cole, Olive Branch, New York, initiated 18 16. 

Charles Watson, Meridian Sun, Massachusetts, initiated,. 
1818. 

Elam May, Eastern Star, Connecticut, initiated 18(5. 



FIRST MKMHKRS (JK Sl'KINGVI LLE LODGE. 949 

David B. Jcwctt, no record. 

Jarvis Bloomficld, Warren, New York, initiated 1810. 
Archibald Griffith, Concord, New York, initiated 1810. 
Amaziah Ashman, Concord, New York, initiated 1823. 
David R. Upson, Friendship, Connecticut, initiated 18 16. 
George W. Kingman, Otselic, New York, initiated 1810. 
Noah Rockwell, no record. 
Thomas J. VVhitcomb, no record. 

The old records show that : " Several adhering Master 
Masons residing in Springville and the vicinity thereof, being 
desirous of forming and organizing a Masonic Lodge in due 
form, and on consultation having decided so to do, the follow- 
ing named brethern : Alvah Dutton, Heman Rugg, Joel Cob- 
leigh, Elam May, Thomas J. WhitCDmb, Aaron Cole, and 
Joseph Potter, did on the 27th day of July, 1854, meet at the 
house of Elam May, in Springville, and did then and there 
agree to form themselves (and others) into a lodge of Free and 
Accepted Master Masons, and apply to the Grand Lodge of 
the State of New York for a dispensation, or authority to act 
as such, to be known as Springville Lodge. 

The brethren present united in a petition to the Grand 
Lodge, for the purpose named above, and designated Brother 
Alvah Dutton for Worshipful Master, Heman Rugg for Senior 
Warden, Joel Cobleigh for Junior W^arden, and to be appointed 
to the said offices under dispensation of the '' Grand Lodge." 

In August, the petition was forwarded to the Grand Secre- 
tary, and the dispensation applied for was granted, bearing 
date Aug. 28, 1854. 

Sept. 14, the lodge, under dispensation, held its first com- 
munication, when Amaziah x^shman was appointed Treasurer, 
Joseph Potter, Secretary, David R. Upson, Senior Deacon, 
Charles Watson, Junior Deacon, and Elam May, Tyler. 

The lodge sub-rented the Odd Fellows' Hall, then in the 

. block just east of the Springville mill, subsequently purchasing 

the lease and furniture, and there held its communications at 

two o'clock P. M. on each Thursday succeeding the full moon. 

Six months after its organization, it lost by death its aged 
and honored secretary, Joseph Potter, who was buried with 



950 INSTRUCTION IN THE RITUAL OF MASONRY. 

masonic honors, on the i6th of March, 1855. Pliny Smith, a 
newly-made mason was appointed to fill the vacancy, and for 
many years did that faithful and attentive ofificer wield his 
ready pen to the great benefit of the lodge, whose growth and 
prosperity he fostered in many ways besides that of the use of 
the "grey goose quill," which he would never allow to be sup- 
planted by a metallic pen. Ever at his post, exact in his duties ; 
when the hour of refreshment came, no tongue so witty as his ; 
albeit the brethren sometimes winced under his keen and eccen- 
tric skill at repartee. He ever forms a pleasing figure in the 
memory of the older members of the lodge. 

On the 19th of July, 1855, Worshipful Brother J. J. Aikin, 
of Ellicottville Lodge, by the authorit}- and as the represent- 
ative of Most Worshipful Joseph Evans, Grand Master of the 
State of New York, and assisted by William S. Herrick, of 
Phoenix Lodge, as Deputy Grand Master, Pliny Smith as 
Grand Secretary, and Lewis Woodward, of Phoenix Lodge, as 
Grand Marshal, instituted Springville Lodge, No. 351, and 
installed its ofificers, delivering into the the hands of Alvah 
Button, its first Master, the Warrant of Constitution, bearing 
date June 9, 1855. 

Li December, 1856, William H. Drew, the Grand Lecturer, 
visited the lodge and instructed the officers in the New Ritual- 
istic work. 

In i860, the lodge rented and fitted up for occupanc}\ a hall 
in the third story of the building, now occupied by Mrs. O. 
Smith as a millinery store, then owned by the Secretar)-, Pliny 
Smith, and at that time the hour of meeting was changed to 6 
o'clock P. M. 

In 1865, an amendment of the by-laws providing for semi- 
monthly communications was adopted, and the time of meet- 
ing was changed to the second and fourth Thursday evenings, 
as at present. 

In March, 1868, Assistant Grand Lecturer, John B. Sackett, 
visited and instructed the lodge anew in the ritualism of 
Masonry. 

During the }'ear 1869, the lodge was called upon to perform 
the last sad rites over the remains of two of their bretliren : 



I'Ur.l.lC INSlALLAriON OF OFFICERS. 95 1 

Worshipful Hrothcr Coblciy,h, who dictl M;i\' Jcl, and i^rothcr 
Frank McLin, who died August 29th. 

On the 9th of January, 1873, a pubHc installation of officers 
was held at the Presbyterian church, on which occasion the 
Rev. Mr. Clark, of Buffalo, delivered a very excellent and 
instructive address upon the subject of Free-Masonry. 

•The installation services were conducted by Charles E. 
Young and John A. Lockwood, of Buffalo, and at the close, a 
Past Master's Jewel was presented by the brethren, to the 
retiring Master, George G. Stanbro. 

During the year 1873, the question of procuring larger and 
better lodge-rooms having be'en discussed, as a preliminary 
step the Lodge was incorporated under a general act of the 
Legislature, enabling it to purchase, liold and transfer real es- 
tate and personal property, and an agreement was entered into 
with brethren Shuttleworth & Chafee, to purchase part of the 
brick building now known as •' Masonic Hall," then in process 
of erection. At its completion a deed was taken of the third 
story, which was nicely furnished in a suitable and convenient 
manner. Dec. 19th, 1873, the Lodge was ceremoniously ded- 
icated to Masonry by the Grand Master, Christopher G. Fox, 
in the presence of a large number of brethren and invited 
guests. Proud of the new hall the members and friends of the 
Lodge had made plentiful arrangements for the hours of fes- 
tivity which followed. The event was one of general satisfac- 
tion to all participants. 

As reflecting honor upon the Lodge, it is worthy of mention 
that in the year 1874, the Master, Bertrand Chafee, received the 
appointment of District Deputy Grand Master of the twenty- 
fifth Masonic District. On his retirement from the Mastership of 
the Lodge, Worshipful Brother Chafee was presented with an 
elegant Past Master's Jewel, as a token of the high esteem 
which the members entertained for him and of their appreciation 
of his faithful services as Master during the two preceeding 
years. 

February 17th, 1875, Masonic funeral rites were held over 
the remains of brother Charles J. Hooker, a member of the 
Lodget, the services being held in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 



952 FUNERAL SERVICES. 

July 22d, 1875, Right Worshipful George H. Raymond, 
Grand Lecturer, held a Grand Lodge of Listruction, at Spring- 
ville, exemplifying the standard work in the presence of a large 
number of Masters and Wardens from the various lodges of 
Erie county. 

On Sunday morning, Nov. iith, 1877, Springville Lodge, 
with many brethren of sister lodges, were assembled, and con- 
ducted the funeral services of brother John B. Wadsworth,. 
late of Washington, D. C, who died at the residence of his 
nephew, brother Charles R. Wadsworth, in Springville, Nov. 7, 
aged fifty-three years. The deceased richly merited the follow- 
ing obituary and memorial, copies of which were spread upon 
the records of the Lodge : 

John B. Wadsworth was born in BufTalo, N. Y., December 
26, 1823. When he was ten years old hi? parents removed to 
Springville, where he attended district school, and afterwards 
the academy for several years. He was for some time clerk in 
a store kept by Manly Colton. After a brief stay in Olean he 
went to Vicksburg in 1842, with his brother, Frederick Wads- 
worth. He remained in that place till 1849, "^vhen his health 
having failed, he set out by sea for California. On the west 
coast of South America he came near being ship-wrecked, but 
arrived in safety at his destination and went to work in the 
mines. The hard fare of a miner's life benefited him, so that 
he^increased in weight from ninety up to two hundred pounds. 
After residing a short time in San Francisco in business, he 
went to Oregon. He was Assistant Commissar}- General in 
the Oregon War. 

After a residence of twelve years in California and Oregon 
he returned to his old home in time to bur}' his mother and 
aunt ; and, after a year and a half, his father. 

From this place, at that time, he went to Washington, where 
he remained most of the time during the war. He was engaged 
much of his time in furnishing supplies for the army. 

He has visited either on business or for recreation, almost 
every part of the United States and Canada. 

In 1869, he went to Europe where he remained for more than 
three years, traveling and visiting all places of importance. 
During the time, he traveled in the Holy Land and in Eg}'pt, 
and sailed over that portion of the Mediterranean Sea from 



RESOLUTIONS OK SPKINGVn.l.E I.CJDGK. 953 

Italy to Asia, embracing the Grecian Islands-.hc ^ccnesof St^ 
Paul-s voyages. He was in Egypt at the opcn.ng of the Suez 
Canal. There are few men who l,ave traveled over as much of 
the world and seen as much as he. 

Since his return to this country he has resided most of the 
timt Waslrington. Last Spring he came back to the scenes 
olhis chUdhoocFto close up his life where he began ,t and there 

\vhiretiiing on the Danube, in Europe, he took a violent 
cold which res:ited in an asthma from wh.ch he never recov- 
ered That, ultimately, caused his death. 

He was an unusually kind and mild tempered mam H,s 
extensive travels a.-d intercourse with men, united w,th h,s nat- 
ural disposition, rendered him one of the most courteous and 
agreeable of men. Having lived an honest and upnght hfe 1 e 
passed peacefully away, enjoying sweet hopes of .mmortahty 
and eternal life. 

At a Stated Communication of Springville Lodge N 0^351. 
F and A M., held at Masonic Hall, Spnngville, N. Y., 
Nov. 22, 1877, the following Resolutions were unanmiously 

Wh7X By the providence of God we have been called to 
mourn the loss of our dearly beloved friend and brother, John 
B Wadsworth, late of Washington, D. C, who f^rst received 
Masonic light within the body of this Lodge, and at whose 
hands he received Masonic burial— 

Resolved, That in the decease of Brother Wadsworth, t ree 
Masonry met with the loss of one of the noblest one of the 
most upright, one of the purest members of our fraternity 

Resolved. That in his character we recognized the modest 
and unambitious spirit which shrunk from the pomp of life, 
but delighted rather in the silent satisfaction of domg well 
thus possessing dispositions congenial with the genuine spirit 
of Free Masonry, which led him to discover in our fraternity 
means eminently conducive to the important purpose of en- 
larging his sphere of social happiness, and of promoting the 
cause of philanthrophy. It gave a nobler expansion to his 
charity, a wider range to his benevolence. 



954 RESOLUTIONS OF SPRINGVILLE LODGE. 

Resolved, That while his loss we deeply deplore, and would 
extend the hand of sympathy to his immediate friends and rel- 
atives, and the various fraternal bands with which he was con- 
nected, we rest assured that his summons from the Most High 
was one from labor on earth to eternal refreshment in the par- 
adise of God. 

Resolved, That these Resolutions, with obituar\- notice, be 
spread upon the records of the Lodge, and copies forwarded to 
his friends and the following Masonic bodies : 

Acacia Lodge, No. i8; Buffalo Chapter, No. 71, N. Y.; 
Washington Commandry, No. i, Mithras Lodge of Perfection, 
No. 2, Evangelist Chapter Rose Croix, No. i, Robert De Bruce 
Council of Kadosh, No. i, Albert Pike Consistory, No. i, S. P. 
R. S., Washington, D. C. 

Brother Wadsworth was a great lover of masonry, and be- 
fore his death provided three thousand dollars for the erection 
of a Knight Templar monument, on the family lot in Rural 
Cemetery at Springville. The work completed. Lake Erie 
Commandery, No. 20, Knights Templar, of Buffalo, was invited 
to unveil it, and St. John's day was named as the occasion 
upon which the ceremony should take place. Hugh DePayen 
Commandery, No. 30, Knights Templar, of Buffalo, was also to 
be present as the guest of Lake Erie Commander}-. \\\ accor- 
dance with these arrangements, the two Commanderies met at 
their asylums, June 24, 1879, '^'""^ ^'^ 7oO A. M., headed by Miller's 
band, marched to the depot of the Buffalo, New York and 
Philadelphia Railroad, and embarked on the eight o'clock 
train for Springville. 

Lake Erie Commandery turned out nearly fifty Knights, and 
were under Eminent Sir Albert Jones, Commander; Sir John 
J . Jones, Generalissimo, and Sir W. H. Beyer, Captain Gen- 
eral. In the line were Past Eminent Commander Hawley 
Klein, Sir and Rev. J . Hazard Hartzell, and Sir Knights S. M. 
Evry, Fred. A. Colson, Burral Spencer, W. H. Kirkholder, John 

A. Frank, A. H. Adams, John Messmer, J. Kinney, Jr., John 

B. Hunter, M. Thielan, E. S, Knapp, John Diller, A. J. Diller, 
Philip Henig, A. B. Benedict, W. A. Mickle, Andrew Shiels, 
W. H. Baker, Adam Cornelius, Wallace Prouty, James Little, 
John Briggs, J. L. Whittet, W. W. Lawson, A. A. Carroll. W. 



MASONS PRESENT AT ITIK IiEhlCAlTON. 955 

M.KcUcr, W. 11. Ku,T., D. B. McNish C J. Onina C F. 
Bishop. N. Moresfeldcr. J. C. Snyder, John Reim.ng, R. H. 
Bickford, F. C. Hill, Samuel Root and George ^^ ■ Cro-cr 

HuL.h De Payen Commandery was ,n charge of Cm.nent 
Sir mrwin E. Morgan, Commander; Sir John L. Brothers, 
Generahsshno, and Sir Willia.n Hengerer, Capta.n General. 
In the line were Eminent Sir Christopher G. Fox, Sn and Rev. 
D h! MuUer, Prelate, and Sir Knights Fred Wagner John 
H Bosher, G. S. Stanard, M. E. Beebe, J. A. G.ven, John C^ 
"dm W. J. .Mien, D. E. Bailey, J. A. Bnry, Bertrand 
ChXe Robert Denton, J. P. Diehl, D. E. Folsom, F E. Fox 
Joh GiUig S. S. Greene, J. W. Houghtaling. J O. Meyer, W 
S Prior, VV J. Runcie. David Shirrell, F. O Vaugh,^ Conrad 
Vetter, T. S. Waud, G. I. White. A. M. W.tte, I. C.Wood- 
ward. C. G. Worthington. 

The following Masons were also on board the t,an, Most 
Excellent David F. Day. Grand High Pr.est o Royal Areh 
Masons of the State of New York; Eminent S.rW.hamF. 
Ro"" Most Excellent Companion G. W. McCray, Most Ex- 
fjto John Pease, Sir Knight John B. Sackett. of Buffalo; 
S r Knii hts B. F. Hurty and John E. Robeson, of St^John s 
Commandery, No. 34, 01e.an ; Sir Knight Homer E. Dudley 
of De Molay Commandery, No. 32, Horndlsvdle and Compan- 
Ls LeRoy S. Oatman, R. G. Persons, D. E. Folsom, G W. 
Nichols. John M. Tyler and H. S. Spencer, of Keystone Chap- 
ter No. 163, Buffalo. 

AT SPRINGVILLE 
An immense crowd had assembled to welcome the Buffalonians. 
Amon- them were SpringviUe Lodge, No. 35 >, F. & A. M J. 
N R d.mond Worshipful Master, and Livmgston Lodge, No. 
^;- of Co° » J. P. Underhill, Worshipful Master, both .^m- 
h'^'nc abo t s^venty-f^ve men. Byron Cochran was the Mar- 
> of tte da7 and under his direction the process.on was 

Xare" by th a:;ies of\he'viUage. The whole matter was 
!;:X the charge of the following named Recept.on Comm.ttee, 



956 THE ORATION. 

and they certainly did their work well : Hon. Bertrand Chafee. 
Mr. J. D. Yeomans, Dr. G. G. Stanbro, Dr. W. H. Jackson, 
Mr. J. N. Richmond and Mr. A. D. Jones. 

Shortly before i o'clock the lines were formed again and the 
procession marched to Rural Cemetery, a mile distant. The 
broiling rays of the sun came down with telling force and it 
was as much as the Knights could do to stand the pressure. 
Arrived at the cemetery an enormous crowd had gathered. It 
was a field day for Springville and vicinity. For twenty miles 
around the people had gathered until the pretty little cemetery 
was packed almost full. There were at least 5,000 people pres- 
ent. 

The Wadsworth monument occupies the highest point in the 
cemetery and looked beautiful in its veil, which was an American 
flag. The Sir Knights were drawn up in double line forming 
three sides of a square. Eminent Commander Jones stated the 
object of the visit, after which Sir and Rev. D. H. Muller, D. 
D., Prelate of Hugh DePayen Commandery, made an eloquent 
prayer. Sir and Rev. J. Hazard Hartzell, D. D., acting Pre- 
late of Lake Erie Commandery, then delivered the following 
interesting address: 

DR. HARTZELL'S oration. 

Eminent Commander, Knightly Praters, and Ladies and Gen- 
tlemen: 

We have assembled here on this occasion to unveil this mon- 
ment, erected through the generosity of^General Wadsw^orth in 
revered memory of his respected parents, who rest here in 
your beautiful Rural Cemetery, and of his esteemed ancestors, 
some of whom were quite conspicuous in the arena of import- 
ant events. 

In all periods of history the monument has been constructed 
to honor the character and perpetuate the memory of the emi- 
nent and distinguished. There is a spontaneous reverence with 
the sons of men for high-born qualities and splendid achieve- 
ments, and it is not strange that the stone has been summoned 
to keep great names from dropping into oblivion. 

Those who have devoted their talents and energies to science 
or humanity, to religion or countr)-, are remembered and hon- 



THE ORATION. 95/ 

•orcd, if not b\- their contemporaries, then by the generations 
of a later period. Piles of granite and marble have been 
erected in elegant proportions in all civilized nations to honor 
with grateful renicmbrance the character or genius of those 
who have blessed the people with their labors and triumphs. 

The monument, conspicuous in outline and beautiful in 
detail, speaks of the patriot and reformer, the artist and the 
poet, the statesman and the writer, and all who in serving great 
truths and righteous principles, became the benefactors of the 
human family. And faithful service in any of the manifold 
departments of human activity, is sure to develop character 
and elicit honor, and give the servant the ruling power of a 
king among the appreciative masses. Think of Cicero, when 
on a visit to Syracuse, hunting the am:ient cemetery of that 
celebrated metropolis for the monument of Archimedes, and 
when he discovered it by the cylinder that crowned it, and read 
the name of this eminent mathematician of Sicily, mark the 
homage he paid to his genius and the appreciation he showed 
of his services. 

Hon. William Wadsworth, an educated gentleman, came 
here from England in the colonial history of our country, and 
settled in Hartford. Captain Joseph Wadsworth, his son, 
became noted in the history of Connecticut by the part he 
took to preserve the charter. Connecticut, like Massachusetts, 
was, if possible, to be deprived of its charter, in spite of the 
• protests and prayers of the people. Andros, the royal Gov- 
ernor, appeared in Hartford at the head of a troop of soldiers 
that marched with clanging armor, whilst the General Court was 
,in session there looking after the interests of the English 
throne. The box containing the charter was lying upon the 
table; and a debate of the most exciting character took place 
between the most determined advocates, and lasted through 
the night in regard to the disposition of the instrument. 

The royal Governor listened to the debate with respectful 
attention, but was determined that in some manner Connecti- 
cut should surrender the instrLrtnent to England. The candles 
were suddenly extinguished, followed by darkness and confu- 
sion, and when the candles were relighted behold the box and 
the charter it contained were gone ! Capt. Joseph Wadsworth 



958 THE ORATION. 

seized the beloved parchment, and hurrying through the silence 
and darkness of the night, hid it in the oak tree that has 
become so renowned. For such a brave deed when the weak 
were struggling against the strong, and striving to maintain the 
immunities that belong to an intelligent people, his name 
deserves to be written upon the stone that will hold it up for 
generations to read and honor. 

Capt. Jonathan Wadsworth, grandson of him who preserved 
the charter of Connecticut, volunteered to enter the service of 
his country when it struck for liberty and independence. It 
was on the day when the stroke of oppression brought from 
the flint of freedom a spark that kindled the fires of patriotism 
all through the land. It was in the third year of the Revolu- 
tion and at the memortible battle of Saratoga that this heroic 
soldier was killed, and mourned by all who knew him. He was 
one of the honored yeomanry, who was willing to sacrifice all 
he possessed and cherished, of a temporal character, for the free- 
dom of his country. His name should be held in grateful 
esteem by the generations of the present, and should be writ- 
ten in loving letters upon the monumental marble. 

General Wadsworth, a worthy descendant who bequeathed 
the portion of his estate for the building of his cenotaph, was a 
man of great honor and integrity, of great purity and kindness. 
He was active and successful in the arena of business, left an 
unsullied record, and was respected and esteemed for manly 
virtue and noble character. He met with gratifying prosperity 
in his chosen vocation, and after extensive travel in foreign 
countries, he returned to this beautiful town, the cherished 
home of his youth, to spend the remainder of his days and then 
to lie down and sleep with his kindred. His feelings could have 
been expressed in the language of Goldsmith in his " Traveller." 

I still had hopes my latest hours to crown, 

Amidst these humble bowers to lay me down ; 

To husband out life's taper at the close, 

And keep the flame from wasting by repose. 
* * * , * * * 

And as a hare, whom hounds and horns pursue, 
Pants to the place from whence at first she flew ; 
I still had hopes, my long vexations past, 
Here to return — and die at home at last. 



THK ORATION. 959 

General Wadsworth took the deepest interest in the teach- 
ing and spirit of the' Masonic Order. He was touched with the 
beauty and meaning of its ceremonies and symbols. The dash 
and glow of • the chivalry of the Middle Ages, with its high 
sense of honor and courtesy of courage and magnanimity, 
arrested his attention and summoned his interest. The courtly 
manner, the heroic spirit, the gallant bearing and the dashing 
bravery of the Templars with their banners and bugles, swung 
him to the highest degrees of Masonry. He was a prominent 
and respected Sir Knight, an active and esteemed member of 
Lake Erie Commandery; and on account of his virtue and 
chivalry, and his generous benefaction to this ancient order, the 
Sir Knights will e\'er honor and cherish his name. 

And here, amid these beautiful hills and attractive vales, let 
this monument stand to honor a family that have honored this, 
their country. This town, with its schools and churches, its 
thriving industries and cultured inhabitants, is known and loved 
in various sections of our country. No town with the dimen- 
sions and population of this has given to our country a greater 
number of influential citizens. Some of our best men, promi- 
nent and controlling, in all honorable vocations, esteemed for 
their ability and character were educated at your Springville 
Academy. The mightiest rivers of the continent take their 
rise from the small streams of the tranquil uplands and then 
enrich the sections of the country through which the\- flow. 

But the hour admonishes us to close this ceremony, and we 
now unveil the monument. With its striking emblems and 
pictorial devices it will speak to the multitudes of the present 
and the generations of the future, of virtuous grace and de- 
parted worth. With its beauty and grandeur it will speak of 
patriotic devotion, and of eminence and influence in that an- 
cient order that has marched down through transforming cen- 
turies with its impressive ceremonies and righteous principles, 
carrying aloft its banners and symbols, and beckoning tlie per- 
iod when highborn chivalry shall characterize the deeds of men I 

At fifteen minutes before two o'clock 

TITK MONUMENT WAS UNVEILED 
in due form, the band at the time playing appropriate music. 



960 WADSWORTH MONUMENT. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT. 

The monument stands thirty-one feet and six inches above 
the ground, and is a very handsome piece of work. It was 
manufactured by Messrs. Rose & Lautz of Buffalo, and is com- 
posed entirely of Maine granite, the price paid for it being 
$3,000. The first base is six feet ten inches square, and one 
foot nine inches high. Upon this rests the second base, five 
feet eight inches square, and one foot high, the word " Wads- 
worth " appearing upon one side in large raised letters. The 
third base is five feet two inches square by one foot three 
inches in height, and upon the ledge is a Knight Templar's 
chapeau and sword cut from the solid granite. Upon the third 
base rests the massive die. It is four feet square and four feet 
three inches high, the four sides or panels being highly pol- 
ished and representing Knight Templars' banners. Upon three 
of the panels are elaborate inscriptions, intaglio style, number- 
ing seven hundred letters. Upon the north side, beneath a 
double-headed eagle, representing the thirty-second degree in 
Masonry, are the following words : 

"In memory of Gen. John B. Wadsworth, son of Richard, 
born in Buffalo, N. Y., 1823, Dec. 26. Died in Springville, 
1877, Nov. 7. After extensive travels in the four quarters of 
the globe, he came to the home of his youth to die here and 
rest by the side of his parents. His respect for his ancestors 
incited him to provide for the erection of this family monu- 
ment." 

Upon the west side, beneath a charter oak, the following 
words appear: 

" Hon. William Wadsworth came from England 1632, settled 
in Hartford, Conn., 1636, and died there 1675. Captain Joseph 
Wadsworth, son of William. Preserved the Charter of Con- 
necticut in the historic oak, 1687, Oct. 31, and died 1729. Ser- 
geant Jonathan Wadsworth, son of Joseph, died 1739.', 
Beneath a bible, on the south side are these words : 
" Captain Jonathan Wadsworth, Jr., son of Jonathan, was 
killed near Saratoga, 1777, Sept. 19. Henry Wadsworth, son 
of Jonathan, Jr., died 1821, Oct. 13. Richard Wadsworth, son 
of Henry, died 1861, April i, aged 75 years. Ann McLean, 
wife of Richard Wadsworth, died 1859, Oct. 15, aged 72 years." 



WADSWORTII MONUMENT. 961 

The massive appearance of the die is relieved by four poh'shed 
cohimns at the corners cut in the solid block. The cap upon 
the die is moulded in gothic style and is very handsome. It is 
four feet nine inches square by four feet two inches high. The 
west face bears a charter oak ; the east the letter "W;" the north 
a double-headed eagle, 32 o ; and the south the Holy Bible, 
all beautifully carved in granite. 

The base of the column is one foot in height and upon 
it stands the shaft which is twelve feet high and beautifully 
polished. It is round with a perfect taper and midway between 
the upper and lower cap are crossed battle-axes over a cross and 
triangle containing a trowel. Surmounting the shaft is a capi- 
tal two feet seven inches high. It is elegantly carved in the 
Corinthian style and is very handsome. The whole is over- 
topped by an ancient helmet two feet nine inches high and sets 
off the work in a splendid manner. 

A provision of brother Wadsworth's will gave five hundred 
dollars to Springville Lodge, on condition that the of^cers agree 
to look after, and see that the lot and grounds on which the 
monument stands be kept in proper condition ; also that the 
conditions of the bequest be entered in the Lodge books and 
read in open Lodge at least once during the months of May, 
July and September, each and every year during the continu- 
ance of the Lodge. The legacy was accepted under the speci- 
fied conditions, and the Lodge resolved to carry out in good 
faith the same. 

During the last decade several public festivals and lectures, 
under the auspices of the lodge, have served to give pleasure 
and instruction to its members and friends. 

The preceding are the more salient points in the history of 
Springville Lodge, now in its thirtieth year. Meanwhile it has 
pursued the even tenor of its way, with its proper Masonic 
work, as indicated in part by the following list of names of 
those who have received Masonic light within its portals, or 
coming from sister lodges, have joined its brotherhood: 



962 



SPRINGVILLE LODGE— MEMBERSHIP. 
COMPLETE LIST OF MEMBERSHIP. 
*Present Members. fDead. 



•^•Alger, Oliver E., 
Allen, James, 
Ashman, Alonzo A., 
Ashman, Alonzo C, 
•fAshman, Amaziah, 
-^Baker, Theodore, 
Ballon, Charles F., 
Bartlett, Benjamin F., 
*Bigelo\v, Charles C, 
*Bigelow, Charles D., 
*Blakeley, Walter W., 
Bloomfield, David C, 
fBloomfield, Jarvis, 
'"Briggs, Erasmus, 
Briggs, George W., 
Briggs, William F., 
^Bryant, A. F., 
Burke, Willis, 
■••Bury, Martin, 
"Chafee, Bertrand, 
^Chandler, Murray L., 
*Childs, Isaac B., 
Clark, Byron S., 
*Clark, Charles F., 
Clark, Herbert F.. 
Clark, John S., 
fCobleigh, Joel. 
^Cochran, Byron, 
*Cohen, J . Lewis, 
+Cole, Aaron, 
Collins, Stowell, Jr.,^ 
*Cook, Alphonso W., 
*Crary, Frederick, 
*Crawford, Burt J., 
Crosby, Alden, 
*Davis, Bryant J., 
*Day, Clark D., 
*DePuy, William R., 
tDutton, Alvali, 
Eaton, Henry, 
Empson, Samuel D., 
*Engel, George, 
Fay, Benjamin A., 



"Ferrin. William A., 
Fields, Manly, 
Findlay, Alexander R., 
-Fish, E. Lee Verne, 
*Fuller, Albert, 
^Fuller, James D., 
Frye, Jesse, 
Gardinier, Elias, 
*Gardinier, Robert J., 
*Gardinier, Thomas, 
Gaylord, Manley, 
*Goodell, Leighton M., 
*Goodemote, James, 
*Greene, George, 
fGriffith, Archibald, 
*Hadley, Alonzo E., 
*Hakes, Albert F., 
Hall, Morris L., 
Hammond, John D., 
Hawkins, George W., 
-Herbold, Philip, 
Hibbard, Gilbert C, 
--Holland, John B., 
tHooker, Charles J., 
Hoover, William H., 
*Hufstader, Rufus E., 
*Jackson, William H., 
tjewett, David B., 
* J ones, Avery D., 
•f J ones S. Willard, 
Kellogg, Leonard M., 
•fKingman, George W., 
*Leland, Elmer O., 
*Leland, Hewlitt G., 
*Louk, Dighton, 
fMay, Phineas, 
■j-May, Elam, 
*McIntosh, Sanford A. 
■f-McLin, Frank, 
McMillen, Clark S., 
Mills, H. Eugene, 
"Moon, Arnold J ., 
*Morton, Samuel A., 



Sl'RINGVILLE LODGE — MEMBERSHIP. 



965 



Murphy, Lewis J., 

* Myers, John P., 

Nash, Daniel D., 

fNichell, Charles F. A., 

Nichols. Charles H., 

^Nichols, Lawrence B., 

Nichols, Levi, 

Norris, Henry F., 

tOyer, Albert, 

*Oyer, George W., 

•■■'Oyer, Jacob, 

*Park, William, 

*Pierce, George A., 

Pierce, William, 

'•• Pingrey, Charles W . , 

*Pingrey, Harrison, 

-fPotter, Joseph, 

*Prill, John, 

^^Prior, Frank, 

*Prior, James, 
Reed, George H., 
*Reed, John W., 
*Rice, Roswell D., 
Rice, William, 
"Richardson, Preston C, 
"Richmond, James N., 
tRockwell, Noah, 
fRugg, Heman, 
*Rumsey, Burt J., 
Russell, Humphrey, 
*Rust, Adolph F., 
■•^Sampson, Perrin, 
fSanders, Lucius C, 
"Scoby, Marshall D., 
Sherman, Charles W., 
Sherman, George H., 
'•Shuttleworth, Charles J., 
Skeele, Andrew L., 
Slaght, Edwin, 
Smith, David D., 
Smith, Orville, 
•fSmith, Pliny, 
"Spaulding, Frank P., 



'^"Spaulding, 1 hirlan P., 

Spencer, Horace C, 

Stanbro, Almon W., 

*Stanbro, George G., 

Steele, Myron, 

Stowell, Charles, 

*Taber, Asa R., 

fThomson, Newton K., 

*Tillinghast. A. O., 

Tobias^ Philip, 

fTorrey, A. Rodolphus, 

^^Trevitt, Alfred R., 

Trube, Peter, 

Turner, Alfred, 

"•^'Twichell, Asa L., 

Tyrer, Adelbert, 

tTyrer, James, 

•fUpson, David R., 

VanSlyke, William H., 
■"Vaughan, Alonzo L.. 
Vaughan, Covel L., 
Vaughan, Julius, 
■■^Vosburg, Isaac, 
"Wadsworth, Charles R., 
•fWadsworth, John B.. 
Wadsworth, Morris, 
Waite, Weston W., 
'■^Warner, William H., 
+ Watson, Charles, 
■•nVells, John A., 
Wells, William, 
*Wheeler, David, 
*Wheeler, John S., 
•fWhitcomb, Thomas J., 
"" Wickham, Chauncey L., 
Widrig, William A., 
-AVilcox, David J., 
Wiltse, Alonzo, 
-Wiltse, Ward B., 
""Wood, Charles H., 
Woodward, Philo, 
^Wright, Edwin, 
Yates, Robert J. 



964 



SPRINGVILLE LODGE — ELECTIVE OFFICERS. 



ELECTIVE 



Year. 



1854. 




1855. 




1856. 




1857.. 




1858. 




1859. 




i860. 




I86I. 




1862. 




1863. 




1864. 




1865. 




1866. 




1867. 




1868. 




1869. 




1870. 




I87I. 




1872. 




1873. 




1874. 




1875. 




1876. 




1877. 




1878. 




1879. 




1880. 




1881. 




1882. 




1883. 




1884. 





Master. 



Alvah Button 

Alvah Button 

Alvah Button 

Alvah Button 

Joel Cobleigh 

Pliny Smith 

Joel Cobleigh 

Joel Cobleigh 

Benjamin A. Fay. . . 
Benjamin A. Fay . . . 

Joel Cobleigh 

Almon W. Stanbro . . 
Almon W. Stanbro. 

Joel Cobleigh 

George G. Stanbro . . 
Almon W. Stanbro . 
Harlan P. Spaulding 
Harlan P. Spaulding 
George G. Stanbro . , 
Bertrand Chafee.... 
Bertrand Chafee . . . . 
George G. Stanbro . , 
Frank P. Spaulding. 
Henry F. Norris. . . . 
Henry F. Norris. . . . 
James N. Richmond, 
James N. Richmond 

Avery B. Jones 

Avery B. Jones 

Alonzo E. Hadley. . 
Alonzo E. Hadley.. 



Senior Warden. 



Heman Rugg 

Heman Rugg 

Joel Cobleigh 

Joel Cobleigh 

Pliny Smith 

George G, Stanbro. . 
Benjamin A. Fay. . . . 

Arnold J. Moon 

Almon W. Stanbro . . 

Arnold J. Moon 

Arnold J. Moon 

Alonzo L. Vaughan. 

Orville Smith 

Manly Gaylord 

Manly Gaylord 

Harlan P. Spaulding. 

Henry Eaton 

Henry Norris 

Bertrand Chafee 

William Park 

Henry Norris 

Frank P. Spaulding. 

Frank Prior 

James N. Richmond. 
James N. Richmond. 

Avery B. Jones 

Avery B. Jones 

John S. Wheeler. . . . 
Alonzo E. Hadley. . . 
William H. Jackson. 
William H. Jackson. 



SPRINGVILLE LODGE — KlECTIVE OFFICERS. 965 



OFFICERS. 



Junior Warden. 



Joel Cobleigh 

Joel Cobleigh 

Benjamin F. Bartlett 

Arnold J. Moon.. . ■ 

George G. Stanbro . . 
Benjamin A. Fay.... 
Almon W. Stanbro. . 
Almon \V. Stanbro.. 

Isaac Vosburg 

Isaac Vosburg 

Isaac Vosburg 

Alonzo C. Ashman. . 

Stoel Collins, Jr 

Benjamin A. Fay. . . . 

Henry Eaton 

William Park 

Alonzo L. Vaughan . 
Alonzo E. Hadley. . . 
Walter W. Blakeley. 
Frank P. Spaulding. . 

James Prior 

Chas. R. Wadsworth 
James N. Richmond. 

Isaac B. Childs 

Avery D. Jones 

John W. Reed 

John S. Wheeler. . . . 
Rufus E. Hufstader. . 
William H.Jackson.. 
Lawrence B. Nichols. 
Lawrence B. Nichols. 



Treasurer. 

Amaziah Ashman . . . 
Amaziah Ashman . . . 

Arnold J. Moon, 

Lucius C. Saunders & 
Horace C. Spencer. 
Arnold J. Moon. 
Arnold J. Moon 
Arnold J. Moon 
David C. Bloomfield 
Arnold J. Moon. . . 

Joel Cobleigh 

Horace C. Spencer 
Arnold J. Moon. . 
Arnold J. Moon. . 
Arnold J. Moon. . 
Arnold J. Moon. . 
Arnold J. Moon. . 
Arnold J. Moon. . 
Arnold J. Moon. . 
Arnold J. Moon. . 
Arnold J. Moon . . 
Hewlitt G. Leland 
Hewlitt G. Leland 
Hewlitt G. Leland 
Hewlitt G. Leland 
Hewlitt G. Leland. 
Hewlitt G. Leland. 
Hewlitt G. Leland. 
Hewlitt G. Leland. 
Hewlitt G. Leland. 
Hewlitt G. Leland. 
Hewlitt G. Leland. 



Secretary. 



Joseph Potter. 
Pliny Smith. 
Pliny Smith. 

I Pliny Smith. 

D. C. Bloomfield. 
Almon W. Stanbro. 
Pliny Smith. 
Pliny Smith. 
Pliny Smith. 
Pliny Smith. 
Pliny Smith. 
Pliny Smith. 
Pliny Smith. 
Pliny Smith. 
Pliny Smith. 
Pliny Smith. 
Pliny Smith. 
Pliny Smith. 
Pliny Smith. 
Pliny Smith. 
WalterW. Blakeley. 
WalterVV. Blakeley. 
WalterW.Blakeley. 
Perrin Sampson. 
Perrin Sampson. 
Weston W. Waite. 
Asa R. Taber. 
Asa R. Taber. 
Asa R. Taber. 
Asa R. Taber. 
Asa R. Taber. 



966 



CHAPTERS — ELECTIVE OFFICERS. 



CHAPTERS. 

SPRINGVILLE CHAPTER, NO. II 8, R. A. M. 
There once existed a chapter bearing this name, of which 
Job Bigelow, Archibald Grififith, Jarvis Bloomfield, and others 
were members, but nothing is definitely known of its work or 
history. It probably had but a short life ere the wave of anti- 
Masonry swept it out of existence. A seal, still preserved in 
the Bigelow family, attests the fact that it must have had a 
charter. 

SPRINGVILLE CHAPTER, NO. 275, R. A. M. 

In 1879, Bertrand Chafee, Henry Eaton, Lowell M. Cum- 
mings, George G.. Stanbro, William H. Jackson, George W. 
Nichols, John M. Wiley, Dexter E. Folsom, John A. Bury, 
Ira C. Woodward, C. W. Bourne and Julius B. Woodward, 
who had been properly vouched for and recommended by 
Forestville Chapter, No. 136, petitioned the Grand High 
Priest for a dispensation to form a chapter to be holden at 
Springville, to be known and designated as Springville Chapter. 

Bertrand Chafee was authorized and empowered to act as 
High Priest; Iia C Woodward to act as King, and John M. 
Wiley to act as Scribe, by a dispensation dated May 14, 1879, 
and the chapter was organized June 24, 1879, t>y the Grand 
High Priest, David Fisher Day, the consecration being held at 
Masonic Hall. 

Julius B.Woodward was appointed Treasurer; C. W. Bourne, 
Secretary ; George G. Stanbro, Captain of the Host ; W^illiam 
H. Jackson, Principal Sojourner; Lowell M. Cummings, Royal 
Arch Captain; Henry Eaton, Master of the Third Vail; Dex- 



ELECTIVE 



Year. 


High Priest. 


King 


I879---- 
1880.... 
1881 . ... 
1882. ... 
1883.... 
1884. ... 


Bertrand Chafee 

Bertrand Chafee 

Bertrand Chafee 

George G. Stanbro 

William N. Jackson 

William N. Jackson 


Ira C. Woodward 

Ira C. Woodward 

Ira C. Woodward ......... 

W^illiam H. Jackson 

Avery D. Jones 


Averv D Tones 





MEMBERS— ELECTIVE OEFICERS. 



967 



tcr E Folsom, Master of the Second Vail; John A. Bury, 
Master of the First Vail, and George VV. Nichols, Tylen 

The next year, the Chapter received its " Warrant of Consti- 
tution." dated February 5th, 1880, and soon after its officers 
were publicly installed by the Grand High Priest, David F. 
Day, at the Opera House. The Chapter holds its stated con- 
vocations on the first and third Monday evenings of each 
month. Its candidates come from Spnngville, Arcade and 

Golden lodges : 

MEMBERS. 

f Died Sept. S, 18S3. 



Baker, J. D., 
Bigelow, C. D., 
Blakeley, W. W., 
Bourne, C. W., 
Bryant, A F., 
Buffum, S. W., 
Bury, J. A., 
Chafee, B., 
Clark, H. F., 
Cohen, J. L., 
Cornwell, I. A., 
Crawford, B. J., 
Cummings, L. M., 
Eaton, H., 
Fuller, A., 
Gilbert, S, T., 
Greene, G., 
Hadley, A. E., 
Hakes, A. F., 
Herbold, P. 
Hufstader, R. E., 
Jackson, W. H., 



Jones, A. D., 
Masten, W. J., 
Moon, A. J., 
Myers, J. P., 
Nichols, G. W., 
Nichols, L. B., 
Persons, W. F., 
Prill, J., 
Prior, F., 
Reed, ]. W., 
Spaulding, V. P., 
Stanbro, G. G., 
Tabor, A. R., 
fThomson, N. K., 
Twichell, A. L., 
Twichell, W. E., 
Wadsworth, C. R., 
Warner, W. H., 
Wiley, J. M., 
Woodward, I. C, 
Woodward, J. B. 



OFFICERS. 



Scribe. 



Treasurer. 



Secretary. 



John M. Wiley JuHus B. Woodward. Charles W.Bourne. 

John M. Wiley Ijulius B. Woodward. Charles W. Bourne. 

John M. Wiley lAsa L. Twichell L. M. Cummings. 

Asa L. Twichell John Prill L. M. Cummings. 

John W. Reed John Prill L. M. Cummings. 

Alonzo E. Hadley.. . John Prill Asa R. Taber. 



968 EARLY EVENTS IN CONCORD AND COLLINS. 

NOTES. 
CONCORD. 
The first birth was that of Lucius Stone in 1809. The first 
death was that of Mrs. John Albro, in 1808. The first mar- 
riage was that of Obediah Brown to Miss Curtis in 1 811. She was 
a sister of Mrs. Amaziah Ashman. Christopher Douglass, Esq., 
officiated. The first school was taught by Miss Anna Rich- 
mond in the Summer of 18 10. The first lawyer was Thomas 
T. Sherwood. Hon. C. C. Severance practiced the profession 
of law the longest, and Dr. Carlos Emmons the profession of 
medicine the longest. Thomas Lincoln is the oldest archi- 
tect and builder, and has followed his calling the longest. Joel 
D. Holman followed the trade of blacksmith the longest, and 
George E. Crandall has worked the longest at the jeweler's 
trade. Jonathan Briggs is the veteran school teacher, having 
followed the calling nearly fifty years. Calvin Killium, of 
Waterville, has lived in this town longer than any other person 
now living. Daniel Shultus is the oldest person living in this 
town. Mrs. Ezekiel Adams is the oldest of the pioneers. E. 
N. Frye has milked the greatest number of cows and Jeremiah 
Richardson manufactured the most sugar. 

COLLINS. 
The first birth was that of a son of Aaron Lindsley in 18 10. 
The first marriage was that of Stephen Peters and Sarah Par- 

menter in 181 1. The first death was that of Straight 

in 1812. John Hanford kept the first store in 1813 at Taylor 
Hollow. Ralph Plumb opened the first store in Gowanda and 
Samuel Lake the first one at Collins Center. The first school 
was taught in Zoar by Simeon Waterman in 18 12. The first 
Postmaster in Zoar was Phineas Orr, his commission bore the 
date of 1820. Another postoffice was established at Taylor 
Hollow, *but at what time the author cannot ascertain.- 

NORTH COLLINS. 

The first birth was that of George Tucker in 18 10. The first 

marriage was that of Levi Woodward aid Hannah Southwick 

in 181 2, and the first deaths, those of two girls, twin daughters 

of Stephen Sisson. Stephen Stancliff built the first mill in 



LOCAL NAMES OF SARDINIA. 9^9 

tStS Stephen Tucker kept the first inn and Stephen Rose 
i8i8 Stcpnen p ^^^^^^^ ^^,^^ taught by 

the first store, both \n i«i3- ^ '^^ 
Phebe Southwick in 1S13. 

j^OTES.-LOCAL NAMES IN SAR1)INL\. 
'' Frattham" was named after Elder Stephen Pratt, who was. 
^"M:dr^"::-vas named after Obed.ahMadiso 

^^^Sh^;;^:] H!n:^.amed after Capt. Samuel Shepherd, who 

war of 1 81 2, who located there. 

" P otect on." The origin of this name is somewhat obscure 
but it "supposed to have originated from the fact that a hot el 
keepL placed the word " Protection" over his door as a s>gn, and 
the little hamlet has been known by this name ever smce. 

The first school taught in the south part of the town was by 
Anna Richmond, in her father's house, .n 18.2 

The first school taught in the east part of the town, was by 

Melinda Abbey in 1S14. ^„d 

The first birth m town was that of Ka> tin^^=, 
the first death was a son of Henry Godfrey n, ,814 The fir t 
marri.a.e was that of James Reynolds to Anna Richmond, m 
7'"\r. Prindle was the first physician. Dr. Colgrove prac- 
tised medicine the longest. 

ELECTIONS IN EARLY TIMES. 
In early days the towns were not divided into election dis- 
tricts as they are at the present, but the t,me of holdn,g ea h 
el^cdonwas'confined to three days, and thc-Pectors w- U 
ballot-boxes would go from one point to another and rece.ve- 
the ballots. In Concord the places of rece,vn,g the votes we e 
in the Sibley settlement school-house in the forenoon of e 
first day. Then the board in the afternoon would adjour,^ the 
polls to the house of Isaiah Pike, from here the polls wou d be 
adjourned to some convenient place in the west ?«« ° J^t 
town for the forenoon of the following day, and '-""-- 
would be adjourned to the house of Jonathan Townsend ,n the 



970 LIST OF PRESIDENTS. 

afternoon, from whence it would be adjourned to the village of 
Springville, where the polls would be kept open from morning 
until night of the third and last day. I remember that in this 
town Morris Fosdick, Wells Brooks, L. B. Tousley and C. C. 
Severance were in the habit of accompanying the Inspectors in 
their tour and looking after the interests of their parties, and 
trying to secure the rights of their respective candidates. 

A LIST OF PRESIDENTS FROM THE ADOPTION OF THE FED- 
ERAL CONSTITUTION TO THE PRESENT TIME. 

1789, George Washington. 1796, John Adams. 1800, 
Thomas Jefferson. 1804, Thomas Jefferson. 1808, James 
Madison. 1812, James Madison. 1816, James Monroe. 1820, 
James Monroe. 1824, John Q. Adams. 1828, Andrew Jack- 
son. 1832, Andrew Jackson. 1836, Martin Van Buren. 1840, 
William Harrison, who died after serving one month and his 
place was filled by the Vice-President, John Tyler. 1844, 
James K. Polk. 1848, Zachary Taylor, who died in of^ce and 
his term was completed by the Vice-President Millard Fill- 
more. 1852, Franklin Pierce. 1856, James Buchanan, i860, 
Abraham Lincoln. 1864, Abraham Lincoln, who was assassin- 
ated, and Andrew Johnson finished his term. 1868, Ulysses 
S. Grant. 1872, Ulysses S. Grant. 1876, R. B. Hayes, 1880, 
James A. Garfield, who was assassinated, and his place filled by 
Chester A. Arthur, Vice-President. 

LIST OF GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK SINCE 1 777 UP TO THE 

PRESENT DATE. 

George Clinton from 1777 to 1795. John Jay, 1795 to 1801. 
George Clinton from 1801 to 1804. Morgan Lewis from 1804 
to 1807. Daniel D. Tompkins from 1807 to March, 1817. 
John Taylor, Lieutenant Governor, Acting Governor from 
March, 18 17 to July, 18 17. DeWitt Clinton from 18 17 to 
January i, 1823. Joseph C. Yates from 1823 to 1825. DeWitt 
Clinton from 1825 to P'eb. 11. 1828. Nathaniel Pitcher from 
Feb. II, 1828, to Jan. i, 1829. Martin Van Buren from Jan. i, 
1829, to March 12, 1829. Enos T. Throop, Lieutenant Gov- 
ernor, Acting Governor from March 12, 1829 to Jan. i, 1831. 
Enos T. Throop from 1S31 to 1833. William L. Marcy from 



ERIK COUNTY S CONCKKSSMPIN. 97I 

1833 to 1839. William H. Seward from 1S39 to i<S43. Will- 
iam C. Rouch from 1843 to 1845. Silas Wright from 1845 to 
1847. John Young from 1847 ^^ 1849. Hamilton Fish from 
1849 to '851. Washington Hunt from 1851 to 1853. Horatio 
Seymour from 1853 to 1855. Myron H. Clark from 1855 to 
1857. John A. King from 1857 to 1859. Edwin D. Morgan 
from 1859 t° 1863. Horatio Seymour from 1863 to 1865. 
Reuben E. Fenton from 1865 to 1869. John T. Hoffman from 
1869 to 1873. John A. Dix from 1873 to 1875. Samuel J. 
Tilden from 1875 to 1877. Lucius Robinson from 1877 to 
1879. Alonzo B. Cornell from 1879 to 1882. Governor Cleve- 
land elected to fill the next term from 1882 to 1885. 

ERIE COUNTY IN CONGRESS. 

The following will show the representation of Erie county 
in Congress since 1808 : 

In 1808 Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Niag- 
ara and Ontario, were constituted the 15th Congressional dis- 
trict. 1809-13, Gen. Peter B. Porter. In 18 12 the territor}^ 
which now embraces Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, 
Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara and Ontario counties, 
was made the twenty-first Congressional district, with two rep- 
resentatives. In 1813-15, Samuel M. Hopkins, Nathaniel 
Howell. 181 5-17, Micah Brooks, Peter B. Porter; General 
Porter resigned in 18 16 and Archibald S. Clarke was elected to 
fill vacancy. 18 17-19, Benjamin Ellicott, John C. Spencer. 
1819-21, Nathaniel Allen, Albert H.Tracy. 1821-23, William 
B. Rochester, Albert H. Trac)\ 

Erie county was erected in 1821, and in 1822 Chautauqua, 
Erie and Niagara were constituted the thirtieth district, with 
one representative ; 

1823-25, Albert H. Tracy. 1825-27, Daniel G. Garnsey. 
1827-29, Daniel G. Garnsey. 1829-31, Ebenezer F. Norton. 

In 1832 Erie county was made the thirty-second district : 

1831-33, Bates Cook. 1833-35, Millard Fillmore. 1835-37, 
Thomas C. Love. 1837-39, Millard Fillmore. 1839-41, M. 
Fillmore. 1841-43. M. Fillmore. 1843-45, William A Mose- 
ley. 1845-47, William A. Moseley. 1847-49, Nathan K. Hall. 
1849-51, E. G. Spaulding. 1851-53, Solomon (i. Haven. 



972 COUNTY JUDGES AND SHERIFFS. 

1853-55, S. G. Havens. 1855-57, S. G. Havens. 1857-59, 

Israel T. Hatch. 1859-61, E. G. Spaulding. 1861-63, E. G. 

Spaulding. 

In 1S62 Erie county was made the thirtieth district : 
1863-65, John Ganson. 1865-67, James M. Humphrey. 

1867-69, James M. Humphrey. 1869-71, David S. Bennett. 

1871-73, Wilham Wilhams. 1873-75, Lyman K. Bass. 

1875-77, Lyman K. Bass. 1877-79, Daniel N. Lockwood. 

1879-81, Ray V. Pierce. 1881-83, Jonathan Scoville. 1883-85, 

William F. Rogers. 

LIST OF COUNTY JUDGES OF NIAGARA COUNTY BEFORE THE 
DIVISION, AND OF ERIE COUNTY AFTER THE DIVISION. 

1808, Augustus Porter, of Niagara Falls. 181 2, Samuel 
Tupper, of Buffalo, 1817, William Hotchkiss, of Brant, Niag- 
ara county. 1820, Ebenezer Walden, of Buffalo. 

Erie county organized in 1821. 

1 82 1, Samuel Wilkinson. 1823, Ebenezer Walden. 1828, 

Thomas C. Love, of Buffalo. 1829, Philander 

1837, James Stryker. 1842, Nathan K. Hall. 1845, Frederick 
P. Stevens. 1847, Frederick P. Stevens. 185 1, Jesse Walker ; 
died, and in 1852, James Sheldon appointed. 1856, James 
Sheldon elected, i860, James Sheldon. 1864, Stephen Lock- 
wood. 1868, R. L. Burrows. 1872, Albert Haight, resigned. 
1877, William W. Hammond, to fill vacancy. 1878, William 
W. Hammond, of Brant, full term. 1883, William W. Ham- 
mond. 

SHERIFFS APPOINTED. 

1808. Asa Ransom. 18 10, Samuel Pratt, of Buffalo. 1812, 
Asa Ransom, of Clarence. 1814, Asa Ransom, J. G. Camp. 
1816, Asa Ransom. 1818, James Cronk, of Newstead. 1821, 
G. Caulp, of Buffalo. 

ELECTED. 

1822, Wray S. Littlefield, of Hamburg. 1825, John G. 
Camp. 1828, Lemuel Wasson, of Hamburg. 1831, Stephen 
Osburn, of Clarence. 1834, Lester Brace of Black Rock. 1837, 



COUNTY CLKRKS AND SU KKOCiATK. 973 

nvirlesP Persons, of Aurora. 1840. Lorenzo Brown otBuf- 

f 8aV Ralph Plumb, ot Collins. .846, Timothy A. Hop- 

t o Amh^:!' -849, LeRoy Farnham, of Buffalo. :^ 

I ,scoh Cmdee of Sardinia. .855. Orrin LockNvood, of Bos- 

oseph Candec ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^ H. Best, of 

Buffalo. ,864, Oliver J. Eggert, of A">h"st. 86 , Char es 
narcv of Buffalo. 1870. Crover Cleveland, of Buffalo. 1S73, 
fo,;7B Weber, of We'st Seneca. ,876, Joseph L. Habers ,-., 
of Buffalo. .879. William W. Lawson, of Buffalo. 1882, 1 lar- 
ry H. Kock. 

COUNTY CLERKS APFPOINTED. 
1808, Louis Le Couteulx, of Buffalo. i8io, Juba Storrs. of 
Buffalo 1815, Archibald S. Clark, of Newstead. iSi6 Fred. 
K MerrUl, of Buffalo. 1819. John E. Marshall, of Buffalo. 
1 82 1, James S. Barton. 

ELECTED. 
i8''2. Jacob A. Barker. 1825, Jacob A. Barker. '828 Eli- 
jah Leach. 1831, Noah P. Sprague. 1834, Horace Clark. 
18^7 Cyrus K. Anderson.' 1840, Noah P. Sprague. 184., 
M iyColton. 1846, Moses Bristol. 1849, Wells Brooks, of 
Concord. 1852, William Andre. 1855, Peter M. Vo«.. 
18S8 O. J. Greene, of Sardinia. 1861, Charles R Du kee. 
.864', Lewis P. Dayton. 1867, John Anchxw. ^^70 J -^H 
Fisher. 1873, George S. Remmgton. 1876, D. C. Oatman. 
1879, R. B. Foote. 1882, Joseph E. Ewell. 

SURROGATES. 

,808, Archibald S. Clark. 1813, Amos Calander. 1815, Dn 

Johnson. I82I, Roswell Chapin. 1829, Martn. Ch.ttenden 

died with the cholera). 1832, Isaac T. Hatch. V^S^' Samu I 

Caldwx^H. 1841, Thomas C.Love. 1845, Peter MX osburgl. 

1847, Peter M. Vosburgh. 1851, Charles D. Norton. 18,5, 

Abram Thorn. ,859, Charles C. Severance, of Concord. 1863, 

Jonathan Haskell, of Brandt, 1867, Horatio Seymour. 1871 

Zebulon Ferris, of East Hamburgh. 1877, Zebulon Perns. 

1883, Jacob Stern. 



974 DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, STATE SENATORS, ETC. 

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. 

1818, Charles G. Olmstead. 1819, Heman B. Potter (ten 
years). 1829, Thomas C. Love. 1836, George P. Barker. 
1837, Henry W. Rogers. 1841, Henry W. Rogers. 1844, 
Solomon G. Hav^en. 1847, Benjamin H. Austin. 1849, C. H. 
S. Williams. 1852, John L. Talcott. 1853, Albert Sawen. 
1856, James M. Humphrey. 1859, ^- J- Fithian. 1862, Cyre- 
nius C. Torrence, of Collins. 1865, Lyman K. Bass. 1868, 
Lyman K. Bass. 1871, Bejamin H. Williams. 1874, Daniel 
N. Lockvvood. 1877, R. C.Titus. 1880, Edward W. Hatch. 
1883, Edward W. Hatch. 

COUNTY TREASURERS. 

1848, Christian Metz. 1854, James D. Warren. 1857, Lyman 
B. Smith, i860, Norman B. McNeal. 1863, Francis C. Brunk. 
1866, Charles R. Durkee. 1869, William B. Sirrett. 1872, 
William. B. Sirrett. 1875, William B. Sirrett. 1878, William 
B. Sirrett. 1881, Henry R. Jones. 

STATE SENATORS. 
1812, Archibald S. Clark, Newstead. 1820, Oliver Forward, 
of Buffalo. 1825 jSam.uel Wilkinson. 1833, Albert H. Tracy. 
1837, William A. Moseley. 1844, Carlos Emmons of Concord. 
1847, John T. Bush. 1849, George R. Babcock. 1851, George 
R. Babcock 1853, James O. Putnam. 1855. James Wads- 
worth. 1859, John Ganson. 1861, John Ganson. 1863, 
James M. Humphrey. 1865, D. S. Bennett. 1867, A. 
P. Nichols. 1869, L. L. Lewis. 1871, L. L. Lewis. 1873, 
John Ganson. 1874, A. P. Lanning. 1875, S. S. Rogers. 
1876, E. C. Sprague. 1877, R. V.Pierce. 1879, B. H. Wil- 
liams. 1881, Robert C. Titus. 1883, Robert C. Titus, 

MEMliERS OF ASSEMBLY. 

The following is a list of the Members of Assembly who have 
represented the people of these towns in the Legislature : 

Before the present County of Erie was organized, they were 
represented by : 

Archibald S. Clark, two years, Ebenezt^r Walden, Jonas Wil- 
liams, two years, Richard Smith, Elias Osburn, Isaac Phelps, 
Jr., two years, Oliver Forward, Mr. Hotchkiss. two years. 



MEMHKRS OF ASSEMKl.V. . 975 

1823 — Ebcnczcr F. Norton. 

1824 — Samuel Wilkeson. 

1825 — Calvin Fillmore. 

1826 — Reuben B. Heacock. 

1827 — David Burt, Oziel Smith. 

1828- David Burt. Peter B. Porter. 

1829 — David Burt, Millard Fillmore. 

1830— Edmund Hull, Millard Fillmore. 

1831 — Nathaniel Knight, Millard P'illmore. 

1832— Horace Clark, William Mills. 

1833 — Horace Clark, William Mills. 

1834 — Joseph Clary, Carlos Emmons. 

1835 — William A. Mosley, Ralph Plumb. 

1836 — George P. Barker, W'ells Brooks. 

1837 — Benjamin O. Bivins, Squire S. Case, Elisha Smith. 

1838 — Lewis F. Allen, Asa Warren, Cyrenus Wilbur. 

1839 — Jacob A. Barker, Truman Cary, Henry Johnson. 

1840— Seth C. Hawley, Stephen Osborne, Aaron Salisbury. 

1 841 — Seth C. Hawley, Stephen Osborne, Carlos Emmons. 

1842 — W. A. Bird, B. H. Colegrove, Squire S. Case. 

1843— George R. Babcock, Wells Brooks, N. McNeal. 

1844 — Daniel Lee, Elisha Smith, Amos Wright. 

1845 — Daniel Lee, J. T. Bush, Truman Dewey. 

1846— James Wood, J. T. Bush, Nathan K. Hall. 

1847 — John D. Howe, Horatio Shumway. William H.Pratt, 
O. J. Green. 

1848 — E. G. Spaulding, Harr\' Slade, Ira E. Irish, Charles C. 
Severance. 

1849 — Berwin Thompson, Augustus Raynor, N. McNeal, L. 
Buxton. 

1850 — Orlando Allen, Elijah I^'ord, IraE. Irish, Joseph Candee. 

1851 — Orlando Allen, W. A. Bird, Henry Atwood, Charles 
C. Severance. 

1852— Israel T. Hatch, Jasper B. Young, Aaron Rile}', Joseph 
Bennett. 

1853— Almon M. Clapp, Williani T. Bush, Israel N. Ely, 
Nelson Welch. 

1854— William W. Weed. Rolland Germain, Charles A. Sill 
Edward N. Hatch. 



9/6 MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY. 

1855 — William W. Weed, Daniel Devening, Jr., L. D. Covey, 
Seth W.Goddard. 

1856 — John G. Deshler, Daniel Devening, Jr., John Clark, 
Benjamin Maltby. 

1857 — Augustus J. Tiffan\-, George D. W. Clinton, Horace 
Boise, S. C. Adams. 

1858— Albert P. Laning, Andrew J. McNett, John T. Whee- 
lock, Amos Avery. 

1859 — Daniel Bowen, Henry B. Miller, John S. King, Wilson 
Rogers. 

i860 — Orlando Allen, Henry B. Miller. Hiram Newell, Joseph 
H. Plumb. 

1861— S. V. R. Watson, Victor M. Rice. B. H. Long, Zebu- 
Ion Ferris. 

1862 — John W. Murphy, Horatio oeymour, Ezra P. Goslin, 
John A. Case. 

1863 — John W. Murphy, Horatio Seymour, Timothy A. Hop- 
kins, A. G. Conger. 

1864 — Walter W. Stannard, Frederick P. Stevens, Timothy 
A. Hopkins, Seth Fenner. 

1865 — Walter W. Stannard, Harman S. Cutting, J. G. Lang- 
ner, E. W. Godfrey. 

. 1866— William Williams. John J. L. C. Jewett, J. G. Lang- 
ner, Levi Potter. 

1867 — William Williams, C. W. Hinson, R. L. Burrows, A. 
Prince, J. H. Plumb. 

1868— G. J. Bamler, Richard Flack, L. P. Dayton, A. Prince, 
James Rider. 

1869— G. J. Bamler, P. H. Bender, J. A. Chase, C. B. Rich, 
Abbott C. Calkins. 

1870 — G. J. Bamler, James Franklin, A. H. Blossom, H. B. 
Ransom, L. Oatman. 

1871 — George Chambers, J, Howell, F. A. Alberger, H. B. 
Ransom, J. M. Wiley. 

1872 — George Chambers, George Baltz, F. A. Alberger, John 
Simpson, J. M. Wiley. 

1873 — John O'Brien, George Baltz, F. A. Alberger, John 
Nice, R. B. Foote. 



i^Oy 221949 



Mi;.\ll'.KkS OF ASSK.MIII.W 977 

1 874 — r. Maiirahan, Joseph \V. Smith, V. A. Albci'Licr. jolin 
Nice, R. B. Footc. 

1875 — Daniel Cruise, W. W. Lawson, Edward Gallatj^hcr, 
Charles F. Tabor, B. Chaffee. 

1876 — J. L. Crowley, J. C. Langner, Fdward (iallagiier, 
Charles V. Tabor, Charles A. Orr. 

1877— J. L! Crowley. J. C. Langner, EdwartI Gallagher, 
Charles F. Tabor, Charles A. Orr. 

1878— J. L. Crowley, J. G. Langner, I). F. Day. H. J, Hurd, 
H. F. Allen. 

1879 — Ji-iles O'Brien, l-rank Sipp, James Ash, James A. 
Roberts, fL J. Hurd. 

1880— Jeremiah Higgins, Frank Sipp, Arthur \V. Hickman, 
George Bingham, H. J. Hurd. 

1881 — Jeremiah Higgins, Frank Sipp, Arthur \V. Hickman, 
Timothy W. Jackson, Job Southwick, Jr. 

1882 — Cornelius Donahue, Godfrey Ernst, Elias S. Hawley, 
Timothy W. Jackson, D. J.Wilcox. 

1883 — Cornelius Donahue, Frank Sipp, Clinton, Timoth\- 

\V. Jackson, D. J. Wilcox. 



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